EDITORIAL PICK PRIZE in Non Architecture Competition- Living Together/ The Future Public Space

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With regards to the already saturated urban ground, future cities are expected to grow tremendously vertical. New forms of public space, which are typically found of ground, are in need to support the high-density development and new form of social interaction. Despite there is good quality communal space on higher planes, such as the roof garden, they tend to be privatized or even cut-off for other commercial purposes. The design imagines a new public space that is developed vertically and fully open to public. A gradual transition from large to smaller area public space allows a range of different scale of urban actions. It also allows activities in a more intimate manner through which social distance could be kept while its open layout ensure certain security and visual connection. New layers of circulation are injected into the existing building blocks to connect with the elevated public space, which drives more flow of people and enhances accessibility on layers above ground. The volumetric public space articulates a multiplicity of spatial qualities that support the emergent diversity of cultural activities such as art showcase and sports and encourages new form of interactions.