Infra-Residual Spaces (IRS) are unintended, underutilized, or leftover urban spaces that emerge as by-products of large-scale transportation infrastructure such as viaducts, elevated railways, flyovers, and bridges. These spaces are often characterized by their ambiguous functionality, undefined ownership, and lack of integration within formal urban planning frameworks.

Despite their perceived status as neglected voids, IRS hold immense potential for adaptive reuse, serving as social, economic, and environmental assets when strategically managed. Historically, spaces like the Roman aqueducts or London’s railway arches demonstrate the transformative capacity of IRS, evolving into dynamic hubs of activity. However, in many contemporary contexts, IRS are associated with socio-economic vulnerabilities, including displacement, environmental degradation, and informal governance structures.