In his 1994 lecture “Of Other Spaces: Utopias and Heterotopias”, Michel Foucault describes the perfect urban environment as a ‘utopia’. However, he defines this as an impossible, unachievable condition that is filled with disappointment and unfulfilled dreams. He proposes the ‘heterotopic’ space, or ‘non-space’, a place where physical and mental recreation is promoted, to provide creativity, serenity, and freedom. These ‘designer mindscapes’ are often green spaces and are positioned within the city to balance work, rest and play. The natural or man-made barriers of trees, paths, walls or rivers provide both physical and mental delineation, controlling both the flow of people through the space whilst sectioning them off from the surrounding metropolis. The subsequent creation of ‘incongruous spaces’ is the primary focus of this project. 

 

Within South wales, Cardiff and Newport cities’ urban green spaces are under threat. Although urban parks are protected, other recreational spaces are under threat, as the buildings continue to encroach and land prices increase, it is only a matter of time before these incongruous spaces disappear entirely.