Cities and Urbanism | Research Methodologies and Events by sharvari mate

Cities and Urbanism

re---

Cities and Urbanism Cities and Urbanism Cities and Urbanism Cities and Urbanism Cities and Urbanism Cities and Urbanism

k!the wor

Cities and Urbanism

U + A MA

e n u J 0

1 2 20

Research methodologies and events

g iatin medfuture

Research methodologies and events Research methodologies and events Research methodologies and events Research methodologies and events Research methodologies and events Research methodologies and events Research methodologies and events

Manchester, United Kingdom

Manchester School of Architecture

Manchester Metropolitan University (Student ID: 20100976)

University of Manchester (Student ID: 10810406)

Sharvari Ravindra Mate

MA Architecture and Urbanism

Ralph Erskine had replied when asked what was the most important quality any architect needed to possess: ‘Above all, you must love people.’

(Worpole, 2006)

01 Cities and Urbanism Part 1

Review of the book Urban Design Futures 1. Introduction

2. Structure of the book

3. Summary

4. Evaluation

5. Conclusion

6. References

Part 2. Comparative study of the books Urban Design Futures and Principles of Urban Retail Planning and Development 1. Introduction

2. Retail and city structure

3. Retail and public realm

4. Retail and sustainability

5. Retail and built form

6. Retail and experience

7. Conclusion

8. References

02 Research Methodologies and events Part 1

Symposium poster and branding design 1. Event poster

2. Poster adaptation

3. Merchandise adaptation

4. Branding details

Part 2

Symposium poster support document (1000 words)

Part 3 Symposium arguments, analysis and evaluation essay (2000 words)

01 Cities and Urbanism

Part 1 Urban Design Futures

Edited by

Malcolm Moor and Jon Rowland Contributors

Alain Cousseran Andrew Cross Bill Dunster Jan Gehl Adriaan Geuze Alex Krieger Lucien Kroll Tony Lloyd-Jones Alex Lui Thom Mayne Malcolm Moor Paul Murrain Bernard O’Donoghue

Bernard O’Donoghue Jason Prior John Punter Richard Rees Jon Rowland David Rudlin Tim Stonor Mardie Townsend Harriet Tregoning Ken Worpole John Worthington Ken Yeang

Structure of the book

Introduction

Contemporary forces

End user

Cross disciplines

New frameworks for urbanism

New forms

Creating new typologies

Technology

Connecting social spaces

Sustainability

Urban design comes of age

Public realm

Part 4

Territories

Part 3

Roles

Part 2

Objectives

Part 1

Conclusion

Introduction

Urban design futures is a collection of essays written by architects, urban designers, philosophers, researchers and thinkers. This makes it a collage of observations, experiences, thoughts, designs and comparative studies on various urban topics. The book gradually moves towards anticipating the needs of urban design future by describing rst, the past and then the present environment of social forces responsible for potential change.

Editors Malcolm Moor and Jon Rowland are architects, urban designers and lecturers, with expertise in masterplanning and complex urban space solutions. The curation of essays and the chronology of the book builds the understanding from the key roles of an urban designer to the future prospects and how the changing events will shape the discipline.

The introduction by Moor discusses social, political, economic and psychological factors that have a ected urban designing. This helps the reader to research further before analysing the arguments that follow.

Factors that a ected urban design

Modernism and Urban planning 1935- Le Corbusier’s La Ville Radieuse

(Moor, 2006)

Political change and urban design 1979Conservative government grant permission for out of town shopping centres causing collapse of town centre markets

(Moor, 2006)

Economic change and urban design 1990- Property crash made changes in planning policies creating loopholes resulting in the skyline of London

(Moor, 2006)

Summary

The book presents various arguments with every essay and the professional experience its writer have acquired. These can be summarised in four parts:

1. What are the roles and objectives of an urban designer?

2. What is a ecting the functioning of social spaces and public realms?

3. What lies ahead for urban designing with the evolution of technology?

4. How is the scope of work changing with the change in consumer behaviour and contemporary forces?

This part of the essay will summarise the evidence presented by the writers for the rst two arguments and evaluate the context of the last two arguments in present scenario.

The expanding territories of urban design is a gradual process with the evolving resolution of urban boundaries. Alex Kreiger provides a textbook like description of the various roles of urban designer in contemporary context followed by Tony Lloyd-Jones analysing the standardisation of a city’s development on the principles of mainstream urban designing. They both acknowledge the shift of focus to rapidly urbanising and developing countries.

