UD Report Proposal
-Title
Social / Cultural Identity of Urban Spaces
-A short description of the topic(s)
The objective of my essay is to explore the social and cultural identity of urban spaces and investigate the impact and effect these spaces have or potentially can have on maintaining the cultural identity of the city as a whole and the psychology of urban voids.
-Objectives
· Emphasis on the methods of designing the public spaces on the basis of analysis of the cultural geography and the social identity of the city.
· Broaden understanding of the urban qualities of the public spaces that improve the social and cultural identity of the city, and how to create a natural historical continuity of the growth of the city.
· Study of how the urban experience in the public space can reflect the cultural image or identity of the city.
· Study the differences between thinking in terms of “space” and thinking in terms of “place” which is a system of spaces with specific meaning for a specific group.
· Understanding the psychological meanings of an urban space. The establishment of relationships between the public sphere and the physical space.
· The creation of a guide for maintaining cultural identity in a modern world using public spaces.
-Work Methodology
A continuation of my work with the previous project, exploring the project from a much broader perspective.
Applying the above mentioned topics to my design.
Observation of public spaces available to me, both in person or through pictorial or video studies in terms of strengths and weaknesses in maintaining a cultural identity and their relationship to the society.
Internet and textbook research.
-Contents of the design project
In addition to the essay my final design project will consist of computer renders, models and
drawings.
-table of contents of the written Report and a brief outline of the
Content of each chapter.
Specific chapter titles are in progress but the outline for the content of each chapter is as follows:
· Transformation of the city: How fast does the city have to grow? And what is the ideal way for it to be developed? Should it be developed by organic growth, or by conscious planning?
· The city is more than just a configuration of buildings and infrastructure; it is also dependant on the way that humanity occupies it and functions within in its boundaries.
· The question of the city’s character, what is the short term and long term consequences and effects when global forces interact with local identity.
· A comparison: the gradual urban growth of a western European city compared to a sudden urban growing city in the east such as Dubai. This includes an analysis of the steps of growth that both cities have undergone and a projection of future growth. It also includes an examination of the values and meanings that were added to the identity of each studied city over the course of their history, with a focus more on the modern, twentieth century, history of each city.
· A study of how to conserve the urban identity and heritage of a city. Including an overview of the way in which a city’s history has been recycled and layered over time, both vertically and / or horizontally. Here we can also examine the character, identity and the consequence of events in each layer of time. What aspects of history can help and guide us in conservation and creation of the urban authenticity and heritage, and improve the cultural consciousness in the city.
· How can an urban void reflect the identity of a city? The production of space: the concept of space as a social / cultural product or construction that relies on values and the social production of meaning. This cannot be produced in minutes, it has to be developed and adapted through time by people, events and conditions that can shape the space naturally in a direct or indirect way.
A study of the urban society of London in the social and spatial sense.
· What forces can make the public space take shape? How can an urban void reflect the identity of a city as a whole? Why beauty should not be taken as an objective of design. A further study of social / cultural qualities and significance of the place.
· A study of the public domain as a guiding perspective: Public domain is defined as those places where exchange between different social groups is possible and actually occurs.
How to distinguish between public space and public domain? Which spaces are positively valued as spaces of shared experience by people from different backgrounds or with dissimilar interests?
A look at the effect of multiculturalism and globalization on cultural identity in the frame of public spaces.
-List of references
-Bru, Eduard. Three on the site. (Barcelona): (ACTAR), February 1997.
-Hajer, Marten / Reijndrop, Arnold. In search of new public domain: analysis and strategy. (Rotterdam): (NAi publishers), 2001.
-Wright, Herbert. Instant cities. (London, UK), (black dog publishing), 2008.
-Architecture for Humanity. Design like you give a damn. (New York),
(Metropolis Books), 2006.
-Smith Graham, Bentley Ian, Alcock Alan, Murrain Paul, McGlynn Sue.
Responsive environment: A manual for designers. (London), (Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd), 1985.
