Urban Voids and Human Needs

Abstract

This research investigates the relationship between vacant/abandoned properties and the unhoused community in Paramaribo, Suriname, examining how architectural interventions can transform urban challenges into opportunities for community integration and social capital development. The study employs a mixed-methods approach that combines literature analysis through Urban Decline Theory, Broken Windows Theory, and Social Capital Theory with stakeholder communications and spatial documentation of Paramaribo's urban context.
The findings reveal that Suriname's economic instability has created severe poverty conditions affecting vulnerable populations who experience housing instability and social disconnection. Paramaribo simultaneously faces increasing urban voids that accelerate neighborhood deterioration, with these abandoned spaces frequently occupied by unhoused individuals, thereby creating a self-reinforcing cycle of urban decline.
In response to these interconnected challenges, the research proposes an integrated approach that addresses both physical and social dimensions of the problem. The physical dimension employs spatial analysis to halt neighborhood decline and provide housing solutions, while the social dimension draws on Social Capital Theory to develop community-based interventions that foster meaningful connections and rebuild social networks.
Ultimately, this research demonstrates how architectural design can serve as a catalyst for breaking cycles of urban deterioration while simultaneously building social capital for vulnerable communities. By addressing the dual nature of urban decline—both its physical manifestations and social consequences—the study provides a framework for transforming abandoned urban spaces into assets that strengthen community resilience and promote social integration.