What We Talk About When We Talk About Public Interiors
Essay for MULTI book
"Public space versus private space: a dichotomy that is perhaps the most frequently introduced contrast in debates surrounding architecture and architectural education. Hereby, a public space is understood to be an accessible space in the communal life. A public space in its ideal form is open to all members of society; it is a space of equality, and one that’s devoid of censorship or specific requirements for entry. Yet, as public space is not the accumulation of all the leftover areas between the private spaces in a built environment, there are nuances. They start with the differences between exterior and interior public spaces. A public interior implies a ‘door’; an element that is a threshold through which people must pass. It is not a park or a square where the citizens would stroll occasionally."
The publication brings the story, the genesis, of MULTI like a ‘documentary’. MULTI projects are all about a smart approach, working with what there is and reusing it as much as possible. This publication follows the same approach. Based on working documents, photos of the site, reflections and contextualisation. It is both a book with photos and a documentary, a reflective report that gathers knowledge. The three major topics follow MULTI’s basic principles and ambitions: public debate, public interior, circularity. Attention is also paid to the role of BIM or, rather, ‘integrated practice’.
Contributions by:
Lionel Billiet (ROTOR), Kristiaan Borret (bouwmeester / Maître architect of the Brussels Capital Region),
Asli Çiçek (architect), Frederik Jacobs (CONIX RDBM Architects), Tomas Ooms (Studio Tuin en Wereld), Sven Sterken (KU Leuven), Arne Vande Capelle (ROTOR), Valérie Vermandel (Whitewood), Gwen Vreven (Immobel Group)
