Urban acupuncture – ephemeral arrangements of space

Abstract

Development of modern cities, technological progress, reising pace of life, fast-changing fashion and increasing needs of society make the offered urban solutions lose their relevance relatively shortly after their introduction forcing to search for new concepts. In response to those changes, multifunctional, mobile spatial forms are proposed, often with direct possibility of makeing changes. They have been called 'injections' of new ideas and qualities and fall within the definition of 'urban acupuncture'. Usually, the short lifetime of such objects determines cheap, easy to apply solutions. These are ephemeral forms: temporary, short-lived, corresponding to the needs of a specific place at a specific moment. Temporary actions are a form of provocation, it forces you to look at a known place from a different perspective. These types of interventions are aimed to improve or suggesting of the necessity to improve the quality of existing public space, architecture and its health. Text is based on analysis of documents: available scientific studies, documented examples of architectural and artistic solutions, as well as comments and observations relating to these realizations. Submitting this topic to theoretical reflection is aimed to draw attention to selected issues linking architecture with art in the context of 'city acupuncture', understood as spatial realizations and intervention projects in 'sick' areas of architecture. The text discusses the characteristics of temporary architecture and art in public spaces in the context of revitalization activities.