The architecture of garden as new recreation field of everyday urban life

Abstract

The paper explores possibilities of the implementation of the garden in the context of everyday urban life, as a new field of recreation and leisure activity, using the research by design method to investigate its potentials in the contemporary context. The paper is based on the results of student’s research conducted on the academic course Recreation - Contemporary Design Aspects, as a ....... Architecture, within the main topic concerning relationship between open space and leisure time. Referring to theoretical grounds, gardens represent minimal “universes”, with the potential integration of various spaces and locations incompatible with each other. Gardens are fragments of nature, different and desirable within the urban everyday life, but also the bearers of ideas of the integration of landscape as the primary medium in the construction of urban area. On the other hand, the idea of recreation and leisure activities is guided by the human’s desire to step out of everyday life, but at the same time, to stay closely linked with other life activities. By this means, recreation opens broad field for creative actions that could transform everyday urban life and refine its space. In this research, architecture is recognized as a tool for creative harmonization of diverse programs, forms and experiences of built and unbuilt, through the application and invention of new forms of recreational spaces and programs. Through the idea of recreation as a universal program recognized as a modern need, research by design opens new opportunities and explores diverse ways of new urban - natural synergy relying on the potentials of the single garden in contemporary context.