Stairs and Circulation Spaces as Heterotopias in Social Residential Complexes
Subject Areas :
Mohammad Azad
1
,
samar haghighi boroojeni
2
*
1 - Department of Architecture, Institute of Society and Media, ISF.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
2 - استادیار گروه معماری، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، واحد اصفهان(خوراسگان)، اصفهان، ایران
Keywords: Stairs, Circulation Spaces, Social Residential Complexes, Heterotopia, Foucault, Architectural Theory,
Abstract :
This article analyzes the role of stairs and circulation spaces in new residential complexes, particularly in social or affordable housing, through the lens of Michel Foucault’s concept of "heterotopia". The study aims to explore how these transitional spaces—often overlooked in architectural design—can function as more than mere passageways, enabling social interaction, visual connection, and spatial complexity. A qualitative content analysis method was adopted, focusing on five international case studies located in India, Iran, Denmark, Austria, and the United States. These cases were selected based on their circulation spaces potential as social, cultural, and even symbolic realms. Moreover, their architectural recognition and documented impact on social life. Using Foucault’s six principles of heterotopia as an analytical framework, the study examines how staircases in these complexes act as multi-functional spaces, offering moments of solitude, gathering, and embodied urban experience. The findings demonstrate that when stairways are designed with openness, layering, and permeability in mind, they have the potential to generate heterotopic conditions that challenge conventional spatial hierarchies. By critically evaluating affordable housing design in Iran, the article concludes with design recommendations aimed at enhancing spatial justice and lived experience in circulation spaces. The study contributes to both architectural theory and design practice by highlighting the heterotopic potential of everyday elements like stairs in shaping socially inclusive residential environments.
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