Spatial Flirts

This master dissertation explores the increasing 'smoothness' of the city, where personal connections and social interactions are stifled, leading to detachment. Modern streets have become mere passageways, no longer spaces for transgression. This restrictive, asocial urban environment imposes a form of intolerance against friction, yet that is where the potential lies for coming together and reflecting on alternative ways of sharing public space, fostering emotional expression, connection, and collective action.

"Spatial Flirts: On Night Owls and Network Errors" is an experimental research born out of a frustration with the increasing 'flattening' and regulation of urban spaces, resulting in asocial behaviour. Rooted in feminist theories, this project aims to challenge the 'smooth city' by introducing playful disruptions in the streets, the so called 'spatial flirts'. Using the scenery of Ghent, temporary 'glitches' were created, inspired by nightlife encounters, club spaces, and network errors. These 'glitches' are characterised by their use of materials that often make subtle appearences in the 'streets'. These were transformed into interventions such as a swing, a kiosk, a dancefloor, etc. to provoke interaction and reflection. Through confrontation with these installations, passersby are invited to break free from predictable flow and to explore alternative ways of sharing the street. The ethics of love and the methodology of flirting are central to this research, creating playful and sometimes uncomfortable moments that nevertheless encourage curiosity, emotional expression and connection. This flirtatious approach embraces collaboration: every intervention emerged through co-creation and shared experiences, where learning from one another, while holding space together, fostered new connections. Each 'spatial flirt' embodied a desire for a dynamic and more ambiguous urban landscape, emphasizing the importance of collective action in breaking down societal boundaries and addressing friction in the design of public space. 'glitch -magazine' was the final result of the research but ultimately, the project is an ongoing invitation to explore alternative uses of the street's scenography and engage with the unseen, the felt, and the unspoken.