Fabricating space : reimagining the ecology of the urban

Abstract

In architectural terms, the urban fabric encompasses the arrangement and organisation of streets, buildings, public spaces, and infrastructure that together create the distinctive character and functional framework of an urban environment. When we speak of the urban fabric, we are referring to more than just the individual components of a city; we are considering how these elements interweave to create a cohesive whole. This fabric speaks to the historical, cultural, and social dynamics that have shaped urban space over time. It also has implications for the lived experience of a place. It influences how people move through space, connect with one another, and perceive their surroundings. Urban Fabric is also Malta’s response to the London Design Biennale 2023, erected in the central courtyard of Somerset House, an iconic neoclassical building situated along the northern bank of the River Thames. Malta’s pavilion inhabits an atemporal space, evoking a sense of continuity, as if belonging simultaneously to the past, present, and future. It considers the enduring relevance of certain ideas and forms; it creates a bridge between different times while resisting the confines of temporal categorisation. The concept and design of the structure set out to balance form, materiality, context, and innovation.