A large chunk of development is seen in the form of urban sprawl where a high density, mixed use ‘smart growth’ can save resources of the country and its people, a low density dispersed sprawl is a burden on taxpayers as noted by Harriet Tregoning. Involvement of local community, policy makers, city councils, urban designers and infrastructure experts provides for a balanced vision in the development of a city. Future planning reforms require a framework of ‘better design principles’ as evaluated by John Punter with his expertise in aesthetics and design control.

Where can mainstream urban design principles be applied?

Low density suburban sprawl In terms of area, it occupies a much larger proportion of the total urban extent of the world than the higher density innercity areas.

Di cult to use mainstream urban design principles

(Lloyd- Jones, 2006)

Higher density inner city areas High land costs lead to intensive land development and the need for tightly organised and planned public infrastructure by applying mainstream urban design principles.

(Lloyd- Jones, 2006)

ffi

Suburban and peri- urban areas Large footprint factory sheds, retail, utility related standalone building areas where land is cheap.

There is little opportunity for mainstream urban design principles as land use tend to be zoned.

(Lloyd- Jones, 2006)

Summary

Cape Coral, Florida- Mid 20th century American suburbia ‘Americans are schizophrenic about the built environment. They want to preserve green space, but don’t necessarily see how that relates to their choice of a house built on former farmland’.

(Tregoning, 2006)

The City of Sydney Model, Australia ‘The Sydney’s city model is a long-standing design tool still used to assess development proposals that have to be modelled and inserted into their context. The city’s design excellence programme requires all major development projects to go through a competitive design process based on a detailed planning brief’.

(Punter, 2006)

Summary

The circumstances of life in public space are governed by the change in pattern of principles of town planning, methods of construction and the scale of building complexes. Adding to this, the uctuating pattern of tra c ow create islands of lifeless neighbourhoods as stated by Jan Gehl. People seek variation of experiences and physical safety in social spaces which can be brought about by distribution and regulation of activities that invite people into the space.

Quoting Whyte and using Gehl’s public space designs as examples, Ken Worpole compares the success and failures of spaces designed in Europe and the UK. Designing an e cient public space is a multidisciplinary scope of work. Urban designers, tra c planners and property consultants must relate to each other’s scope for an optimum outcome. While planners and consultants rely on objective outcomes for decision making, designers too must make use of ‘space syntax’(Hillier, 1970) methodology for precise design based results states Tim Stonor.

The functioning of a public space can be fully realised through the medium of time (Whyte, 1990), but development of analysis tools like the space syntax provide a quantitative value to the in uence of human behaviour in a public realm. (Stonor, 2006).

ffi

What invites people to use public spaces?

Cycling in Copenhagen Bicycle tra c has increased after improving conditions for cyclists resulting in an invitation for new activities.

(Gehl, 2006)

Champs-Elysées in Paris Increasing the width of the pavements has invited more pedestrians to the centre of the city.

(Gehl, 2006)

ffi

Aker Brygge in Oslo High density, a great diversity of functions, well-proportioned, good outdoor spaces, optimal use of sun and wind, and active ground- oor façades along the main walkways and public plazas make it an inviting public place

(Gehl, 2006)

Summary

Waterloo station, London Failed example of public space design where a pedestrian obstacle course is created making accessibility di cult.

(Worpole, 2006)

ffi

Masterplan for historic St Botolph’s Quarter, Colchester, UK. ‘The aim of the plan is to re-establish direct links that had been severed by poorly planned transport infrastructure and development. Space syntax method is used to determine the public space outcomes’.

(Stonor, 2006)

In the current state of a global pandemic, the relation of a built environment on human life has evolved to a deeper dependence for activities like living, working and the restricted recreation resulted by the government guidelines. Technology has supported the vertical growth, but the functionality of these high rises need to go beyond multiple copies of the same oor plate. They need to be designed as vertical urban sites that integrate the principles of a well planned neighbourhood.

Ken Yeang’s ‘vertical theory of urban design’ introduced a lateral version of urban design where the high rise can function as a mixed land use entity. This will distribute the pressure of land use in a high density region and create self su cient vertical neighbourhoods that can sustain the changing dependency of its users in the coming time. Apart from supporting a healthy public standard of living, the vertical theory when applied has the potential to create sustainable structures due to the landscaping and sections of nature interacting elements within its high rise.

Combining this with the change in the pattern of consumerism and retailing on city level, urban designing is broadening its integration with new technology and evolving retailing pattern.

