P01 → Yulin Space Reproduction
This field investigation served as a key preliminary component of the undergraduate thesis project.
This urban investigation focuses on the Yulin neighborhood in Chengdu, exploring overlooked fragments of urban space. Through fieldwork rooted in urban ethnography, the study uncovers behavioral traces and latent demands embedded in 36 identified marginal spaces.
The project draws significant inspiration from Made in Tokyo by Tsukamoto and Kaijima, particularly their concept of "da-me architecture" and unconventional observation strategies. These methods offered a framework to decode the informal and often improvised nature of urban micro-spaces in Yulin.
Each space—whether a leftover alley, building gap, or spontaneous gathering spot—was treated as a narrative fragment. Behavioral signs like chairs, wires, plant pots, food stalls, or graffiti were cataloged to reconstruct the logic of informal use.
For each of the 36 discovered spaces, a consistent documentation system was developed:
- Photos: Captured on-site using smartphones to preserve the raw observational moment.
- Axonometric Drawings: Illustrated key spatial elements and surroundings.
- Hand-Drawn Maps: Traced the discovery process with annotations.
- Indexing: Each space was numbered based on discovery sequence.
- Nicknames: Playful labels to convey the charm of each site.
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Text Descriptions: Brief location, function, atmosphere, and structural context.
This investigation in Yulin applied the concept of embodiment from Kenchiku Genron (architectural ethnography), closely linking architectural observation with bodily experience. By using multimedia methods to observe and document architectural spaces, the study inferred the underlying human actions behind spatial phenomena, thereby constructing the concept of “behavior” and bridging everyday observation with spatial design.
The project challenges the conventional perception of urban space by highlighting the vitality of marginal areas. These spaces, often dismissed as leftover or undefined, reveal their own logic of appropriation and urban life, offering clues for more inclusive and grounded urban design thinking.
The project adopts the concept of the city as a playground. A total of 36 fragmented sites in Yulin were surveyed and analyzed using ethnographic observation. Eleven were selected for design intervention, where real-life behavioral patterns were abstracted into “play behaviors.” By inserting spatial tactics inspired by these behaviors, the interventions seek to resist spatial abandonment through spontaneous acts of play.