(IN)TANGIBLE HERITAGE(S)

Abstract

Public interiority—experiencing outside places as interiors—is a fleeting condition determined by several factors, including building form, usage, cultural-political contexts, psychological states, and atmospheric qualities. Designer Julieanna Preston described an interior as “something temporal, something impermanent, unrepeatable, maybe even virtual.”1 Public interiors that disregard enclosure and exist within the exterior, urban realm are a critical aspect of contemporary interior architectural theory and practice. The concept attempts to reframe the field of interiors into more human-centered and experiential practice rather than being delineated by the building façade. I posit that we should design by firstly understanding the previous atmospheric qualities and cultural-political contexts of these extended interiors2 —and then reveal these conditions via loose-fit design frameworks. Designers should imbed care and maintenance into the “already there” public exterior-interiors.3 Looking at the invisible city, the accretions, and other ubiquitous city-markings,4 designers can create a nuanced outline for self-organized adaptability—rather than heavy-handed and alien architecture. This paper explores how to uphold pubic interiority as a temporal, impermanent thing while simultaneously formulating exterior-interiors that reveal and relive a site’s past. This aim will be achieved via case studies in London and Bucharest. These cities have been chosen for their robust palimpcestic qualities and distinct cultural-political histories. For example, the Bucharest’s Piața Amzei neighborhood currently houses outdoor markets, food vendors, Romani traders, and a neighborhood center. This piața has maintained vestigial remains, known as Thomassons,5 from the pre-1989 Communist era. They still inform the experience and “interiorist” temporary usage of the place. East London boroughs like Hackney have likewise evolved and display the materials and textures of previous interior conditions. This paper will cover the distinct leftover conditions of each place and recommend methods for revealing the genetic memory of public interiority in future designs.