The Secret Lives of Corridors: Networks of Relations in Transitional Built Spaces

Abstract

Built environment research has long been interested in understanding the complexities of transitional spaces by investigating their hosted interactions. One approach used in efforts of this kind is actor-network theory (ANT), which conceptualizes built spaces as networks of relations that allow for certain interactions but not others. Previous studies have not considered the full variety of such interactions, having either addressed such multiplicity generically or focused on particular interactions related to a specific activity. Filling this gap, this article utilizes an ANT-inspired ethnographic approach to unpack the spatial diversity of a Jordanian university’s corridor space by mapping the various interactions therein. The findings present the relational dynamics within the various networks created and show how they have diversifying effects on the very shaping of the corridor. Ultimately, this article suggests a more nuanced conceptualization of transitional spaces through a better understanding of the multitude of interactions, offering designers a tool to create distinctive spaces that serve different user needs.