Dear all,
we're inviting abstracts for the "Public space as utopia" panel (SIEF
Zagreb, 21-25 June 2015). Deadline for abstract submission: 14 January 2015.
you can submit your abstract here:
nomadit.co.uk/sief/sief2015/panels.php5?PanelID=3498
Short Abstract
Questioning utopias, this panel seeks to explore the different utopias
behind the recent calls for public spaces - both as physical places of
social encounter as well as in their conceptual dimension as politicized
spaces of thought and action.
Long Abstract
The most controversial element today that connects different utopian
visions is the fact that they are visions of public space, that is,
conceptualizations of communal, political and social life. Whilst the
dominant neo-liberal view rejects utopian visions for this precise reason,
because utopias are regarded as totalizing projects, there has been a
recurrent call for public spaces in urban planning and in academic
research. Indeed, does not today's emphasis on a preservation of heritage,
the protection of the environment and democratic ideals express a
disavowed, nostalgic belief in utopia through organization of public space
going back to models such as the ideal Greek city? Green parks,
pedestrianized historical centers and regenerated river walks in big cities
are praised to be the space where locals meet spontaneously, bridging their
differences, allegedly fostering social cohesion. At a time when the loss
of a sense of place as much as the loss of social cohesion is becoming
worrying for many, public spaces are often seen to provide an ideal
solution.
Can a democratic utopia become real through the planning of urban public
spaces? If architects can provide the space of utopia to be materialized,
does it mean necessarily that they can foster democracy, sustainable
heritage or ecological cities? Finally, can utopia be realized by altering
material spaces or should there be a stronger focus on the social
production of utopia?
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