20 ffi

Evaluation

‘Sketches of Eco Tower, Elephant and Castle, London, by Ridzwa Fathan. Greening opportunities within the high rise’.

(Yeang, 2006)

Evaluation

While consumerism is experiencing an all-time rise with multiplying retail units all over the globe, the pandemic has exposed a very di erent side in the past one year of social restrictions and lockdowns. Products and brands listed as ‘non-essential’ have had a tough time retaining their locations on high streets and city centres. The high costs of rents and employee salaries along with low display and sale rates have taken a toll on well known brands. Richard Rees states that e-tailing can never replace retailing due to the consumer’s engagement with the brand experience beyond the online presence. Countries with strict lockdown policies experienced an increase in online shopping, but this was not the case with countries with less or no lockdown which resulted in buyers stepping out and spending in order for the country’s economy to keep moving.

With the lockdown ending soon, the pattern of consumerism can a ect the ow of tra c around the city in a few ways. There are a few possibilities to take into consideration:

1. The central retail districts with many closed outlets will receive less retail oriented footfall and changes in land use pattern (Heward, 2020)

2. The brands are choosing to open outlets in areas away from city centres where property rents are less, creating new dispersed retail focal points (Maginn and Hubbard, 2020)

3. The out of city shopping malls have started o ering renewed shopping day experiences by seizing this opportunity and hence attracting weekend or post working hour based tra c (Maginn and Hubbard, 2020)

4. Brands are downsizing and adopting to express shops to local shop sizes along with a more screen and online based in-store experience to reduce sta size (Kelion, 2021)

A renewed outlook towards tra c ow density, walkability and public transportation will be required soon with the changing land use in and around the urban areas. The ow of shoppers, sta and goods carrier vehicles will be directed in di erent points. Our perception of the typologies of the city’s districts will change. As mentioned by John Worthington, our de nition of the city and its places must update with time.

ffi

Debenhams, Manchester City centre A big retail outlet closing doors during pandemic

(Heward, 2020)

Conclusion

Urban design futures book is a gateway into researching and reading more extensively into the preferred urban design topics. The collection of essays portray years of experience that the writers are keen to share with all. Every chapter nudges the mind to think about the future of the discipline and what an individual must bring into their own design practice. The terminologies, methodologies and responsibilities of an urban designer introduced in this book establishes a professional stance within the reader.

The inspiration for the next part of this essay was similarly derived by researching further on the topic of retail spaces.

References

B. Hillier and J. Hanson. (1984) The Social Logic of Space. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press  Heward, E. (2020) ‘This is planned for Manchester’s landmark Debenhams building as the department store chain faces collapse’. Manchester Evening News. [Online] 6th December. [Accessed on 20th March 2021]

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whatson/shopping/whats-planned-manchesters-landmarkdebenhams-19399510

Kelion, L. (2021) ‘Amazon fresh till-less grocery store opens in London.’ BBC. [Online] 4th March. [Accessed on 20th March 2021]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-56266494

Maginn, P.J and Hubbard, P. (2020) Coronavirus could turn cities into doughnuts: empty centres but vibrant suburbs. The Conversation. [Online] [Accessed on 26th March 2021]

https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-could-turncities-into-doughnuts-empty-centres-but-vibrantsuburbs-151406

Rowland, J and Moor, M. (2006) Urban Design Futures. New York: Routledge

Whyte, W.H. (1990) City: Rediscovering the Center. New York: Doubleday.

Part 2

Urban Design Futures

Chapters in Focus:

Chapter 17- the Brand New Authentic Retail Experience

By Richard Rees

Chapter 18- Place, Experience, Movement

By Andrew Cross

Chapter 20- Giving Meaning to the Experience Economy

By John Worthington

Principles of Urban Retail Planning and Development

Author

Robert J. Gibbs

AICP., ASLA.

Introduction

Retail spaces have rendered an identity to a city since the inception of consumer behaviour. Currently we are encountering a shift in the trends of retailing due to a global pandemic. In the past, retail spaces have experienced migration due to various social and economic reasons. This leads to factors a ecting the activity and development patterns in and around the city. A retail brand’s evolution must respect the city and its people, the environment and aesthetics. To understand the synergy between city and its retail habits, we must understand the extent of the in uence they exert on each other. This part will compare and reason the in uence of retail behaviour on American and UK based city structures, public realms, sustainability, built form and brand experience.

