The Corner: A Morphological Element Analysis

Abstract

This is a study about the uniqueness of a piece of urban morphology: the corner, which is a morphological unit present in all the cities. Based on its universal particularity, the corner is proposed as an analytical device to understand the relationships between the urban residents, their territory, and the spatial characteristics of a particular element present and experienced that propitiate them. The analysis goes from the definition of the geometrical characteristics, the mediation between public and private space, through the reflection of the corner as an “experience” in a place, to the analysis and comparison of the human relationships that occur in it, understanding the three sectors or “cities”: diffuse city, with memory and the irregular. The study concludes with a discussion about the experience in the three mentioned “cities” where it is possible to reflect on the importance of the corner and its recognition as an element that builds a city. The corner is proposed as an analytical tool that allows to reference the urban territories, understanding and learning about its particular behavior in the space of the city.