Spaces of Power
Addressing women’s space claiming and public space participation through gender-sensitive design in Rotterdam South
D.A. Trommelen (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
W.C. Yung – Mentor (TU Delft - History, Form & Aesthetics)
E.J.G.C. van Dooren – Mentor (TU Delft - History, Form & Aesthetics)
F.R. Schnater – Mentor (TU Delft - Building Design & Technology)
L.M. Oorschot – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / A)
H.D. Ploeger – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Urban Data Science)
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Abstract
Many studies have researched the effects of gender inequality in many different fields. In the field of architecture however, it has proven a struggle to translate the social to the spatial domain. Through a combination of a literature study, interviews and site visits this thesis aims to answer the question “How can a gender-sensitive spatial design in Rotterdam South stimulate women’s space claiming and public space participation?”. In part 1, the research shows gender inequality negatively affects women’s space claiming and public space participation. Walking practices, memory and (lack of) control — the three factors in space claiming — are shaped by gender roles, collective experiences of unsafety and street harassment as well as the male hegemony. Public space participation is affected as well: women use the public space in a mobile manner, task-oriented manner or do not use it at all. Female perception of public space is generally more negative and feelings of unsafety are more common. Additionally, women continuously scan their environment, meaning the maintenance and design of the public space are vital to gender-sensitive design.
In Rotterdam South and Bloemhof, the gendered aspects of space claiming and public space participation are clearly present and the outcomes of the literature review are confirmed by the interviews and location analysis. Gender-sensitive design can contribute to a more women-friendly urban environment, empower them to partake more often in the socio-spatial domain, and encourage a sense of social safety, social control as well as encourage the (extended) use of the public space, thus stimulating women’s space claiming and public space participation. The research outcome helped create principles for the design process and other design guidelines, which are provided in chapter four and the attachment Blueprints for Change. In part 2, these principles and guidelines are applied to a real context and design, showing the possibilities of gendermainstreaming. This goes to show, spatial designers can now design female Spaces of Power.