Value of Public Space

VALUE OFPUBLIC SPACE

M A G D 2 0 1 2

T W A N Y A C .

CONTENT

INTRODUCTION

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RESEARCH

WHAT IS PUBLIC SPACEWHO OWNS PUBLIC SPACEWHO MAY ENTER ITPUBLIC SPACE AS JOINING-UPRIGHT IN PUBLIC SPACESOCIAL AND CULTUREELEMENT OF PUBLIC SPACENEEDS IN PUBLIC SPACEBEHAVIOR IN PUBLIC SPACEACTIVITIES IN PUBLIC SPACEART IN PUBLIC SPACETHE CONTROL PROCESS

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PROCESS DIMENSIONUNOFFICAL LANGUAGE INTERACTION IINTERACTION IIINTERACTION IIIINTERACTION IVSHADOW ISHADOW IISHADOW III

SHADOW IIIo3

CONCLUSION

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87

STATEMENT OF INTENT

PROJECT BACKGROUND

STATEMENT OF INTENT:

This project was stimulated by my more opportunity to use Public Space. After moving to London, I have adapted to local culture, environment and learning behavior. From here, I can see the significance of public space, and I wanted to present this project from the angle of a graphic designer.

To study the relationship between people andpeople using public space, I personally visualize the open communication in three dimensions: the participation, the interpretation and the surrounding sources which are interesting and challenging. This may be applied to create communication design that interacts and offers audience new experiences.

In the broader contemporary context for this investigation, the objective of the project is to focus on the presentation of value of public space.By identifying this topic, I decided to focus my investigation into the question of “How to emphasize the value of public space.”

Good spaces are nutrients of urban life. Public space is significant for the public to create human relations by joining activities within the city, then the buildings where people make a living. The empty space serves as a linkage of all the buildings so that activities to build economic, social, political and cultural integration can be performed. This means the binding of people, space and activities that includes meeting place, market place, exercise venue, festival, feast and fair to unite people in the community. Community reflects social bond which is unique in each public space.

INTRODUCTION

VALUE OF PUBLIC SPACE INTRODUCTION 7

User at Trafalgar square, 2012

The report has three main sections: The first section involves my research study to seek the correct meaning of public space in order to apply in later stages of data collection and to survey the real locations in London such as Southbank, Trafalgar square and Elephant and Castle.

The next section deals with existing examples to identify the work process and presentation. Use the findings to analyze and to use them to create design mainly based on the study by Stefan Sagmeister and Andy Goldswor-thy.

Final section, this report presents the project’s findings and conclusions with a final visual piece.

The study set out to:

better understand the significance and value of public spaces.

explore variation in people’s use and understandings of public spaces.

examine the opportunities afforded communication design for public spaces.

consider the importance of public spaces for improving people’s sense of well-being.

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

The project was initiated by my opportunity to use more foot path space in London. The climate in my home country is very hot all year round. The poor quality of foot path does not encourage people to use it as much as they should. More than half of the foot path has been exploited by street venders. Though the government has issued measures to control, the problems still persist. Gardens are located far from the residential areas, making it difficult to access.

After moving to London, I first lived in Hammersmith; but moved to Tower Bridge later. These two places are located on the opposite side of London. Surroundings are also different. The change of habitat gave me the oppor-tunity to absorb, touch, feel, learn, observe, survey the happenings in public spaces be it human behavior or the city ecology. I absorbed by living in such places, by shopping and doing daily chores. Moreover, I love being by myself, spending quiet time walking and thinking much more than before.

During the time of my pre-sessional English course, I had the opportunity to do London Project. In my first month of living here, I chose to produce a set of artworks that reveals the characters of different areas in London. I created them from evidence left on the ground in 4 locations: Chinatown, Covent Garden, Mayfair and Richmond. I investigated loca-tion characters from scratch. I had never been to London, so I was learning about different places by surveying. Because of my personal interest, the experience made me pay attention to the importance of a public space, its relation and the communication between human and human, human and public space or human to human in a public space.

