| Summary: | This thesis explores the meaning and manifestation of 'shared space’ in the ethno-nationally divided city, and questions the role of architecture and urban planning in constructing shared space in such an urban context. The research design uses a comparative case study approach. Case studies were carefully chosen to ensure the exploration of 'shared spaces' of different scales and locations within the ethno-nationally divided cities of Nicosia and Belfast. A multi-method approach ensured the triangulation of data, whilst the comparative case study strategy aided the development of cross-set conclusions. The findings of the research contribute to the development of a new conceptual framework for understanding 'shared space’ based on the acknowledgment of the different dimensions and gradations of shared space within an ethno-nationally divided city. This ‘spedtrum of shared space’ indicates that shared space cannot be ‘constructed’ but can be maximised over time. The research also indicates that the physical dimensions of the built environment play a significant role in the development of a shared space within an ethno-nationally divided city. Indeed, specific design characteristics are aligned with the interpretation and use of a space as a shared space, including form, features and functions evocative of a sense of familiarity. The criticality of the design process is also emphasised, and it is interpreted as a key outcome of a shared space project. Significantly, these findings contribute to the development of recommendations for architects and urban planners employed in the construction of a shared space in an ethno-nationally divided city.
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