Maria Luchkova: Forming and transformation of city mediate space

Maria Luchkova
European University at St.Petersburg, Art History Departement, post-graduate student.

This research considers urban mediate spaces. The concept “mediate space” means kinds of spaces, which can be used as mediator. In the sphere of urban planning this kind of spaces widely distributed. Mediate spaces in urban planning has function of entrance and exit, transition between spaces of different types. So mediate spaces are special elements of city structure, which tie together and at the same time demarcate urban space. Urban mediate spaces can be formed by different architectural and urban planning forms (it can be gate or arch, square, stairs, bridge or harbor or their combination as well as other elements of city structure), but their primary feature is combination of two functions: in one hand, it is transition between diverse spaces (for example, between city and nature, or between city districts); in the other hand, they mark boundaries of city or district.

Subject: city mediate spaces as town-planning and spatial unit, part of city structure; forming principles of city mediate spaces and its historical transformation.
Problem: delineation of term “city mediate space”, description of its historical transformation and peculiarities.
Objectives:
- delineation and definition of term “city mediate space” in town-planning context;
- analysis of its historical transformation of mediate spaces in world town-planning practice;
- uncovering and analysis of forming principles of mediate spaces;
- analysis of mediate spaces role in city structure forming
- considering of mediate spaces symbolic
- classification of city mediate spaces