Peripheral Space and the Luxury of Relinquishment

Space in the medieval city (outside the actual buildings) is described and utilized. The city is perceived holistically. Squares, alleyways, streets and houses are equal parts of it. The city is imagined as a complete entity. On today’s periphery, (intermediate) space is not imagined. Subsequently, it is neither described nor intended for any specific use. We do not perceive the space, the in between, as being important. We afford ourselves the luxury of not perceiving the periphery and, as a result, of not shaping it. Nevertheless, these spaces form a greater part of our built environment.

Lecture at Université de Genève, 19./20.11.2021
Fotos: Andrea Wiegelmann