Rethinking third places in the new normal: Nudging social connections in Otaniemi community
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School of Arts, Design and Architecture |
Master's thesis
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Date
2021
Department
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Master’s Programme in Interior Architecture
Language
en
Pages
113
Series
Abstract
At the time of writing, we are still going through an unprecedented pandemic with unknown consequences. Unpredictable restrictions and the necessity for safe behaviour have revolutionised the way we use community spaces in daily life. It is a given that as students at the Aalto University Otaniemi campus, we often struggle with disconnection and depression while facing Covid. This study shows that a lack of social connections has impacted our daily well-being and led to study stress. Specifically, this thesis introduces the perspective of third places (social connection spaces) to understand the issue and readjust the design perspective to the new reality. Therefore, the thesis explores two questions: 1. What are the usages, perceptions and requirements of third places under the new normal? 2. How can Otaniemi’s third places be employed to nudge social connections in the new normal? In terms of methodology, the study employs a mixed methods approach. The research section is devoted to eliciting local context and user knowledge (users’ daily lives, as well as their needs and preferences for third places) via a combination of a quantitative survey (an online questionnaire) and qualitative methods (non-participant observation and a semi-structured interview). In the exploration section, the thesis combines a literature review and a case study, analyses the physical factors and new normal responses in third places and concludes with third places thinking as a design concept. The conceptual framework of the thesis is based on the overlapping domains of sociology, spatial planning and service thinking, emphasising the relationship between people, activities and places. It involves thinking bottom-up about community space and comprehending the ongoing need for third places in times of crisis and in the future. As a result of the research for this thesis, a conceptual design is proposed. The thesis identifies that the core objectives of the solution are to transform third places holistically—including physical artefacts and backstage service—by making the best use of existing resources and expanding the range of activities available. Essentially, the idea is to give residents more control over their environment through DIY activities, workshops, surveys and co-creation. In the end, three scales of chrono-community scenarios (stories) are created to explain the concept in a detailed context. This design has shown that the Otaniemi campus has much room to grow in terms of nudging social connections on multiple levels. The ultimate goal of this thesis is to present an exploratory process and use the knowledge and findings gained to inspire future designers through both theory and practice.Description
Supervisor
Kareoja, PenttiThesis advisor
Pirinen, AnttiKeywords
the Otaniemi campus, Aalto University, the new normal, third places, social spaces design, street furniture