Top left: Figure 1Foot path in bangkok

Right: Final art work (from top- Richmond, Mayfair, Chinatown, Covent garden), London project, 2011

8 INTRODUCTION VALUE OF PUBLIC SPACE

WHAT IS PUBLIC SPACE

WHO OWNS PUBLIC SPACE

WHO MAY ENTER IT

ELEMENT OF PUBLIC SPACE

PUBLIC SPACE AS JOINING-UP

RIGHT IN PUBLIC SPACE

SOCIAL AND CULTURE

NEEDS IN PUBLIC SPACE

BEHAVIOR IN PUBLIC SPACE

ACTIVITIES IN PUBLIC SPACE

ART IN PUBLIC SPACE

THE CONTROL PROCESS

PUBLIC SPACE:

This section, I am going to explore the meaning of public space as it is very broad and ambiguous. This will increase my understanding of the purpose and value of public space.

WHAT IS PUBLIC SPACE

Public spaces belong to everyone and to no one in particular. The usual pictures are public parks, beaches and town square. The word “Public” means the areas are shared by everyone. Beside those places, roads, walk-ways, constructions such as a library and a civic center are also public spaces. A public space is where people have opportunity to meet, or to talk even to people we never thought possible before.

The size of public spaces does not determine its value, but the activities carried out within do; for example the open-air food market, children playground, exercise venue or places to walk pet dogs unleashed.

Public spaces are a fundamental feature of cities. They represent sites of sociability and face-to-face interaction, and at the same time their quality is commonly perceived to be a measure of the quality of urban life. Ideally, they are places that are accessible to every-body and where difference is encountered and negotiated (Young, 1990).

Generally we go to public spaces to celebrate all kinds of festivals, or to hold important events like Christmas countdown, New Year celebration or even to hold strikes. Some public spaces are not much used except for resting and for escaping from city chaos. We often see people spend time alone. Besides, public spaces are the places we go to watch the world go by.

WHO OWNS PUBLIC SPACE:

Usually, government owns and manages it for the public, meaning it belongs to everyone. Some public spaces are owned and managed by non-profit organizations funded by government.

WHO MAY ENTER IT:

Public space is actually free for anyone to use be it lo-cals or visitors. It must be fully accessible for all without entry fees.

Top: Figure 2Chirstmas at Trafalgar square, 2000

Bottom: Figure 3Riot at Trafalgar square ,1990

RESEARCH

O 1

PUBLIC SPACE AS JOINING-UP:

Public spaces offer opportunity for the public to exchange dialogue to express their view points and expand from there on.

In the late 1960s, there was a clear distinction ofprofessional responsibilities. This can be seen from a clear difference of quality of environment, the gap between different classes, races and professions was widely evident. Public space was the thing that narrowed these gaps. It created opportunities for people to interact with each other be it direct or indirect. More importantly, it was a stage for expressions. These included informal arts for instance, graffiti and murals, street performances as well as individual expressions like clothing.

Ellin explain that integral urbanism focus on

Networks not boundaries

Relationships and connections not isolated objects

Interdependence not independence or dependence or dependence

Natural and social communities not just individuals

Transparency or translucency not opacity

Permeability not walls Flux or flow not stasis

Connections with nature and relinquishing control, not controlling nature

Catalysts, armatures, frameworks, punctuation marks not final products, masterplans or utopia

VALUE OF PUBLIC SPACE RESEARCH 11

RIGHT IN PUBLIC SPACE:

Habamas’ historical study shows recession in public spaces between 19th and 20th century. Public spaces have been exploited by commerce and capitalism. Habamas mentioned that public sphere in commercialization is dictated by people who are authorized to define them.

Take Bangkok, my hometown for an example, peo-ple nowadays suffer toxics and polluted air caused by commercial aggression that received unjust benefits in society.

Upper middle class and capitalism influence the distinction of the rich and the poor. They dictate the right to have a say by the working class in public spaces. So, web boards have been created to allow opinions to be expressed either for or against.

