Transitive Gestures: Everyday Structures at Play

Abstract

Transitive gestures describe the direct linkage between a space as outcome and the action as process through a physical form. In the case of mining, a mine prop not only mechanically supports the space of a mine, but also serves as means through which the action of mining takes place. The prop is more than just a component in a space; it is an embodiment of a mechanism that realizes the space through actions. Scaffolds, alongside fences, nets, and other utility props, outlast the most enduring buildings in New York City. These everyday structures embody a unique state of perpetual transience in the city. They establish a shared syntax of everyday architecture, directly connecting physical activities to the barest architectural forms. This inherent link between action and form offers a mechanism to shape an architecture that actively enables and engages everyday activities within parks and streets as their natural venue. This thesis examines architecture as devices that enable activities by mediating the relation between body and space across various scales. It proposes two temporal interventions in two parks on the Lower West Side of Manhattan: one involving partial disassembly of an existing structure as an interim solution and the other as a seasonal shelter for a sports court. Evoking everyday structures as both source and context, the thesis employs tactical appropriations to preserve and enhance parks as vital civic spaces against current challenges such as scarcity of public space, extensive deconstruction, and deterioration of aging urban structures.