Retail and city structure

For an ideal commercial environment, the consumer demand and the retail supply must be balanced as well as at walkable reach to the local community. City centres and downtowns provide a theatrical backdrop to shopping experiences with their layers of historic and architectural aesthetics. They also promote a sustainable retailing environment by keeping the city active and in constant movement. Departmental stores and brands make sure that their surrounding are well lit and maintained for a good shopping experience. This results in an appealing city centre. The retailing trend of dependence on anchor stores to attract shoppers has a ected city centres and out of city shopping centres. An anchor retailer may choose to change its city centre location due to economic reasons or due to a more pro table deal with an out of town shopping centre developer. Many city councils are opting for a ‘no national chain in my downtown’ policy to promote local niche businesses. Once the anchor retailer migrates to a di erent location, it creates a cascading e ect on the activity of the city (Gibbs, 2011).

In situations like this, city centres must make use of alternate anchor locations within the centres like listed heritage buildings, town halls, libraries, places of worships, performing arts centre and universities (Gibbs, 2011). These attract a large number of footfall on daily basis. Making use of this tra c, city centres need to keep the identity and activities alive. Historical roles of a few towns as shopping districts can be sustainably retained by keeping themselves independent from the impermanence of retail trends. A major characteristic of retailing is its nature of inconsistency. This makes it di cult for urban designers to completely apply urban theories to this nature of exibility (Rees, 2006)

ffi

Ease of access due to enhanced network of roads and highways has resulted in shoppers driving away from the city for retail convenience. This results in neighbourhoods sprawling near a newly formed shopping centre for the ease of shopping for daily needs. The sprawl sometimes results in new road networks being planned around them and a major rerouting of urban tra c away from city centres. Roads and highways are no longer channels of movement but have become destinations due to the retail centres attached to them (Cross, 2006).

Urban sprawl and emerging independent commercial nuclei is resulting in the phenomena of conurbation. Cities as we know them with their xed districts of public and private activities are emerging into a decentralised model. For example, Randstad in Netherlands has distinctive quarters and cities coming together to form a synergetic urban programme (Worthington, 2006).

ffi

nomy

nomy s of the

s of o the of on. rof

on. r

, for d ntert, for nd interons with day, ions ’ for with day, r’ for

easily

easily y, as l

ry, as al

Randstad, Netherlands The integrated programme of connection of districts within Netherlands

(Worthington, 2006)

Retail and public realm

The retail business is a competitive world with focus on increasing product sales by capturing the shopper’s participation in its brand. This need for exceeding brand interaction results in commercialisation of public spaces. Commercialisation has replaced the authentically evolved social interactions and a void is created in the public space domain in terms of its identity (Rees, 2006).

Public space design of commercial retail spaces are developed to direct the shopper towards spending more time in the retail realm rather than in public realm. The absence of street furniture, trees and installation is to push public towards the retail enclosure. These rules may work in terms of shopping centres and malls but their implementation in urban context can harm the retail experience (Gibbs, 2011). The walks from urban parking space towards the retail district will be devoid of streetscaping and less people opt for the uncomfortable experience of walking through bare streets and public squares. A comfortable pedestrian experience promotes the visual connect between the store front and shoppers. A balanced proportion of greenscaping, street widths and sitting areas enhances the value of store front visibility. A thriving retail culture within the city centre helps maintain the public realm. Areas with less activities, closed shops and no ground level retail frontage can result in anti social activities and unsafe neighbourhoods (Gibbs, 2011).

With many brands adapting to di erent shop sizes, municipal councils need to create policies for the lease and usage of various building types rather than proposing a no commercial chain outlet policy. Promoting a symbiotic relation between retailers and neighbourhood development will improve public experience in city centres and downtown (Gibbs, 2011).

St. Andrew’s Square, Edinburgh A well designed and maintained public space close to the retail area.

(Gibbs, 2011)

Retail and sustainability

The unplanned pattern of sprawl development due to the formation of retail cluster attracted development is an unsustainable method of urban growth. An imbalance is created due to lack of researched planning of neighbourhoods and road networks which result in higher monetary spendings by city councils in order to develop facilities in the sprawled area. The opening of an out of town shopping centre as a business initiative without thoroughly surveying its surrounding community requirements, leads to unwanted retail categories opening shops (Gibbs, 2011). The resources used by these shopping centres exceed the local community’s needs and have to advertise beyond its reach to ensure pro ts.