Habamas saw public spaces as venues for the middle class to share opinions and information politically or otherwise with the nobles and the European religious groups in the past. This concept however is still feasible, but must be adapted to current way of life such as no separation of race, class or minority.

Sub-group according to Rognsier: Sub-group or minorities have currently been protesting for equal right on street, and internet users have voiced their opinions regarding politics and governance, calling for non-bias access to exercising their freedom of speech.

12 RESEARCH VALUE OF PUBLIC SPACE

SOCIAL AND CULTURE:

People and space the understanding of relationship between the people (society) and the environment (spaces) is an important component of public space. Such relationship occurs from the determination of architectural pattern or the environment that influences human behavior. However, people beings are not the only recipients of influences but they also influence the environment as well. Hence a two way exchange. The peoplecreate and change spaces while influence them at the same time.

Left: Top view from the nation gallery,art performance at Trafalgar square, 2012

Right: Bottom vew from the nation gallery,art performance at Trafalgar square, 2012

People beings are not the only recipients of influences but they also influence the environment as well.


ELEMENT IN PUBLIC SPACE: USER



ELEMENT IN PUBLIC SPACE : FOOT PATH


ELEMENT IN PUBLIC SPACE : ECOLOGY


ELEMENT IN PUBLIC SPACE : UNOFFICIAL LANGUAGE


ELEMENT IN PUBLIC SPACE : OFFICIAL LANGUAGE


ELEMENT IN PUBLIC SPACE : ON FLOOR


USER NATUREHUMEN MADE

COGNITION

LEARNING

EXPLORING

EXPERIENCING

EXPRESSING

ACTING

COMFORT

RELAXING

DEVELOPMENT

HEALTH

ACTIVITIES

INTELLECTUAL

NEIGHBORHOODS

ACCESS

BARRIER FREE

ENVIRONMENTSEXPRESSING

BOUNDARIES

TERRITORIES

PRIVACY

CONTROL

LOCAL USER

TEMPORARY USER

TOURIST

WORKING LIVING

BUILDING

FOOT PATH

ROAD

SCULPTURE

MONUMENT

SIGN

PLACE (PLAYGROUND, MUSEUM)

WEATHER

TEMPERATURE

GREEN AREA

PHYSIOLOGICALNEEDS

ELEMENT

AFFILIATION

PUBLIC SPACE

FUNCTION

ENVIRONMENT



NEEDS IN PUBLIC SPACE

Good spaces are nutrients of urban life They help keep our heart happy and are a vital ingredient in creating a community where there is tolerance and respect for each other (Sarah Gaventa) In order to have effective design In order to have effective design In order to have effective design and management of public spaces it is crucial to understand the role that those places play in people’s lives, and why spaces are used or ignored.

Comfort is a basic need. The need for food, drink, shel-ter from the elements, or a place to rest when tired all require some degree of comfort to be satisfied. Without comfort it is difficult to perceive how other needs can be met, although people sometimes will endure major discomforts in attempts to enjoy themselves. Comfort is also a function of the length of time people are to remain the site. In addition to physical comfort, seating should be designed so as to offer social and psycholog-ical comfort.

Trafagal square, 2012


BEHAVIOR IN PUBLIC SPACE

Topics that usually arise under this title are civility and incivility. Civility involves aware- ness of and respect for other people’s use of public space. A good quality public space does not only mean a good and accurate design but also behavior of users, which includes respect for other people.

Privacy is a rarity in today’s social setting. People are really multittasking and performing complicated roles in a day. Situations require us to perform as a colleague in an office, as a father, mother, child, brother or sister at home. These multiple roles influence people to choose to spend time alone in public spaces to unwind and to escape from daily chaos. A public space is a venue where we can spend time privately and can truly become our own self.

