Tetris Massing targets early intervention within high street cluster vacancies. It involves the reclaiming and reorganisation of space to promote and renew a sense of community within the shopping strip.

In response to the brief (renewing Stones Corner), a number of concrete and green space pockets were identified off the street front. These areas were often under-utilised. As such, it is proposed that these pockets of space be relocated to the street front to promote congregation. Consequently, the stores would be reorganised, opening up to the courtyard, further activating the space. 

As an ‘exchange proposition’ that ‘flips’ space – takes back courtyards for lease space and opens up facades for more communal nodes - the public tessellating Tetris installation invites visitors to and residents of Stones Corner to sit, stay and occupy the space.  

The public installation within the courtyard takes the form of tessellating triangles, derived from the triangulation identified above during contextual research. Different arrangements and heights of the triangles form seating lounges, and entertainment stage and tree planters for the public to occupy. 

In order to connect the site to its broader surroundings, a pathway is proposed at the back of the development to ‘funnel’ visitors through the shopping strip towards the newly redeveloped Hanlon Park. The narrowing of this funnel transitions the broader community context to a more human scale welcoming residents. 

Furthermore, there is the potential for the Tetris Massing concept highlighted through the triangular public installation to be inserted into Hanlon Park, enhancing the connection between locations.