A non-place is understood to be “a space which cannot be defined as relational, or historical, or concerned with identity“ (Augé, 1995, pp. 77-78). In the age of globalization, these spaces are becoming increasingly common, with roads being one of the most homogenized conceptions resulting from said movement. The travelling experience, however, is a significant element of the lived experience and contributes to the understanding of human existence. Therefore, it is important to evaluate how landscape architecture can be utilized to establish a sense of place in these oft overlooked spaces. Through literature review, background research, and site analysis, a site design is developed for Wellington Avenue, Winnipeg as a demonstration of how specific landscape architecture elements can be applied to a space in order to stimulate the travelling experience and place identity. / October 2016

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Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Jessica Canfield / Colorado Springs' downtown streets are primarily automobile-oriented, which has lead to a deficiency of multi-modal transportation networks and user-oriented environments. The streets lack engaging public space, pedestrian and bicyclist amenities, native landscaping, and stormwater management systems. The auto-centric design presents significant physical and perceived safety issues concerning pedestrians and bicyclists in the right-of-way. The aim of this study is to redesign the downtown core of Colorado Springs to foster multifunctional user-oriented spaces which enhance overall environmental, social, and economic benefits. In order to complete this study, background literature research and a series of case studies were conducted. The ultimate goal of this masters project is to create a retrofit streetscape design for Colorado Springs that can be used as a model for other planners and designers. The results of this project will be significant to designers because it will provide them with information regarding the best practices for designing urban streetscapes that activate the public realm and promotes safety.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Howard D. Hahn / Cities and towns across the world are in a dynamic state of change, and therefore, becoming responsive to new and innovative approaches to creating and restoring public spaces. These new approaches address the need for flexible, multifunctional spaces in order to adapt to and accommodate the changing demands and unexpected circumstances that occur within the city (Wall 1999, Temel 2006, Gehl 2011). Temporary landscapes, or site specific, time-limited designs of open space, have become an emerging approach to improving public spaces. These small scale projects provide unique experiences and offer a laboratory for experimentation where new, innovative ideas can be tested (Lydon 2012, Sargin and Savas 2012, Temel 2006). The idea of flexibility and the need for multifunctional spaces are explored through the following report by investigating how an innovative approach involving temporary landscapes can enhance streetscape quality and offer a variety of public activities. First, I developed a deeper understanding of temporary landscapes in order to identify the transition in approach to urban design from focusing on permanence to temporary, and express the importance of temporality in urban design. A design matrix exploring programmatic options and customizable design features was established through an extensive literature review and case study analysis. Through the application process, I explored the regulatory process involved in implementing a temporary landscape intended for the Aggieville Business District in Manhattan, Kansas. This procedure involved a review of the city's ordinances and liability concerns, designing a portable landscape, and constructing a prototype to be deployed off-street until approval is gained. The results from this project provide field evidence to support recommendations for future design iterations for portable landscapes that increase pedestrian comfort and support an expanded range of activities for public spaces. Prototypes of different design iterations and replications can also serve as future projects for the College of Architecture, Planning, and Design at Kansas State University. Ultimately, this project will begin a critical discussion of the future role of temporary landscapes in cities that are in a dynamic state of change.

Conventional street design has given drivers priority over the street. This has resulted in overall declination of the public realm. This study explored the topic of shared space, defined as an approach in which the street is designed in a way that pedestrians, drivers and other street users have equal entitlement and priority throughout the entire space. The research draws upon the literature on shared space; and case studies comprised of secondary source descriptions, key-informant interviews and on-site observation. Ensuing findings suggested that vehicles were more willing to share the streetscape with pedestrians when vehicular speeds were reduced and there was integration between sidewalk and roadway. These findings led to development of a set of principles that informed recommendations for the conceptual redesign of Toronto’s Downtown Yonge Street as a shared space.