The dependence on anchor store for the retail centre to thrive creates a fragile state of sustainability among other smaller retail outlets around it. Every anchor chain has a particular set of speci cation for the design and functioning of its outlets. This causes a state of uncertainty when an anchor store has to move out of its premises (Gibbs, 2011). The hunt for a replacement to avoid nancial loses can create possibilities of abandoned shopping centre structures, reconstruction of structure according to new speci cations and loss of retail based jobs in the neighbourhood.

Many examples of industrial structural shells being converted to shopping centres are seen in previously industrial towns. The structure remains constant but the activities and functions within its shell are renewed with time. The example of Ontario mills shopping mall in California displays a metal structure in the centre of a large parking lot that attracts people looking for retail therapy as well as pit stops for cars moving on the highway near it (Cross, 2006). Such change in land use activity can be sustainable until it attracts an unplanned residential sprawl near it.

Ontario mill shopping mall, California A retained industrial structure with retail activities

(Cross, 2006)

Retail and built form

The built form that houses retail activities varies in urban and suburban areas. In urban spaces it has to retro t into the existing historic building and make the volume of the existing space work. While doing this, the brand should make sure to respect the aesthetics of the structure and work alongside it rather than to overshadow the building in e orts to display its branding. The elevation of lifestyle and fashion brands to the status of ‘brand deities’ (Rees, 2006) has resulted in stores being designed to exhibit a distinct identity. The Selfridges store in Birmingham has been designed with a strong structural identity that has imparted a character to the city’s fabric.

The out of town retail centres have evolved in various geometric shapes due to the presence of space and its connection to the road network. The parking space on the property and the convenience of shopping in an enclosed space attracts shoppers. This means that the weather conditions cannot deter the retailing experience (Gibbs, 2011). Suburban ‘retailing box’ is positioned according to the space requirements of the anchor store and then the orientation of other gross lease areas (GLA) that are rented out to smaller shops follows the form.

The evolution of various retail built form took place to promote visual connectivity and accessibility by cars and then a simple walk from the parking to the store front. Flexibility in terms of space for its changing tenants is required to sustain the market. Cross shopping is encouraged by placing various shop fronts across each other. Built form located within a neighbourhood allow for maximum frontage towards the intersections of primary roads for accessibility and visibility. The aim is to direct footfall towards a path or a loop that encourages walking the entire centre (Gibbs, 2011)

Selfridges bull ring, Birmingham A retail built form within a city

(Rees, 2006)

Examples of retail built form and orientations

Linear strip centre

L shaped centre

Main street centre

Dumbell centre

Market square centre

Diagrams produced by Gibbs Planning Group Inc. 2010

Retail and experience

Retailing has emerged as a leisure and recreational activity within the brand conscious circles. Retail gazing and window shopping as a hobby has inspired powerful branding tools used by retailers. Brands dedicate the design of their retail outlets to customer experience and product promotion. Niketown in London is the brand’s enterprise for customers to experience the emotional connection between them. The science of consumer spending can be recorded and analysed on the basis of various demographic groups (Rees, 2006). This analysis is then used to design experiences that further interact with the customer’s preferences.

The oor planning of retail outlets cannot be too out of the box due to the standard customer muscle memory while moving around the store. A sense of predictability is necessary for the customer to be mentally present and comfortable while moving around (Gibbs, 2011).

Niketown, Oxford street, London Brand experience through retail outlet

(Rees, 2006)

Conclusion

Repositioning of high streets as a strategy must be used in a post pandemic urban placemaking scenario. This repositioning in terms of branding, urban location, places of sales (outlets), online and o ine presence, brand values and customer experience can retain the relevance of retailing within a changing urban needs (Nanda et al., 2021).

The movement of retail activity in and around a city is inevitable. The success of a retail district is dependent on the presence of an anchor store which makes it uncertain and susceptible to inconsistent public activities around it. Urban policies must include an alternate plan in circumstances where a change in city centre’s activities is noticed. This will help to stabilise the role of city centres rather than rendering them unoccupied and isolated. A council generated map for locations of out of town shopping centres on the basis of the city’s growing community need and research can direct a more sustainable growth.

Proper signages and directions at xed intervals starting from the city’s outer ring road must be planned to encourage travellers on motor way to enter the city and experience its retail district, history and heritage. Currently these travellers make their pit stops on the nearest visible out of town centres due to the lack of directions and knowledge regarding the centre of the city. Distant parking spots connected to pedestrian accessible roads and inter city public transport leading to the retail core reduces vehicular congestion. This will enhance public experience regarding the history and heritage of the city while bringing in more retail chains within the city. A sustainable city comprises of a well provided community and a robust commercial life (Gibbs, 2011).

ffl

Post-Covid19 dynamics of retail real estate – a theoretical mapping (Nanda et al., 2021).

