Slow down: Investigating how pop-up installations transform multi-use space

According to a study from the 1990s by Richard Wiseman, pedestrians’ walking speeds in a city provide a reliable measure of the pace of life in that city. If people’s walking speeds in a city are fast, their life rhythm will be relatively fast. People in fast-moving cities have more pressure and have higher rates of coronary heart disease. Because cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, to get a more healthy life, we all need to slow down and lower the risk of stress. Pop-up spaces are a commonly used method by designers to create a public space for surprise, attract, and slow down people. This thesis aims to investigate how pop-ups (short-term and low-cost projects) can transform a multi-use space, lead to shifts in the way people perceive and use space, and ultimately lead to longer-term permanent changes. The multi-use space is a space that is used by surrounding communities as a parking lot and also as a pedestrian staying and relaxing space. Finally, the new space can attract and slow down people, and let people have a better healthy life