Place–Space: The Mediating Role of Environmental Art in the Reconfiguration of Urban Architecture from the Perspective of Henri Lefebvre

Abstract

The concept of space in the contemporary city has evolved from a purely physical entity into a social, perceptual, and multilayered phenomenon, a transformation that is fundamentally articulated in the thought of Henri Lefebvre through his theory of the “production of space.” Within this framework, space is understood not as a neutral container, but as a social product shaped through the interaction of power structures, lived experience, and mental representations. At the same time, environmental art, as a contemporary artistic approach, emphasizes context, experience, and participation, thereby enabling a redefinition of the relationship between humans and space. The present study aims to elucidate the mediating role of environmental art in the reconfiguration of urban architecture and, drawing on Lefebvre’s spatial theory, analyzes how artistic interventions influence the perception, experience, and production of space. The research adopts a qualitative methodology based on an analytical–interpretive approach and is grounded in theoretical sources from the fields of spatial philosophy, architecture, and contemporary art. The findings indicate that environmental art can function as an active mediator among perceived space, conceived space, and lived space. Through transformations in the semantic and perceptual layers, it contributes to the reproduction of urban spaces. This reconfiguration occurs not necessarily through physical transformation, but rather through the activation of aesthetic experience and the redefinition of spatial practices. In conclusion, environmental art can be regarded as an effective tool for addressing the monotony and alienation of contemporary urban spaces, with the capacity to create meaningful and dynamic environments.