Reclaiming Urban Staircase: Reimagine the public staircase in feminist city
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School of Arts, Design and Architecture |
Master's thesis
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Date
2024-12-26
Department
Major/Subject
Architecture
Mcode
Degree programme
Master’s programme in Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Interior Architec
Language
en
Pages
149
Series
Abstract
This thesis studies the urban staircase from a feminist perspective and reimagines the public staircase in the context of the “Feminist City.” The aim of the study is to explore how intersectional feminist perspectives on urban public spaces can inform the design of the future public spaces, specifically focusing on public staircases. The methodology involves building a theoretical framework through literature reviews and analyzing four case studies with AI-generated images to envision potential future staircase designs in Feminist City. This study reclaims three typologies of urban staircases, including function-oriented staircases, landscape staircases, and social staircases, by analyzing their distinct characteristics. Six aspects of Feminist City are considered while each addressing the factors that shape a new caregiving society. These aspects illustrate how patriarchal social structures and power dynamics influence urban planning, prompting critical reflections on accessibility and inclusivity from a feminist perspective. This approach highlights the intersectionality and complexity of societal factors, underscoring that by focusing on any single aspect without considering others may lead to further social challenges. The four case studies from Finland included in this thesis are Steps of Helsinki Cathedral, Säynätsalo Town Hall, University of Technology, Otaniemi (now Aalto University), and Löyly Helsinki. These case studies compare AI-generated images with the original designs under Feminist City theoretical framework; their analyses explore the relationships between people, urban staircases, and social activities relating to culture, politics, and networking. The purpose is to offer insights into the urban staircase experience as a conceptual space. With an awareness that AI has its own biases, this thesis treats AI outputs purely as exploratory tools within the limits of current digital databases, without making value judgments. Ultimately, this study aims to redefine social care structures within feminist urban planning, aligning them with diverse societal values across gender, race, culture, and economy. By reflecting on traditional care models, which often focus on specific groups, urban planning in Feminist City promotes a more inclusive and collaborative kinship framework that transcends binary perspectives. Through this approach, the present study seeks to shift from a human-centered design to a space-active design and promote safe and interconnected spaces that support a broader range of social needs.Description
Supervisor
Reuter, JenniThesis advisor
Vartola, AnniKeywords
urban staircase, feminist city, feminism, urban planning, AI, public infrastructure