Infrastructural Urbanism and Mat Urbanism

Infrastructural Urbanism
Mat Urbanism: The Thick 2-D

Stan Allen explains how the idea of infrastructural urbanism has been changing. But its essence keeps being the same. Infrastructure urbanism is the means through which parts of the city are connected. He gives the example of the suburban city, where things are farther a part and the implementation of highways is necessary, and because of the construction of these new spaces are created, new ways of people to interact. In contrast to an Islamic city, were structures are close together, and the infrastructural urbanism in this case is different, there is no need for highways, but to provide spaces for public gathering. Infrastructural Urbanism provides the opportunity to improve human condition, but also is a material expression of how we live. He also expresses that infrastructural urbanism is a material practice, where the direct effect is projected into the program, event and activities that happened as a result. Infrastructural urbanism depends of the cultural and social settings, and it is the materialization of a concept. Changes made to our environment may prepare the ground for future events and changes.

In the other text he writes about a mat in urbanism. This is how architecture is connected and how it affects the people. Mats can have different characteristics, they may be solid or porous, may let movement go through or just stop it. They may wrap or wave their connections through. Mat creates a way to support and adapt social behavior, and create a relationship between us and our environment, build or natural. The porpoise of this mat is to create spaces and activate void spaces within the connections. He gives as an example landscape architecture, which has scattered functions but still behaves as a whole. Mat buildings reconfigure their urban context and have organizational strategies, which let the city flow through them. He also mentions the importance of recognizing the cultural setting and its uniqueness. Mat buildings are in constant contact with its context and offer continuity to the city.

Both pieces are closely related; one explains why infrastructure is necessary and what its function is in urbanism, while the other explains how infrastructure can be connected through mat buildings. I think that the project in the park represents a mat building, not only because it will connect the Bay Shore, but because it will serve to activate void spaces. It is important to take in consideration how an who will this project affect, and what type of activities are lacking in that part to be provided to improve the quality of life. Also by connecting the Bay Shore we will create a urban infrastructure for pedestrians, yet adjacent parts of the site are not suburbs or highly concentrated population areas, it is lacking of a medium to connect to the city, and most important to the bay. It represents and opportunity to establish a close relationship between the people and the environment. The park provides service to residents around the area, and it is an isolated park. It is enclose by the inlet to the north, the women’s club to the south, the bay to the east and high rises to the west. If seen from the Venetian causeway it is conceal by vegetation. The park represents the opportunity to create the beginning/ending of a mat building passing through Bay Front and Bicentennial Park