Relaxation is distinguished from comfort by the level of release it describes. It is a more developed state with body and mind at ease. In examining the factors that support relaxation, the element of respite from or contrast to the adjacent urban context appears to be prominent. Separation from vehicular traffic, as in the case of pedestrian malls, often makes it easier to be relaxed. In the other hand, it may increase user concern about safety and security during low use times. However, some researches bear out the importance of providing opportunities for relaxation, some space should accom-modate persons seeking liveliness and engagement with the city and its people.

We need our spaces to be like ourselves: different, distinctive, displaying a range of moods from subdued to very loud. Great open spaces require open minds to design and look after them, to allow culture to flourish, and to support creativity and fun.

Top and bottom Trafalgar square, 2012


ACTIVITIES IN PUBLIC SPACE

An ordinary day on an ordinary street in the past and present maybe little bit changed. Pedestrians pass on the sidewalks, children play near front doors, people sit on benches, two passersby greet on the sidewalk, group engage in conversation. This mix of outdoor activities is influenced by a number of conditions. Physical environment is a main factor that influences the activities to a varying degree and in many different ways. There are three types of outdoor activities as Jan Gahl (2001)

Necessary activitiesinclude those that are more or less compulsory such as going to school or to work, shopping, waiting for a bus or a person, running errands, distributing mail - in other words, all activities in which those involved are to a great-er or lesser degree required to participate.

Optional activities that is, those pursuits that are participated in if there is a wish to do so and if time and place make it possible are quite another matter. Activities include taking a walk to get a breath of fresh air, standing around, sitting and sunbathing. These activities take place only when exterior conditions are optimal, when weather and place invite them. This relationship especially dependent on exteri-or physical conditions. When outdoor areas are of poor quality, only the bare minimum of activity takes place. People hurry to back home.

Social activities are all activities that depend on the presence of others in public spaces. Social activities include children at play, greetings and conversations, c ommunal activities of various kinds, and finally as the most widespread social activity - passive contacts that is, simply seeing and hear-ing other people.

Trafalgar square, 2012




ART IN PUBLIC SPACE

Without diversity, without weirdness, without difference, without tolerance, a city will die. Cities don’t need shopping malls and con-vention centers to be economically successful; they need eccentric and creative people.”

Artists contribute to our perception and experience of our environment in many ways, not only by creating individual artworks, but by collaborating with others to influence the architecture, public spaces and landscape we inhabit, and developing creative ways of engaging people of all ages in re-visioning their environment. At beginning of the 21 century, artists are not only being employed as makers of objects but are increasingly working in new roles, for examples consultants on large scale projects from major regeneration schemes to the masterplanning of new areas of housing and development. Artists are being invited to use their understanding of space, form and color to consider the development of architectural forms as well as the planning of towns and cities, from transport systems to the design of public squares. They are being asked to use their critical, conceptual skills to contribute to dialogue and discussion on the future of our shared spaces.

Monument reminds us that we understand public space through our imagination as well as our senses, we understand it through other people’s imaginations and senses too, it is impossible now to think about Lake District without Willam Wordsworth, or visit Hull without the accompaniment of Phillip Larkin’s wry, regret narrative. We cannot see New England without also see-ing Edward Hopper, or Salford without hearing the clogs on cobbles of LS Lowrt’s factory workers, Each of us will have a different register of imaginative interconnections, some we’ll recognize, most we won’t, but they are potent and compelling nonetheless.


Monuments at Trafalgar square, 2012


FROM TOP:Figure 4 Snow circles, Andy Goldsworthy, 1987

Figure 5 - 6, Rain shadow, Andy Goldsworthy, 1993

To give a clearer understanding of this subject, I analyzed different approaches to relationship between environment and message by investigating a variety of artist and de- signers. Here is a some of example of existed works such as land art, three-dimensional work etc. which can help me to understand and develop further idea.

So far I have look through a few books and sites to contextualise my idea. First artist, Andy Goldsworthy, British artist who pro-duced a land art. He works with nature, use surrounding natural things as a materials and often uses only his bare hands, teeth, and found tools to prepare and arrange the materials. Most of his works will grows, stays anddecays in the end. Studying his way of selecting materials to use in artwork, would help me to concentrate on how meaning forming when materials has been decayed, the way he work with a leaf, rock, stick, it is not just that material in itself, it is an opening into the processes of life within and around it. When he leave it, these processes continue.


