Metropolitan Thresholds
Masters Thesis
Metropolitan systems are often considered a range of centralities and peripheries. This thesis explores intermediate manifestations
in the urban fabric, which are characterized by a mix of the same elements as either end of the spectrum, but with more diverse
and divergent expression.
Through establishing a canon of understanding
centralities with a set of indicating factors, this thesis first dissects the metropolis to reveal where the methodology is inconclusive. In this research, though, indeterminate measurements are the focus. Using critical cartography, GIS analysis, and experiential diagramming, this thesis presents the idea of the threshold centrality to describe the spaces that exist between dominant nodes of the city, in conjunction with the canon study of centrality. These elements are explored on the metropolitan scale of the Greater Boston area as well as through four comparative case studies to provide a sampling of urban possibilities.
Representation and perception are key themes in this thesis, as collective and individual identity are linked as a lens of interpreting space, suggesting a nuanced reading of the threshold. The results of this study suggest that intermediate zones of centrality can carry significant impact in the urban fabric, in which their defining features are enhanced by indeterminacy.
Spring 2026
Escola Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Barcelona
Through establishing a canon of understanding
centralities with a set of indicating factors, this thesis first dissects the metropolis to reveal where the methodology is inconclusive. In this research, though, indeterminate measurements are the focus. Using critical cartography, GIS analysis, and experiential diagramming, this thesis presents the idea of the threshold centrality to describe the spaces that exist between dominant nodes of the city, in conjunction with the canon study of centrality. These elements are explored on the metropolitan scale of the Greater Boston area as well as through four comparative case studies to provide a sampling of urban possibilities.
Representation and perception are key themes in this thesis, as collective and individual identity are linked as a lens of interpreting space, suggesting a nuanced reading of the threshold. The results of this study suggest that intermediate zones of centrality can carry significant impact in the urban fabric, in which their defining features are enhanced by indeterminacy.
Spring 2026
Escola Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Barcelona