When does a Space
become a Place?

1:1 Prototype urban furniture & Book (Theoretical Framework)

This project is based on a conceptual exploration of the terms "Space" and "Place," understood respectively as physical representation and their metaphorical dimension. The central question, “When does a Space become a Place?” seeks to investigate the subjective and collective processes that transform the merely physical into a meaningful experience, based on the idea that there is an invisible dialogue between people and the environments they inhabit. This dialogue, although subtle, allows us to understand the lives of others who coexist in the same place. By recognising this interaction with the environment, it opens up the possibility of inhabiting spaces in a more conscious and less invasive way. The project focuses particularly on pseudo-public spaces. As a response/activation of this theoretical framework, an intervention based on the design of an object is created. It is proposed to create a pause in the daily experience, offering a space for time and reflection and eventually sharing. This object functions as a catalyst to reconfigure the physical space into a symbolic space, offering users a moment of pause. In this act, the space is re-signified: it ceases to be merely a place of transit and becomes a means of communication. Thus, the environment becomes a witness and narrator of the cultural moment we inhabit, allowing each person to recognise themselves as an active part of a shared reality.