Sura Hadi
-Title
Social / Cultural Identity of Urban Spaces
-A short description of the topic(s)
The objective of my essay is to explore the social and cultural identity of urban spaces and investigate the impact and effect these spaces have or potentially can have on maintaining the cultural identity of the city as a whole and the psychology of urban voids.
-Objectives
· Emphasis on the methods of designing the public spaces on the basis of analysis of the cultural geography and the social identity of the city.
· Broaden understanding of the urban qualities of the public spaces that improve the social and cultural identity of the city, and how to create a natural historical continuity of the growth of the city.
· Study of how the urban experience in the public space can reflect the cultural image or identity of the city.
· Study the differences between thinking in terms of “space” and thinking in terms of “place” which is a system of spaces with specific meaning for a specific group.
· Understanding the psychological meanings of an urban space. The establishment of relationships between the public sphere and the physical space.
· The creation of a guide for maintaining cultural identity in a modern world using public spaces.
-Work Methodology
A continuation of my work with the previous project, exploring the project from a much broader perspective.
Applying the above mentioned topics to my design.
Observation of public spaces available to me, both in person or through pictorial or video studies in terms of strengths and weaknesses in maintaining a cultural identity and their relationship to the society.
Internet and textbook research.
-Contents of the design project
In addition to the essay my final design project will consist of computer renders, models and
drawings.
-table of contents of the written Report and a brief outline of the
Content of each chapter.
Specific chapter titles are in progress but the outline for the content of each chapter is as follows:
· Transformation of the city: How fast does the city have to grow? And what is the ideal way for it to be developed? Should it be developed by organic growth, or by conscious planning?
· The city is more than just a configuration of buildings and infrastructure; it is also dependant on the way that humanity occupies it and functions within in its boundaries.
· The question of the city’s character, what is the short term and long term consequences and effects when global forces interact with local identity.
· A comparison: the gradual urban growth of a western European city compared to a sudden urban growing city in the east such as Dubai. This includes an analysis of the steps of growth that both cities have undergone and a projection of future growth. It also includes an examination of the values and meanings that were added to the identity of each studied city over the course of their history, with a focus more on the modern, twentieth century, history of each city.
· A study of how to conserve the urban identity and heritage of a city. Including an overview of the way in which a city’s history has been recycled and layered over time, both vertically and / or horizontally. Here we can also examine the character, identity and the consequence of events in each layer of time. What aspects of history can help and guide us in conservation and creation of the urban authenticity and heritage, and improve the cultural consciousness in the city.
· How can an urban void reflect the identity of a city? The production of space: the concept of space as a social / cultural product or construction that relies on values and the social production of meaning. This cannot be produced in minutes, it has to be developed and adapted through time by people, events and conditions that can shape the space naturally in a direct or indirect way.
A study of the urban society of London in the social and spatial sense.
· What forces can make the public space take shape? How can an urban void reflect the identity of a city as a whole? Why beauty should not be taken as an objective of design. A further study of social / cultural qualities and significance of the place.
· A study of the public domain as a guiding perspective: Public domain is defined as those places where exchange between different social groups is possible and actually occurs.
How to distinguish between public space and public domain? Which spaces are positively valued as spaces of shared experience by people from different backgrounds or with dissimilar interests?
A look at the effect of multiculturalism and globalization on cultural identity in the frame of public spaces.
-List of references
-Bru, Eduard. Three on the site. (Barcelona): (ACTAR), February 1997.
-Hajer, Marten / Reijndrop, Arnold. In search of new public domain: analysis and strategy. (Rotterdam): (NAi publishers), 2001.
-Wright, Herbert. Instant cities. (London, UK), (black dog publishing), 2008.
-Architecture for Humanity. Design like you give a damn. (New York),
(Metropolis Books), 2006.
-Smith Graham, Bentley Ian, Alcock Alan, Murrain Paul, McGlynn Sue.
Responsive environment: A manual for designers. (London), (Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd), 1985.
Sura Hadi
No comments:
Post a Comment