Reviving lost spaces beneath elevated rail lines in urban areas

Elevated highways and rail lines create a vertical split, obstacles, and divisions at ground level, whereby the space above is used exclusively for transit. Conversely, the space below often becomes a void or is identified as lost space. Law enforcement has largely overlooked the area below the elevated highways and rail lines, which has become a hot spot for criminal activities and consequently, a location many people ignore due to its perceived safety. The residual spaces, also known as the leftover spaces under the elevated highways and rail lines, are often perceived as the negative aspects of urban spaces. Many relevant parties, such as urban planners, landscape architects, and urban designers, have been attempting to transform the spaces for various purposes which are community- friendly. This paper aims to examine the lost spaces beneath elevated rail lines in an urban area. The main intention is to evaluate the potential of converting these lost spaces into useful areas for the public. The results of this paper identified the potential design strategies for promoting public activities. The study applied a qualitative method, using a case study as the subject matter. The approach also included a detailed site investigation and purposive sampling of interviews at the site. Results concluded that the lost spaces can be repurposed following the suggestions of the participants. The outcome of the analysis highlighted the potential activities for the public, which can serve as a useful reference to local authorities and urbanists.