Assessment of Optional and Social Activities in an Open Exhibition Space: A Case of Basantapur Dabali

Abstract

This research investigates the socio-spatial dynamics, the reciprocal relationship between physical space and social behavior of Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, through the lens of liminality, a term derived from the Latin word limen, which translates to "threshold". Focusing on Basantapur Dabali, situated at the eastern entrance of the Kathmandu Durbar Square, the study examines how traditional urban public platforms function as 'threshold spaces' (often referred to as "liminal zones" which are transitional areas that mediate between two distinct conditions, typically moving from the public street to a private building, or from a secular area to a sacred one) that facilitate both scripted rituals like the daily morning Puja (offerings), the ceremonial processions of the Living Goddess Kumari, the seasonal construction of the Lingo (ceremonial pole) during Indra Jatra and spontaneous social interactions. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, combining behavior mapping, user surveys, and morphological analysis the research identifies a spectrum of activities ranging from necessary religious rites to 'optional' social engagements, a foundational concept in urban design, developed specifically by the Danish architect and urban designer Jan Gehl. By analyzing these activities within a framework of urban transition, the study moves beyond generic public space discourse to highlight how liminality sustains cultural continuity and social cohesion in a dense, modernizing heritage context. The findings suggest that the vibrancy of the Dabali is not merely a product of its historical significance, but of its capacity to act as a meaningful ‘urban common’ that bridges the sacred and the secular, providing a model for socially responsive public architecture in growing cities.