Using 'Third Spaces' to alleviate Gentrification's socio-cultural difficulties

Many European cities’ urban landscapes have deteriorated economically due to economic downturns and socially due to the migrant and refugee crises, resulting in low socioeconomic capital. This EMUVE Research + Design project examines the damaged urban landscape of Lewisham Borough of London’s Deptford region and proposes an Intercultural Node to revitalize certain areas of Deptford.

The term “intercultural node” refers to a specific location in the urban realm where there is a profound and mutual understanding and respect for all cultures. Locals, migrants, and refugees actively participate and communicate in places where there is no prejudice.

Deptford is an area in the southeast London borough of Lewisham. Because of its proximity to River Thames and Deptford Creek, this region had a strong sense of maritime history and was well-known for its docks and wharves from the mid-sixteenth to late-nineteenth centuries. The economic crisis due to the fall of the docks and wharfs led to an influx of migrants and an efflux of the natives.

This region, which is undergoing rapid urban expansion and is one of London’s economically depressed areas, is culturally rich and diverse. However, the current cultural state of the area is Cross-cultural and

Also, in many parts of Deptford, 21st-century urban development is promoting Gentrification, which is tearing the urban fabric, widening the divide between different groups of people, and reducing social capital.

As a result, this architecture Design + Research project focuses on the rehabilitation of regions affected by gentrification by proposing the Third Space intervention, an intercultural hub.

Firstly, through a wide urban analysis of Deptford followed by a theoretical framework, a research question was formed. The question was then fragmented into keywords and the meaning of each was understood. Third spaces being the main keyword, the literature review on it was done. This literature was understood, analyzed, and then translated into spatial, programmatic, and conceptual aspects.

Further with the contextual analysis at the urban and neighborhood level - context and surroundings, these translations were put together to form an ICN.