The performance of the ruin : an exploration of the ruin as a complex system of potential within the urban fabric

Abstract

The ruin is an inevitable circumstance; the reality of any space outliving its functionality is unavoidable. Prolonged as it may be, any space will eventually outgrow its intention. Rather than constantly attempting to find methods by which the ruin is hidden away, destroying any trace of its existence, one should embrace such an inevitable force within the urban fabric. The ruin is a building of the past, which outlived its intended lifetime, died, and now lingers on in the present, haunting contemporary society with tales of an era bygone, exuding a narrative of the past that can no longer physically manifest. Yet, it cries out a sense of becoming. This study explores this potential by breaking down the theatrical potential of the ruin; through a dissection of its character and an outline of these elements through the conducting of semi-structured interviews with different professionals. The research shows that the ruin is multifaceted in its value, through the passing of time and the level of fragmentation, its historical significance and potential narrative. It is an attempt at outlining a possible repertoire of values, through which ruins are respected and accepted within the urban fabric as the chaotic realities they possess are embraced to such an extent that the ruin lives on. Through this lens, the ruin can allow for the birthing of a new reality within it, which sparks interest by offering the possibility of experiencing this performance that defines it.