When the rhythm zones meet Territories and patterns of relationship for better understanding trash

This study explores the issue of trash around two high-rise apartment blocks in Amsterdam Zuidoost by focusing on city rhythms. Building upon the notion of “patterns of relationship” by Christopher Alexander, the ethnographic research reveals that rhythms formulate five different groupings, which are conceptualised as “rhythm zones.” In the various ways the rhythm zones correspond to each other around the buildings, trash emerges differently. The study establishes that identifying such zones allows for a better understanding of the social phenomena in the urban environment, creating the potential to improve the design of urban spaces.