StreetSpace is a research and teaching project in the School of Architecture at Queen's University Belfast. StreetSpace works in collaboration with academia, government and local communities to analyse streets and fulfil their potential to be people-centred, accessible and inclusive public places. The project investigates the significance of everyday streets through their urban form, histories and experiences. It establishes links with other disciplines and seeks to enable the dialogue between academia, policy and the public thorough the organisation of local workshops, symposia and exhibitions.

 

​Everyday streets are complex and connect diverse areas of the city. They have evolved slowly through history, but can be radically transformed by redevelopment. Scholars value their plurality, diversity and authenticity; while urban designers and planners value their physical aspects, often overlooking the social construct of the people who use them. On the other hand, policy makers look for the social, economic and political value of everyday streets. To be able to bridge this gap between academia, practice and policy we need to understand all these values. StreetSpace explores streets with a rich mix of uses, with complex histories and especially those that risk losing their distinctive identities.

 

The project began in 2011 with the graphic analysis of streets in plan and section. It has evolved to include different methods from disciplines as diverse as sociology, history, geography, sound, art, as well as architecture and urban design.

The StreetSpace workshops were held in Belfast, Buenos Aires, Edinburgh, Kilkenny, London, Naples, Ljubljana, Lisbon and Delft. This exercise has enhanced local student’s understanding of the role of streets in the urban landscape while building a critical mass of examples to inform the analysis, while enabling a dialogue between academia, communities, practice and policy.

 

StreetSpace partners, collaborators and funders include the Department for Communities, Belfast City Council, Department for Infrastructure, Participation and the Practice of Rights, Great Place North Belfast, Belfast Buildings Trust, Ulster Architectural Heritage, SaveCQ, Place, Sailortown Regeneration, Market Development Association and Forward South, among others.

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GIS website Botanic:

https://arcg.is/10Oaj5

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GIS website Sandy Row/Village

​https://arcg.is/1j4fzK1

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GIS website city centre:

​https://go.qub.ac.uk/streetspaceresearch

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Videos workshops and symposium:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Aq2uG1sZ7GDms3UUdLvmg

 

Website Sailortown:

https://www.streetspace-sailortown.com/

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