References

Gibbs, R.J. (2011) Principles of Urban Retail Planning and Development. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Nanda, A., Xu, Y. and Zhang, F. (2021) “How would the COVID-19 pandemic reshape retail real estate and high streets through acceleration of E-commerce and digitalization?” Journal of urban management, 10(2) pp. 110–124.

Rowland, J and Moor, M. (2006) Urban Design Futures. New York: Routledge

02 Research methodologies and events

Part 1 Symposium poster and branding design 1. Event poster

2. Poster adaptation

3. Merchandise adaptation

4. Branding details

Symposium poster, branding and analytical study of arguments presented during the Re—-Work symposium on 10th June 2021 Sharvari Ravindra Mate ID: 20100976

Research methodologies and events

Re—Work!

Mediating the future

Re— Wo rk!

diat

ing

the

futu re

Part 2 Rethinking urban regeneration post-covid

The pandemic and the rules of lockdown has evolved the connection people have with the open spaces around them (Gehl, 2020). The outdoor activities that took place on daily basis due to intercity travel regarding work, study, recreation and retailing have shifted indoors with various online options to achieve them. Life in outdoor public spaces takes place due to three types of activities-necessary activities, optional activities and the occurrence of both resulting in social activities (Gehl, 2011). The rules of lockdown aimed at essential travelling allowed for necessary activities to take place while reducing the chances of optional activities and in turn hampering the social activities due to less frequent outdoor trips and social meeting rules.

In an unprecedented time like a pandemic, public realms supporting safe outdoor interactions and possibility for physical exercise replete the void created by imbalance in the occurrence of outdoor activities. The nature of public spaces in the city has a great influence on the outdoor life. Public spaces that are under managed or over managed (Carmona, 2010) hamper the quality of public spaces and fail to act as democratic public realms. Under managed spaces that are neglected results in uncared, littered and poorly repaired spaces that are overlooked by people for outdoor activities due to their unsafe ambience. Even though such spaces may be well located within a residential or community based neighbourhoods, they are under used and may be a topic of conflict for who should maintain the space and look after its repair (Carmona, 2010).

Over managed public spaces are created due to privatisation. Private organisations that work on international levels fund the designing and maintenance of public spaces without the consideration of the local public (Carmona, 2010). Land and property market are important income producing elements. Private developers and investors along with entrepreneurially inclined government encourage regeneration projects that promote retail, lifestyle and commercial aspects (Taşan-Kok, 2020). Once the element of retail is associated with the functioning of a public space, it is heavily dependent on the working of anchor stores. This shifts the activity focus of the public space and creates a dependence relationship with the retail element rather than the inclusivity of the space (Gibbs, 2011). Commercialisation and consumption spaces also cause segregation between user groups (Carmona, 2010). People who can afford to pay for the services and commercial presence of the public space are segregated from the ones who cannot pay for the experience of using such places.

A democratic public space is always free of charge, inclusive, accessible, unsegregated, unreserved, creates opportunity of engagement and interaction between diverse user groups. Many discussions regarding public space are critiqued in terms of decline or loss (Hajer and Reijndorp, 2001). This can be attributed to the priority of urban regeneration projects being largely designed for consumerism. Commercially viable regeneration proposals include public spaces as a useful component to assist in developing a positive image and attractiveness to potential investors (McInroy, 2000). A major observation is the regeneration proposals regarding brownfield projects. The possibility of using the site for public space and democratic usage by the community and neighbourhood is overshadowed by the commercial development proposals. There is a mentality that a space is sacrificed if it is used for public utility rather that commercial utility (Taşan-Kok, 2020). A change in priority and outlook is required after the experience of a pandemic and the strain caused by indoor lifestyle.

Involvement of the local community during planning and execution ensures the sustainable maintenance of public space for a longer duration due to the sense of ownership and responsibility (McInroy, 2000). Though many government guidelines make it necessary to involve the local community in the regeneration process, the agencies of regeneration involve locals to make the process of development smooth by avoiding disputes and hinderance by local communities (McInroy, 2000). Public space serves as an important everyday resource to the local communities and this superficial involvement creates a rift between the locals and their resource hence hampering the quality of everyday life. This is especially evident during a pandemic when the presence of a public space with a sense of belonging is crucial in the places around local residential communities ( see diagram 1).