Figure 7: Complaining is silly either act or forget, Strfan Sagmeister

Projects do not readily fit into closed creative boxes, they are part of a wider journey that all participants make, where ideas intermittently surface, tumble, sink and then rise again (Turner)

This work was created by Stefan Sagmeister from “Things I have learned in my life so far - complaining is silly either act or forget” This billboard was build by using newsprint paper and stencils. First week the newsprint has been exposed by sunlight. After that they removed the stencils, The area underneath remained completely white, while the sur-rounding background had turned yellow, and the text became readable.Within a week the typography (and all the complaining) slowly faded away.

From this work, it is very clear that choos- ing a material and understand the nature of its can be used to express the messages more powerful. In terms of my project, I would like to try visual experiment by selecting different materials and surrounding environment that can be changeable to push the limits of ordinary materials and formats by seeking out hidden possibility.

“Shoes are not dirty in themselves, but it is dirty to place them on the dining table; food is not dirty in itself but it is dirty to leave cooking utensils in the bedroom, or food bespattered on clothing; similarly bathroom equipment in the drawing room; clothing lying on chairs; outdoor things in tdoors; upstairs things downstairs; underclothing appearing where overclothing should be, from this article, it remind me to think that environment is not only include just only people but also personal thinking or habit of people in different culture.


THE CONTROL PROCESS

Education and Management

Efficient education results in a good responsibility towards the quality of the environment which is appropriate to the control of a large population. Management reflects the service of a public space and is the centre of all perspectives. However, management can be seen as a day-to-day business as it occurs on the same environment. Yet it can be said that it is the maintenance of quality or development.

Cleaning and Maintenance

A lack of proper maintenance can easily precipitate a spiral of decline. such as if someone break a window, the window will has less value if there is no repair.

TOP:Brick lane graffiti, 2012

RIGHT:Southbank, 2012


DIMENSION

UNOFFICAL LANGUAGE

INTERACTION I

INTERACTION II

INTERACTION III

INTERACTION IV

SHADOW I

SHADOW II

SHADOW III

EARLY EXPERINMENTS:

In this experiment, I began to explore public space

around Elephant and Castle, surveying things that

happen in public space and what’s reflected. In this step,

I chose to record in images because images can be

framed. I want to have a gap between being in the

actual location and the imagination after seeing the

images.

PROCESS

O 2

DIMENSION: WATER, FEB 12

...while artist may be keen to immerse themselves in an understanding of complex scientific research, they must feel sufficiantly inspired to push at the boundaries of their own current practice (Ede S.)

This experiment was the starting point for major project proposal. The first stage of experiment drew on the idea that; create a new dimension of message by creating the experience to the audience. With this idea in mind, I developed a range of experiments that would have me elaborate on my concept. The aim was to explore the gap between message and spaces and how people can percieve.

Process

This visual experiment is testing how to use of normal things, such as water, to create a interaction between word and transparent wave. I used basic wordunderstand, I consists of word on a paper and placed under a water bowl.

FROM TOP:Word under still water.Word under still wave.

Word under still water and empty glass.

VALUE OF PUBLIC SPACE PROCESS 35

36 PROCESS VALUE OF PUBLIC SPACE

LEFT:Word under still wave.

RIGHT:Word under still water.


TOP LEFT:I splited word in four parts and hung in different branchs.

BOTTOM LEFT:I splited word in ten parts and hung in different branchs.

RIGHT:Letters seperate each other. Interact by wind.


DIMENSION: DEPTS AND ANGLE, FEB 12

Process

For this exercise, I used spaces to create layers on word. You can not read the complete word, if you were not in the right position. By this time, it became apparent that the gap between message and spaces could make a different meaning from the message itself.

Analysis

It became apparent to me that if I were to test a wider range of practices. It would require extensive investigation, and I risked having a research topic that was too broad. Therefore, I decided to narrow on public space and find suitable topic.


UNOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: MAY 12

What is the relationship between space and messages?

The next stage of experiment focused on public space: studying with how evidence on spaces can be translate to a word. With this idea in mind, I chose to collect unofficial language on public space because I thought, it was the truth that really happened.

Process

The idea was to read the unofficial language, such as graffiti. First, I started to take a random picture and picked the interesting one then I tried to find the word from those picture. After that, I compared to the same picture but one has a word on it. I found the interesting relationship between word and image. This gap motivate audience to understand.

FROM TOP:Paint torn by time.

Newspaper had been step by many people on pavement. Gum on the pavement, colour show the time.

Plastic bag in the park.


TIME

BUSY

TIME

INVADER


INTERACTION I : MAY 12

“The content of any medium is always another medium” (Marshall M.)

In this experiment, I would like to study the possibility of a relationship between the behavior of people or activities within the public space by starting from choos-ing one word after the survey and interpreting from the behavior shown in that area. The place where I chose was Southbank.

In the first experiment, I interpreted from a skatepark that had graffiti revealed in the midst of the place that was always filled with tourists. This place was quite different from a normal situation that the government would normally clean when people spray graffiti or some people may view it as illegal, creating dirtiness and destroying views. That’s why I raised the issue of different angle of view. I chose the words “Create” and “Destroy” by presenting these words at the same place to see the reaction of people about these words or the interpreta-tion creating an atmosphere from the words seen.LEFT:Skatepark, Southbank, 2012

RIGHT, FROM TOP:‘CREATE’ poster on graffiti wall at south bank.‘CREATE’ poster after 1 week.




‘DESTROY’poster on graffiti wall at south bank.‘DESTROY’ poster after 1 week.


INTERACTION II : MAY 12

In another experiment, I chose the pavement along the river that is normally filled with tourists and street art performance. I chose the word “Busy” for this experiment because this public space is filled with tourists. For the locals, this public space is busy.

Bottom:‘Busy’ at Southbank pavement


INTERACTION III : MAY 12

How people in public space effect a message?

...Artist have something unique to contribute to place making, not as an adjunct to development, but by lead-ing deleopment in a new direction (Murray)

ProcessI started with cut the stencils for each words and using different material to paint the signs. I tend to explore different effect from different materials. The result was highly individualistic.

Water / RoadI drew words on the road by using water. Cement floor absorb water quickly so word faded away in the short time. At the end (after 7 days) word still can be seen but not the whole word.

‘GENEROUS’ made by water on pavement. After 10 mintues and 7 day.


‘RESPECT’ made by chalk and, after 3 days and 7 days.


Chalk/ Road / People / RainChalk had been fade away by surrounding environment ,such as rain, people step on it. The border of words was blurred and left some dust around the word.


Water glue / Road

By using water glue, it was glossy at first then when it became dry, the texture was mate. From the nature of glue is transparent and stick on surface, it still can read all the time. if compare with salt, poster color, or chalk that easily to read at the beginning and when it was disappear it hardly to read.

‘RESPECT’ made by glue, after 3 days and 7 days.



‘KINDNESS’ made by colour poster, after 3 days and 7 days


Poster colour / Rainn / RoadWhen I drew word after few hour it was raining. Poster colour became easily fade away.


‘KINDNESS’ made by salt, after 10 minutes and 30 minutes.


Salt / Road / Wind By using salt, It became easily to damage. In this case It fade away by wind.


‘HEALTH’ made by leaf, first day and 7 days later.


Leaf / ParkI used leaf to reflect the healthy life. When It was fresh, It hardly to see when It was on the grass but it became easier to read when it was dry. The leaf colour was lighter.


INTERACTION IV : JUL 12

The contemporary artist can act as navigator, interlocutor, facilitator and guide (Layzell)

This experiment, I tried to used more specific word. I want people to see a different point of view about how does people use it and how important to them.

