Urban dialysis : [re]invigorating urban vitality using adhocism

The changes in the ecology of the urban fabric within cities

- without careful application in maintaining or promoting vibrant and

livable neighbourhoods - can lead to a notable decrease o f the quality

of life in communities. Two of the primary problems of providing

publicly available active areas within cities are the issues of finance

and time constraints. Under these conditions how can architecture,

normally an expensive and long process, help when the problems

are cost and time? Could an ad hoc architecture approach turn the

problems to opportunities and allow spaces and structures that can

be built quickly and inexpensively? Would ad hoc architecture,

as we see it, continuously evoke user curiosity, imagination and interest, or

would it be a mere distraction as city goers and users pass by? How can

adhocism improve the vitality of a community that needs [re]invigoration?

We will call this process 'urban dialysis' and for this inquiry we will investigate

an ad hoc application - as an architectural condition and as a tool - to

reinvigorate community vitality by adding spaces and structures for socially

relevant, imaginative activities. We shall explore the notion of a solution

that adheres to affordability, urgency, nongeneralization and improvisation.

Eventually the question posed is: Can adhocism be a useful lasting operation

within architecture, and of lasting value to the community?