In the rural village Umoja one can witness a reaction to the unequal society; the women opposed the deep-rooted cultural habits and created their own dream space, a place designed through the eyes of a woman. A village ruled by women, built up by their needs. The Umoja women’s way of life is very controversial and a huge contrast to the rest of the country. Looking at Nairobi, and the informal settlements the situation is completely different, but the dream about an equal space is the same. In this thesis we are looking at how architecture can work with the social issues about equality, focusing on the public room in one of the larger informal settlements – Korogocho. Due to the density the only space that is public is the street. The streets become the only space for interaction, as well as the place for political, economic and social activities. Through observing, analysing and interacting it is clear that the streets are mostly claimed by men. In combination with high levels of unemployment, crimes, drugs and alcohol creates a very insecure public sphere, especially for women and children. These vulnerable group needs new context that is not limited to the private home. Through a series of spatial interventions, we are interested in how architecture can question this norm, by understanding the street as a public area and analysing how it is used and can be used in the future.

Located in Central America, Guatemala is the most populated country of the area with around 15 million inhabitants. The capital, Guatemala City has 923,000 inhabitants and is currently home for 55% of the country’s urban population. Guatemala City, with its 42% of territorial extension consisting of green, is considered a green capital. The city has a very characteristic geographical composition called ravines which creates the ecological and green belt of the city. Currently, there are efforts being made to create more projects relating to the green and public spaces of the city, but we still have a long way to go.  As many other cities in Latin America, Guatemala is facing a constant challenge regarding public spaces. The use of public space has been decreasing for years due to factors such as feeling of safety,  difficulty in accessibility, poor distribution of public spaces in the urban grid, and poor condition of the infrastructure. These challenges have shaped new social patterns. Nowadays, shopping malls have become the new public space. These spaces provide more than just shopping, they provide experiences. On the other hand, they also limit and control who can access them and when, under which conditions, and following a set of rules.  These challenges have made me question; Where do we meet equality? How can we provide proper urban public spaces that meet their function? How will shopping malls transform over time and how can we adapt these new social dynamics created by the shopping malls to the public space?  Throughout this project I attempt to challenge these questions with the idea of bringing people back to the streets so that they can engage with the city and the streets on an everyday basis. To achieve it I have proposed the following manifesto with 3 main statements: “- Equality manifested through the city’s urban structures which start on the streets.     Everyone can access them; in them we are all equal.  - Streets are places to be, to share, to experience. Spaces to live outdoors, to enable interaction.  - Shopping Malls are spaces of constant transformation that will progressively change its functions. “ The aim of the project is to explore in a challenging way how the relationship between shopping malls, green and public space can be addressed and interact in a process of transformation in Guatemala City.

Over the centuries, cities have gained limelight and have significantly grown powerful with an increased level of importance. The rapid growth and urbanization posing a fatally critical threat to the future as the population is growing with each day. The development from the rural to urban life and the journey to an urban civilization has left the city in tatters. It has had adverse impacts on both social and environmental frontiers. Such rapid growth has led to the uncontrolled growth of population in countries that are in the process of development, and this growth is interpreted by means of concrete structuring with no apparent thought given to fundamentals such as feasibility, aesthetics, health, safety, road network or transportation. This leaves a very small window for even accommodating places for recreation in unplanned cities. Such spaces use shared spaces for recreation. Spaces like markets or public squares or streets. The cultural heritage of India lies solely in its old cities, towns and ancient settlements. Due to globalization and groundbreaking pace of urbanization in the recent times, the historic fabric has been radically altered. As cities have evolved through aspirations and ideas only, with no functional thought whatsoever, it is vital for a developing country like India to recognize that without regard for its heritage it cannot build a future, or that a development without its heritage would be only unsustainable. / Master of Science / Over the centuries, cities have gained spotlight and have grown powerful with an increased level of significance towards infrastructure. There exist countries that are still in the process of development, which get influenced with the idea of rapid development due to the growing populations they face each day. The quick growth and the process of building up have led to danger to the future of the cities as the growth is unplanned and uncontrolled. Such uncontrolled growth has affected the city fabric, having no considerate thought given to the future of the city, social wellbeing, aesthetics, transport, safety or road network it has left the fabric in tatters. These factors even let go of the smallest window for spaces for recreation leaving the developing countries with thoughtless great towns. Spaces like markets, public squares or streets act as spaces for recreation in such overcrowded cities. India is one such developing country with its cultural heritage lying solely in its old cities, towns and ancient settlements. Globalization struck India and radically affected its old cities as the fabric was disrupted with an addition of new structures alongside historic structures. Overcrowding led to disability in the functioning, leaving no spaces for recreation. However, in this hodgepodge, India needs to realize and recognize the importance of its old city fabric as without considerate regards to the heritage one cannot build a sustainable future.