I have chosen an acitivity that I have investigate during my research at southbank. For example, some may use it for quick meeting but some other may use it as a place to make a living, from an alternative work. So in this point, we have share a public space together.

I ordered words as a list to make a statement for people to read while they walking.

AnalysisI have found through this exeriment, it could represent the different way of thinking but anyhow it still could not drawn or stimulate people attention to see this hyginic problem.

TOP LEFT:Policeman, Southbank, 2012

BOTTOM RIGHT:Art Performacnce

NEXT PAGE::Experiment made by salt



So since then I have developed by using private idea, to get people to think that they owns it, participate and respect authority of other people.

So it is quite successful by this way and it could get people attention.


‘My meeting place, keep clean’‘My workplace, keep clean

‘My sunbathing area, keep clean’‘My hang out place, keep slean’


After coming back from exploring various public spaces, I found that each experiment was quite difficult because each public space had similarities and differences. The content of the work would be modified according to the importance and the focus of that place. After that, I decided to choose one park, Tanner Street Park, because it has a format of a standard and neutral public space. It can be applied to other parks in the future easily.

Various shadow from building, object, people, nature in different location- Southbank, Tower bridge, Trafalgar square etc. SHADOW

This experiment was developed from the work “Create” and “Destroy” that presented different views of one thing. After reviewing and surveying the area again to find more interaction spots with the area, I noticed something that I thought I would never noticed. That’s the shadow. After surveying various formats of shadows I concluded that shadow is like the reflection of that reality that sometimes we may or may not notice them. Shadow is something that changes according to time. The shape of shadow depends solely on the environment whether it’s the weather, raining, sunny or an object that the sun shines to create a shadow. In addition, shadow is also an overall image reflected from many things.



SHADOW I : STAGE 1,SEP 12

This experiment created three-dimensional characters. When the time changes (sunlight), the shadow will show different messages. People who see it in one day may see only one message, but when they have a chance to go back again at different time, they will see a change. I try to think of a way to present two messages by including an interaction with the space, user, and meaning that want to communicate the most.

This experiment was both interesting and exciting, but after that I found on the internet that this kind of experiment has been done before. In addition when did an ex-periment in the real location, the characters had to be installed in an open air that was quite secluded in order to see the shadow in both directions clearly. Therefore, I think I need to find a method with more close interaction people.

TOP:Created letters with lego and experiment with different angles.

RIGHT:Created letters in 2 dimensions, for two words.



In this experiment, I chose a chair as a prototype to de-velop the work so that the format and shadow blended better with the environment but I still used the format of changing words. I leaned the chair against steel rods that were lined up placing the characters between the rods and used the degree to specify. Words would be shown at different time according to the sundial principle.

BOTTOM:Experiment will base on this bench, Tanner street garden

RIGHT:Experiment on papers



TANNER STREET GARDEN

Tanner Street Park is a popular local space which was successfully refurbished in 2003 It located on the corner of Bermondsey Street and Tanner Street. It is a large green area of land in the heart of the former industrial area of Bermondsey in south central London. Just a stones throw from the River Thames this park has for generations provided a place of rest and relaxation for the densely populated area around London Bridge and Tower Bridge. Facilities include tennis courts (free to use; no booking required) and a children’s play area.

In the south-east corner of the park is a disused drinking fountain created from part of the tower of the former church of St Olave in Tooley Street. The park is well maintained by the local authority of Southwark Borough Council.




SHADOW I : STAGE 3, SEP 12

This experiment lacked an interaction with people and, the most important thing, we could not see a shadow when someone sat on the chair. Therefore, we could not see the word that changed, but this made me interested in how people interacted with the shadow in which people masked the word shown.


Finally, I chose to present the value of public space into 3 topics including

Public space is a place that you can best be yourself, Public space is a place that you can have privacy the most, free from various duties in the society,

Public space is a place that we can connect to society easily.

Public space is a place that we can see ideas and the dif-ferences of people and learn from it so that our society is united also.


