From Space to Place: A Design Manifesto For Activating Underutilized Land Through Placemaking Design
Tina Lee
As public spaces quietly disappear from our daily lives, social isolation seeps into the fabric of the city.
The places where we once lingered, gathered, and connected are becoming scarce—replaced
by transactions, speed, and separation. But the city still holds quiet pockets of potential—spaces that have
been overlooked, neglected, or cast aside.
These are the leftovers of urban growth: vacant lots, underbridges, and alleyways—formed not by design,
but as byproducts of profit-driven development and unchecked urbanization. Though unintended, these
voids are full of quiet power. What if, instead of erasing them, we reimagined them?
We believe these in-between spaces can become the soul of a more vibrant, connected city. Through
placemaking design, we activate what was idle—not simply through aesthetics, but through purpose,
community, and imagination. This design is not imposed from above— it grows from the ground up. We
develop partnerships with local communities, honoring their stories, needs, and rhythms. In doing so,
we: enhance community agency, encourage user and use diversity, and strengthen the unique character
of place.
We envision a process of adaptive transformation—of reconstructing and deconstructing spaces with care,
flexibility, and shared imagination. Every leftover corner holds a different possibility, shaped by the people
who live alongside it.
This is not just a project. It’s a quiet revolution. A reclaiming of space. A reawakening of joy.
