Redefining Urban Void: Socio-spatial Dimension of underutilized Open Space in a Planned Residential Area

The Urban Void is a vital component in the context of the built environment, which we think of as leftover space that has nothing to give to its surroundings, as we experienced. Its number is enormous with hidden potential; it has the capacity to become the cornerstone of the city of tomorrow. Within a community, we can easily find out that so many places are made by the way they live, but the voids are never explored. Future cities will have to confront limited urban spaces and resources, undertake the preservation or conservation of the sense of place, and continuously improve the existing urban environment.

The process of growth of cities for meeting demand involves layering over time, densification, and this in turn gives way to demolition, erasure, cuts that open up new voids as a byproduct, the neglected or forgotten spaces of today’s cities. Such spaces could be unused not only because of their limited functionality, but also because of the fact that the public eye does not perceive them at all. The research aims to create an inclusive framework for how these Urban Voids can be planned, designed & managed as a catalyst for the development of their environment by place-making theory as a community asset due to the nature of place identity. Based on the case study method, this work examines how urban voids could be defined & used through the lens of place-making through socio-spatial relationship mapping (SSRM) & community activity mapping (CAM), along with necessary content analysis, resulting in a clear outline of the regenerative mood of these urban voids. A comprehensive guideline makes up the result for rethinking Urban Void as a catalyst for future development.

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