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Call for Papers: RGS–IBG Annual International Conference 2014, London, 26–29 August 2014 Session: Locating Urban Systems: infrastructures and networks in the co-production of cities Session Organisers: Richard Brook, Manchester School of Architecture, UK ([log in to unmask]) Professor Nick Dunn, Lancaster University, UK ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>) The role of infrastructure in the development of cities, whether through visible or hidden structures is an under examined theme of inquiry in urban and spatial theory. One of the more recent typologies to emerge in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries is infrastructural architecture, wherein the visible and invisible components of the city coalesce to make manifest the spaces and flows of urbanism. Although cities and networks are well-explored themes, the physical products and socio-spatial byproducts of these are not. As such, this session aims to address the historic gap in critique and contribute to contemporary issues surrounding form and society in relation to infrastructures and the co-production of space and place. The recent history of infrastructural architecture is intrinsically connected to the morphology of cities. However, since Banham’s (1976) discourse on the future archaeology of seminal projects, research and exposes in this field have been largely intermittent. From Pope’s (1996) reconsideration of urban space and legibility to Varnelis’ (2008) more recent dissection of urban systems and their rootedness, there is an identifiable gap between theory of connectivity (Castells 2000) and the on-the-ground conditions (Graham & Marvin 1996, 2001). Concerns with regard the operation and governance of urban systems (Guy et al. 2010), disruption of infrastructures (Graham 2009) and the ability to develop an effective interface between the real and the virtual (Fusero 2008) are increasingly valid at a time when urbanism and infrastructure are high on political agendas. This session seeks to expose the theory and practice surrounding the networked city and landscape to explore the inherent proximities and tensions in the co-production of urban conditions. We welcome exploratory papers that may deal with infrastructures and interstitial space, co-relations of society and systems, virtual/physical spatial associations, layered urbanism, infrastructural landscapes, process-driven space and infrastructures of exchange. Session Organisers: Richard Brook, Manchester School of Architecture, UK ([log in to unmask]) Professor Nick Dunn, Lancaster University, UK ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>) We anticipate 15-20 minute presentations in a multi-paper session. Presenters are kindly invited to submit their proposals up to a maximum of 300 words and proposed titles (clearly stating name, institution, and contact details) to both session organisers by Friday 14th February 2014. Professor Nick Dunn Professor of Urban Design ImaginationLancaster Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts Lancaster University Tel: +44 (0) 1524 510793 http://imagination.lancaster.ac.uk/ http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/fass/lica/ _______________________________________________________ [log in to unmask] An urban geography discussion and announcement forum List Archives: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/URB-GEOG-FORUM Maintained by: RGS-IBG Urban Geography Research Group UGRG Home Page: http://www.urban-geography.org.uk