THE [ INTERSTITIAL ]

In medicine or biology, INTERSTITIAL refers to the SPACE IN BETWEEN, separating different organs, cells, and tissues. It is generally a fluid for DYNAMISM. For the BUILT ENVIRONMENT, what roles could the ARCHITECTURAL or URBAN INTERSTITIAL play..?

Interstitial

The adventure began two years ago as an on-site survey for my architecture thesis project. But over time, I discovered that this wasn’t just about a thesis project.

Like any child who grew up in a city that wasn’t well-suited for children—where there were no quality green spaces to play—the only escape was our grandparents' farm in the countryside. Despite the melancholic and nostalgic memories, we don’t always know where the urge and passion to serve our community come from. We all love our roots, even when the environment might sometimes feel toxic.

A quote by Alexander Den Heijer says, “When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” Maybe it is because when you uproot the flower, it might die, failing to adapt even to the greenest environment. Why not "detoxify" the existing environment—the ground beneath our roots—that was once the healthiest ground for the plants, instead?

What made it become “unhealthy”?

The answer to that is simple—uncontrolled anthropogenic activities.

Where is the interstitial in all this?

Here’s the full picture. The city of Jemmel, where I was born, has always been known for its cultural dynamism, craftsmanship, and agricultural activities, mainly in the past. However, the most defining activity that Jemmel became famous for was its industrial production, particularly the making of red bricks in its local brickyards, using the region’s clay discovered during the colonial period.

Building an industrial unit in a decentralized zone in the countryside—away from the urban core—was never the big problem. But with the proliferation of industrial activity, the population grew rapidly, and so did urban sprawl. One production unit became two, then three, and the population increased proportionally.

Now, the position of the brickyards has become a serious problem for the surrounding residents. With complaints from nearby inhabitants and the lack of maintenance of the structures, a 17-hectare site that was once a vibrant industrial core at the heart of the city has ceased its activities and been transformed into a real-life Zombieland for almost twenty years.

This huge void has delayed the city’s urban development and infrastructure, creating profound disparities between two different urban fabrics—not only separated by the brick factory but also by the railway.

Returning to the question: What role could architectural or urban interstitials play in the built environment?

In its definition, we said the interstitial is a fluid space, ensuring dynamism and activity between different organs. If we translate this to the built environment, what could be the source for the revival of interstitial space?

The "dying organs" are craving a sign of life!

Well, the living has always been a source of inspiration. Observing the spontaneous and fluid activities of people, their occupation of deserted and disqualified places, observing the flows, the frequencies, the movements, and engaging with locals—all of these reveal the untold stories. Learning from the best guides—the former workers—provides knowledge that no book can offer.

This project is about urban rehabilitation and social remediation, redefining beauty, and finding life in the most undesirable places.