The Corniche is seen as a break from the city: a long sidewalk to take a stroll, a run, take your family out and be closer to the sea. Looking closely at the different physical elements that make up the Corniche (benches, railing, pavement), many things pass unnoticed and are overlooked: the cracks on the floor, its missing tiles, the empty flower pots, emptied squares where palm trees were supposed to go, trees, railings, bicycle racks. It appears that the only user group who truly interact with these overlooked aspects, are the children. Their smaller height and size, gives them a different perspective than that of the average jogger and pedestrian, and a greater awareness and appreciation of the most standard elements. Surface abnormalities may be seen by children as a challenge, a game to jump across or skip around.
We observed children twisting and turning around the railing, jumping in and around flower pots, skipping over empty holes in the floor, playing hide and seek behind trees among other imaginative activities. The Corniche is an imaginary playground for children: a playground that varies from child to child, ever-changing with each visit.
Can we learn something from the children? If we started to take joy in the “insignificant” features of the corniche, would that change our definition of a public space?
By Dabaghi Lamiam El Batal Sara Eid Tracey Moussa Mira Tawil Hala