Proposals of regeneration that are available online, display open parks and amphitheatres in their public space proposals. Are these public spaces really for the utility of the whole city and the local communities beyond the boundaries of the redevelopment project? The retail and consumption spaces attract the users from all over the city due to the presence of anchor stores, brands and the promise of retail experience, but do the open spaces also belong to all the user groups within the city? An intangible line of separation exists in many regeneration proposals where the project is aimed to be a closed domain of facilities for the user group who have invested or are commercially involved in the project. The high demand for housing and the pressure to maximise profits from each project has hampered the balance between the variety of uses of a space (Forrest, 2017).

Diagram 1-Global survey on public space usage during the COVID-19 pandemic (O’Connor,2020)

Diagram 2-Use of spaces during pandemic (O’Connor,2020)

Diagram 3-Motivation to use public space (O’Connor,2020)

Conclusion

The argument presented here is that of rethinking the urban regeneration proposals as a new priority of urban space use has come forth after the pandemic. The presence of democratic public spaces is important when thinking about the city’s visual and functional components. There are many urban regeneration projects aligned to be executed as soon as the nations recover and start the process of rebuilding for the people. Public spaces as a local use function require rethinking, replanning and redesigning.

Questions Should urban regeneration based designers and investors reorganise their priorities along with local councils to implement a solution for the public needs and social inconvenience faced during the pandemic? •

How do we start this discussion about the need for rethinking of the regeneration projects between the public and the stakeholders?

•

Can urban regeneration projects successfully implement a democratic public space within their own interests of commercial development?

References

(Carmona, 2010)  Carmona, M. (2010) “Contemporary public space: Critique and classi cation, part one: Critique.” Journal of urban design, 15(1) pp. 123–148.

(Forrest, 2017)  Forrest, A. (2017) “We need to talk about urban regeneration.” The guardian. [Online] 10th April. [Accessed May 19th, 2021] http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/apr/10/urban-regenerationa ordability-communities-neighbourhoods.

(Gehl, 2011)  Gehl, J. (2011) Life between buildings: Using public space. 6th ed., Washington, D.C., DC: Island Press.

(Gibbs, 2011)  Gibbs, A. (2011) Principles of urban retail planning and development. John Wiley & Sons.

(Inroy, 2000)  Inroy, N. M. (2000) “Urban regeneration and public space: The story of an urban park.” Space and Polity, 4(1) pp. 23–40.

(O’Connor, 2020)  O’Connor, E. (2020) Public Space plays vital role in pandemic - Gehl. Gehlpeople.com. [Online] [Accessed May 19th, 2021] https://gehlpeople.com/blog/public-space-plays-vital-role-in-pandemic/.

(Gehl, 2020)  Public space & public life during COVID-19 - gehl (2020) Gehlpeople.com. [Online] [Accessed May 21st, 2021] https://gehlpeople.com/announcement/public-space-public-life-during-covid-19/.

(Reijndorp and Hajer, 2001)  Reijndorp, A. and Hajer, M. A. (2001) In search of the new public domain. Rotterdam, Netherlands: NAI.

(Taşan-Kok, 2020)  Taşan-Kok, T. (2020) How to be truly open: Rethinking public spaces in the post-covid city. Urbanet.info. [Online] [Accessed May 17th, 2021] https://www.urbanet.info/truly-open-rethinking-public-spaces-postcovid-city/.

Part 3 Re—-Work Symposium argument summary and analysis

Re—-work: Mediating the future city symposium presented design based observations, principles and precedents that have evolved to de ne the future of how an urban space is being used by identifying the changing traits, user needs and ecological sustenance urgency within urban projects. Speakers Ojay McDonald, Daniel Elsea, Marco Casagrande and Phineas Harper are professionals with work experience in urban project research, conceptualisation, designing and onsite execution with respect to their own urban ideologies and expertise. The integration of sustainable elements within the future projects was an important argument presented. Taking lessons from the traditional and vernacular knowledge to inculcate within the progressing urban fabric and how it can be executed was a major discussion point within the symposium. The rapid pace of technological advancement and the need to direct it into creating a city that is more resilient as well as inclusive describes the reality of unprecedented domination of technology in the urban lives especially sparked by the way cities are being used during a pandemic.

A common thread observed within the symposium was the optimistic outlook towards the use of spaces post the covid pandemic.