SHADOW I : STAGE 4, OCT 12

In this experiment, I chose to create a shadow from charact ers by setting them up at the backrest. When someone sat, the shadow of that person and the character would overlap so we could not see that character.

RIGHT:Experiment on bench


SHADOW I : FINAL, OCT 12

This principle was meant to have more strength. I chose the word “Personal” to communicate the meaning of “Personal Space” or “Personal Time,” meaning having a time to be by yourself or having a private space without any duty and the word “Public” to express being a public place and an open interaction.

These two words would be seen in the angle of the one who sat on the chair. When sitting on the place that the word “Personal” was placed, the shadow of the word would be overlapped by the shadow of the one who sat so it’s like occupying his/her “Personal Space” or “Personal Time.” However, when we occupied “Personal,” at the end of our feet there was the word “Public” shown emphasizing that this place provided privacy but we were still in the public format. It’s another way of feeling privacy that was a result of letting go.



SHADOW II : OCT 12

I started the experiment by using a CD to reflect in different formats until I discovered an interesting principle which was when we reflect light onto sunlight, we would see that reflection faintly, but when we reflect under the shadow, we would see the characters more clearly.

BOTTOM:Experiment will use CD to create light

RIGHT:Experiment on other shadow



SHADOW II :FINAL, OCT 12

I used word “Socializing” because it must be presented when someone sit on the chair, which we would see the word “Socializing” faintly, but when someone walked by, that reflection is clearer. It’s an interaction that occurred from the surrounding as well as audiences and relationship between people in public space.



SHADOW III : OCT 12

After an initial study of exploring about shadow, in addition to the shadow of the sun, another interesting thing is the reflection of water. In the first part of the exploration after a rain, I found that some areas of a road had pits holding water and creating the reflection. This is interesting because when the area for water is restricted, the angle that we can see the reflection is restricted as well.

BOTTOM AND RIGHT:Water after rain stoped



SHADOW III : FINAL, OCT 12

I used word “LIVE”and “LEARN”, to motivate people to interact and learn something around ourself. Public spaces is the place that you can easily learn something else some others. In this site, many factors can interact with it, such as leaves or water- when water is dry or leaves coverd the water, we will not see the reflection of “LEARN”. There always something hidden to let you learn in public space.

BOTTOM:Reflection on the water

RIGHT:Final output no.3



THE CONTROL PROCESS

EDUCATION AND MANAGEMENT

Efficient education results in a good responsibility towards the quality of the environment which is appro-priate to the control of a large population. Management reflects the service of a public space and is the centre of all perspectives. However, management can be seen as a day-to-day business as it occurs on the same envi-ronment. Yet it can be said that it is the maintenance of quality or development.

CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE

A lack of proper maintenance can easily precipitate a spiral of decline. such as if someone break a window, the window will has less value if there is no repair.

TOP:Bricklane graffiti, 2012

RIGHT:Southbank, 2012


CONCLUSION

O 3

Tanner street park is only one example out ofthe countless number of public spaces that offer a lot of potential for the interaction of graphics into spaces. Regrettably, it was not long before I realised that creating a perfect dialogue between public spaces and communication, it requires much deeper insight. Overall, I am satisfied while doing the project, I can use my knowledge outside the computer screen.Graphic design, needs its practitioners to continually improve the tools and techniques of their trade to meet up with the complex nature of the twenty first century.

This project evolved from a personal passion about public space, when I arrived London, as an attempt to find a perfect harmony between what I interest here (public space) and what I interest before (graphic de-sign). In a time of this project, I really enjoy to devel-oped design skill and spend time on public space to learn life in London.

I hope this project and this book help to inspired to push at the boundaries of graphic design.

Wall at Elephant and castle, 2012

VALUE OF PUBLIC SPACE CONCLUSION 87

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Copyright © 2012 by Twanya Chantra-intraAll rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the author.

Published by Twanya Chantra-intra14, 166 Tower bridge road, SE1 3LZ London, UK

+447508825129(UK) +66894843117 (THA) [email protected]

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Value of Public Space