Designing Ecotones: Engaging Liminal Space in the Built Environment

Edges occur between varying uses in human settlements, just as in nature between ecosystems. In either setting, the edges can be obvious and abrupt or allow a more gradual transition. In Ecology, the transitional area is known as an ecotone. The ecotone represents the meeting of two different systems and, regardless of size, serves as a rich and diverse habitat itself. Edges help define the form of what lies in between, within the ecotone or the liminal space. Liminality is an anthropological concept that refers to the transition between two distinct states of being and is typically more theoretical than physical. Liminal space in the built environment is visual and experiential, but it can also create that same temporary tension often felt between states of mind. Our physical development and treatment of edges are not always sustainable in a world that is never static. But what if liminal space in the built environment was maximized and approached more like ecotones in nature for flexibility or interaction that encourages connections? This research presents a method of analysis that considers liminal space in the built environment at varying scales. These liminal settings represent not only an opportunity for new categories of space but also for co-creation among various disciplines. Through four case study examples of design at the edges, we can broadly interpret approaches that expand the boundaries of design form and practice and identify characteristics of public space made for a diverse and ever-changing world.