An Urban Acupuncture Approach to Revitalising Treorchy

For my design thesis, I am applying principles taken from the approach of urban acupuncture to revitalise Treorchy, a post-industrial town in the South Wales Valleys.

The architectural theory of urban acupuncture focuses on how small-scale interventions at strategically chosen locations can stimulate wider positive change and urban revitalisation. In my thesis, I seek to investigate how it can be applied to Treorchy, identifying and resolving the needs within the town.

My final proposal is for a primary example urban acupuncture intervention of a community space and marketplace.
My project programme aims to foster and enhance the current market in Treorchy, and provide a community building for various activities and a much desired outdoor public space, which also offers a venue for hosting events within Treorchy and attracting more visitors to the town, which is important to the community.
The proposal consists of an outdoor public space in the town centre along the river edge, where a large steel roof canopy structure of parallel, geometrically undulating strips shelters fixed buildings (including the community building) and space for an open-air marketplace. The roof structure incorporates PV panels, generating renewable electricity for the project, and is supported by columns with electrical power points at their bases for market stalls to access. A combination of fixed/permanent and movable/temporary elements to the market allow the space to facilitate other potential activities or events and spatial arrangements, such as outdoor performances or extending the Christmas celebrations.

My proposal explores urban acupuncture, by demonstrating how a fairly small-scale intervention can help to drive change and revitalisation and have a wider positive impact. The marketplace and events will attract more people to Treorchy and the proposal will greatly benefit the residents of Treorchy, giving them a much-needed outdoor community space, as well as supporting small independent Welsh businesses. This proposal is also intended to act as a catalyst project, initiating momentum and sparking further urban acupuncture interventions within Treorchy, fairly small-scale projects but all contributing to benefitting the local community, attracting more visitors and regenerating the town.