Urban comfort. Three research directions around a new proximity- Focused planning approach

Abstract

This article offers a perspective on the concept of spatial proximity. It starts from a reading of residential practices as something that goes beyond the dimension of the house and of the see-saw relationship between public and private prompted by the routine uses of spaces. It is suggested that, based on the upshot of those very readings, the idea of comfort can be reformulated to inform a reconsideration of spatial-proximity planning in the contemporary city. A study in Geneva to sample some urban spaces (1-km squares in the urban fabric) brought out general issues about the relationship between the comfort of proximity spaces and planning strategies, pinpointing themes and parameters for rethinking common spaces. Copyright © FrancoAngeli.