RECONSIDERING SPACES LEFT-OVER AFTER PLANNING WITHIN THE EUROPEAN CITIES AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURY. OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND DIVERSIFICATION OF PUBLIC DOMAIN UTILIZING SPACES UNDER ELEVATED INFRASTRUCTURE

ABSTRACT

The subject undertaken in the article is poorly researched so far, and at the same time very current, because it concerns the space management strategy in large European cities in the aspect of sustainable spatial development policy. It concerns certain type of Space Left Over After Planning – areas under elevated infrastructure (bridges, viaducts and flyovers).
Underspaces either mostly remain undeveloped for long time or are intended for parking lots or technical facilities. Lack of inadequate management and negligence of these areas leads to the perception of them as physical borders and mental barriers in the urban structures.
Intention of the article is to present opportunities for sustainability and diversification of public domain coming from utilizing spaces under elevated infrastructure. Various forms of underspace revival show that there are organizational and design sollutions, thanks to which these kind of areas can be positively transformed. The biggest advantage of such actions is the fact that these areas may be included in public spaces network and that the perception of underspaces as physical and mental barriers in the city could be minimized. The main focus of the research concerns various forms of utilizing spaces under elevated infrastructure taking place at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. This time range is consistent with the implementation of the concept of sustainable mobility into planning practices, related to, among others, the reduction of large-scale transport investments (including elevated infrastruture routes) and attempts to integrate transport infrastructure and architecture.

Keywords: elevated infrastructure, public space, modern architecture, space left over after planning, underspace.