Epistemological study of Urban Voids

Abstract

Cities are running out of horizontal room for growing population [1]. Today cities are expanding in outer peripheries. However, when city cores are observed closely there are always some areas which are not being used as they were intended. These types of spaces create a rift or void in the urban fabric. One can find such blank, unused, under used, void spaces even in cores of the city. City has pattern of solid and void [2].  Sometimes surrounding solids might often camouflage voids which have hidden potentials for emerging cities. Based on previous research, the purpose of the study is to understand the significance of urban voids and their forms. Also emphasizes the importance of the urban void as a possible resource for an urban setup's environmental, social, economic, cultural, and aesthetic elements.

Many writers and researchers provided varied definitions, findings, methods, and solutions based on the specific context of urban voids. Overall defined by all authors urban voids are any location in an urban environment that lacks purpose, experience, character, policy, and flexibility of transformation, etc [3]. Such urban blank spaces are devoid of Liveability, Sustainability, Proximity, Identity, healthy environment, Legibility, Urban Continuity, heritage conservation, safety. Previous researchers suggested solving this issue of urban voids, blank building [4] to be used for re-adaptive use method [5], rejuvenating void spaces, and Green infill in blank place.

As stated by previous researchers’ solutions for urban voids could be at various levels by involvement of all stake holders. Some of the solutions are, rethinking urban design polices, promotion of pedestrianization, public awareness about space, reduction in vehicular traffic, re-adaptive reuse of brown field, reviving, re use, transformable space, preservation of character, proper conservation strategies to be planned by policy maker, green infrastructure, rethinking over regimentation of laws & regulations, flexibility in land use. Existing literature by previous researchers and academics have identified the following issues: 1) Contributing factors to the formation of negative urban voids. 2) The need to reinforce negative urban gaps in order to give a sense of safety. 3) Identifying and categorizing negative urban voids. 4) Methods for studying negative urban voids; and 5) how negative urban voids may be used to benefit the urban community. Solutions proposed by previous researchers were purely based on context of Urban Voids; with temporary & permanent approaches. For global perspective international researches were also taken into consideration for literature review.

The research will help in the creation of a better understanding of urban voids, which are the result of disconnect in urban fabric or urban character in cities built in the recent past or to be built in future. The findings can help to determine how to use such urban voids to improve the urban areas. The study will also address the gaps in the literature of urban voids and will be useful contribution to the body of knowledge for future academicians and researchers to explore further in this aspect for utilizing Urban Voids. The study will also be useful for planners and other organizations who are always trying to improve the urban environment. Further studies can expand on this study by adding the perspectives of local inhabitants in order to gain public involvement, since only then will it have a viable applicability in the setting.

The findings show that the linkages between socio-economic, migration, congestion, poor planning coordination between policymakers, urban planners, and other stakeholders work as a catalyst for increased urban voids. Though such gaps have the ability to degrade the city's quality, implying the diversion of the city's particular identity and resulting in underused or left-over regions inside the city as a permanent feature, If discovered and dealt with appropriately, these places can act as synergists for the long-term resurrection and regeneration of cities' dead zones. By addressing these blank places, planners will be able to address the paucity of horizontal spaces in urban environments by associating these voids with specific purpose and function. These void spaces can be served as enhancers of the modern-day city fabric, also key-factors in regeneration initiatives and concrete renewal, stating and permitting interventions related to consolidated existing tissues of city in an incremental way.