Non-Contextualized Ambits of Contemporary Urban Dynamics: Maps and Relational Dimensions

Abstract

Nowadays with the invention of the internet and informatics developments, spatial information providers are shifting from physical context to communication instruments such as smart phones, tablets and etc. In fact, it seems that both spaces — reality and virtual — with the same functional aspects and different kind of experiential dimensions are changing the present lifestyles simultaneously. Accordingly, we might realize two ranges of velocity in the urban mutation process: The cities physical contexts mute with a slower speed —measured in Seconds/minutes- compared to the non-physical layer (related to the communicative devices and the narration of information) alteration which is measured by megabytes/gigabytes. Therefore the lack of compatibility between these two speed ranges makes the contemporary urban spaces more intricate to comprehend when ‘human sense of time’ —as K.Lynch cited (Lynch, 1976) —is gaining a new and different ‘biological rhythm’; still ‘what time is this place?’ (Lynch 1976).

In order to find out sophisticated explanations for the defined problems, we need to have a new interpretation of contemporary urban spaces and their multi-dimensional characteristics. To achieve that, requires different instrument, capable of providing us with suitable components to re- reading of the urban spaces. These instruments will enhance our capacity of interpreting the complexity of the space in its geographical, historical, informational, communicational and spatial aspects. Such interpretative capacity in the urban scale could be provided by new maps- as evocative instrument mediating between physical forms and dimensions and immaterial qualities, through which we will be able to explore, interpret, conceive and transmit the components of the contemporary urban space. The question that rises here is: Does a new ‘reading’ of the territory, through the communication technology, lead towards the definition of new spatial characteristics for the urban spaces and consequently address the urban projects in their physical aspects? To find out the possible answers for the mentioned question, this paper — through an experimental research — aims to focus the spatial characteristics of the urban spaces in relation with the Wi.Fi environment- as a nonphysical layer above the urban fabric- in which the main goal is to re-examine the traditional spatial indicators through a process of comparison between them and the new multi-layered characteristics of urban spaces. The first step is to categorize different groups of conceptual and practical elements that would be taken into consideration for designing spaces: such as society’s different themes, spatial dynamism, user’s aggregations, inhabitants/commuters, and ways of people’s interaction with the space, time lapse and technological devices to define micro-terrains of functional themes in which an urban project would be addressed; in the next phase, a hypothetical framework is considered that would lead to the examination of grades of permeability and physical-Virtual porosity of urban spaces in relation to public use and frequency.