Loose Space Lexicon: Design Tactics for Facilitating Appropriation in Urban Gaps

Wellington has an underlying network of ‘leftover’ (Cupers and Miessen) spaces awaiting activation. Their potential is masked by the deterministic view cast upon them by the wider architectural discipline. However, there has been a recent shift in thinking from a ‘top-down’ approach to one that realises the potential of what exists already – ‘from the ground up’ (Kahn). This thesis explores a tactical application of ‘Loose Space’ qualities in an effort to engage in and increase the appropriability of the individual gap. Ultimately, a set of tactics will be developed that have the potential to be applied to gaps within various contexts.