City streets are the most widely distributed and heavily trafficked urban public spaces. As cities strive to improve livability in the built environment, it is important for planners and designers to have a concise understanding of what contributes to quality streetscapes. The proportions and scale of buildings and trees, which define the three-dimensional extents of streetscapes, provide enduring, foundational skeletons. This thesis investigates how characteristics of such streetscape skeletons can be quantified and tested for appeal among human users. The first of two journal-style papers identifies a concise set of skeleton variables that urban design theorists have described as influential to streetscape appeal. It offers an automated GIS-based method for identifying and cataloging these skeleton variables, which are practical to measure using widely available spatial data. Such an approach allows measurement of tens of thousands of street segments precisely and efficiently, a dramatically larger sample than can be feasibly collected using the existing auditing techniques of planners and researchers. Further, this paper examines clustering patterns among skeleton variables for street segments throughout Boston, New York, and Baltimore, identifying four streetscape skeleton types that describe a ranking of enclosure from surrounding buildings--upright, compact, porous, and open. The types are identifiable in all three cities, demonstrating regional consistency in streetscape design. Moreover, the types are poorly associated with roadway functional classifications--arterial, collector, and local--indicating that streetscapes are a distinct component of street design and must receive separate planning and design attention. The second paper assesses relationships between skeleton variables and crowdsourced judgments of streetscape visual appeal throughout New York City. Regression modeling indicates that streetscapes with greater tree canopy coverage, lined by a greater number of buildings, and with more upright cross-sections, are more visually appealing. Building and tree canopy geometry accounts for more than 40% of variability in perceived safety, which is used as an indicator of appeal. While unmeasured design details undoubtedly influence overall streetscape appeal, basic skeletal geometry may contribute important baseline conditions for appealing streetscapes that are enduring and can meet a broad variety of needs.

Runt om Växjö återfinns många köpcentra som ständigt utökar vilket kan bli ett hot mot centrum. Växjö city domineras ur shoppinghänseende, av en enda gata, Storgatan. För att få ett mer konkurrenskraftigt centrum och dessutom ett mer spännande gatunät skulle en breddning av centrum därför vara positivt. Närmast tillhands för en vidgning är den parallella gågatan Sandgärdsgatan, vilken i dagsläget känns mer som en bakgata. Vårt projekt gick således ut på att ta fram förslag på hur man skulle kunna göra Sandgärdsgatan till en mer attraktiv gågata. Undersökningar har gjorts i form av litteraturstudier, intervju- och enkätundersökningar samt besök i olika stadsmiljöer. Förslagen vi tagit fram innefattar allt ifrån ombyggnationer och allmänna upprustningar till torghandel och affischering. De största åtgärdsförslagen har vi förutom i text valt att visualisera med olika ritningar medan mindre förslag endast nämns i text. / In the outskirts of Växjö many shoppingmalls are vastly expanding which in time could pose a threat to the city centre. Växjö city is, in shoppingaspects dominated by one main street, Storgatan. To achieve a more competitive central part of the city and complex street network, a widening of the center would be preferred. Closest at hand for a widening of the city centre is the paralell pedestrian street Sandgärdsgatan, which today is thought of as a backstreet. Our project is to propose examples on how to turn Sandgärdsgatan into a more attractive pedestrian street. Research have been carried out in the form of literaturestudies, interviews and polls aswell as fieldtrips to various urban environments. The proposals we have created include everything from remodelling and general restorations to street markets and placarding. The main proposals aside from being presented in text are also visualised in drawings whilst smaller changes are only mentioned in text.