Ojay McDonald’s futuristic presentation of the three interconnected revolutions that will determine the urban future highlighted the rate of change due to the intensive development of technology in the time period of a global pandemic. The disconnect between the user groups, the policy makers and managers of urban activities due to varied information consumption on social media can result in unprecedented outcomes at how space is being consumed and explored. This he terms as ‘The social revolution’ where technology is becoming increasingly easy to use and customise by younger age groups. With the customisation and personalisation of technology comes ‘The industrial revolution’ where a shift in the trends of technology is reframing the use of space and place especially observed by the decreasing use of o ce space during the pandemic. Involvement of technology in the way we make payments, consume entertainment and retail has caused a shift in the nature of employment but the same technology must be used to create spaces that explore social experiences within the urban spaces. The pace of innovation must also be explored in the creation of smart sources of energy that are decentralised and independent just like the future need to create communities that are independent of vehicular movement while sourcing their daily needs. ‘The environmental revolution’ must address the role of urbanism in the climate emergency faced globally.

Daniel Elsea demonstrated how a conventional de nition of a place conceived as a paradise can change when crisis takes over urban living conditions. As cities are regaining their usual footfall after the easing of national lockdown rules, people are seen using urban locations in newer ways than before as he displayed the image of people sitting on the stairs of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Finding pockets of paradise within the city and activating more synergetic use of public realm is an outdoor activity observed during various times of crisis from the indoor con nement during lockdowns or during a pro democratic movements and protests (as displayed during the democracy protests of Hong Kong which Elsea has written a dissertation about).

ffi

This is the time when streets become a channel for public domain and display of urban symbiosis. Giving importance to the street layout fabric and traditional typologies of public spaces are his projects in Doha and King’s cross. The importance of reusing existing structures and reassigning the function of underused spaces is of vital importance in terms of sustainability and maintain the density pattern of a neighbourhood. This again brings in the title of Elsea’s presentation of nding paradise in ‘what is there’ as he says referring to the existing built structures converted into a sense of urban paradise with the introduction of green spaces to form linear parks on bridges. Embracing streets and their characteristics is vital as he suggests the ways to do so is by acknowledging the public realm aspect of road surfaces. Sharing of street activities and regulations that encourage a more democratic means of its usage open up opportunities of creating local sense of individual paradise e ect.

Marco Casagrande has an organic approach while executing projects related to underused structures. His projects analyse organic process of nature taking over the planned synthetic fabric of manmade structures producing aesthetics that converse with both nature and the human users within the sphere of abandoned spaces. Casagrande’s de nition of working with ruins is when manmade becomes a part of nature by the organic course. The discord created by the emergence of concrete structures ageing poorly into abandoned frames are reinvented in their aesthetics by inviting and nurturing the nature’s dominance over the ruins through Casagrande’s design rm. A form of resilience is added to his projects to withstand the consequences of industrialisation which he describes as a patriarchal system which contrasts the matriarchal system followed by the local family based cultures in many indigenous communities. He leads his projects through the values of knowledge gained from the experienced elderly with ideologies mostly contrasting from the political system.

Phineas Harper attributes the absence of earth architecture in contemporary building techniques to the recurring requirement of care needed to maintain natural materials. This characteristic trait of earth based materials is viewed as a weakness when compared to the longevity of other durable materials that are designed to sustain for centuries at a stretch. He argues that longevity of durable materials used for construction cannot be considered ecologically sustainable on the basis of their low maintenance and carbon footprint calculated as distributed over hundreds of years. The emergency to reduce carbon emission levels compared to the foresight of durability over a century do not serve the purpose of ecological sustenance required in the coming decade. He compares the care needed for a structure constructed with natural materials to the continuous and loving care rendered by a parent towards their child or the recurring labour of maintenance provided by a gardener to their garden. The ecological e ect of using earth architecture is greater than the outlook of avoiding regular repair and care. The general perspective towards repair work included with the earth materials hampers its use and durability is prioritised over the environment.

Harper presents the case of contemporary buildings made of glass facades tted with mechanism of cleaning the structure regularly to maintain its pristine look. This proves that the need for regular maintenance of a structure is possible but the technology is applied on buildings that are made with contemporary forms of construction materials. The traditional earth architecture around the world can be seen with design elements that work as sca oldings due to the need for reapplication of mud or clay over the structure frequently. These elements have been integrated into the aesthetics of the structure and evolved into architectural identities over time. Harper displays the need to accept the natural evolution of the aesthetics that develop with the repair and regular maintenance of a design. To appreciate earth architecture in contemporary times, the change of perspective is necessary. Instead of viewing material maintenance as tedious, it should be seen for its ecological sustainability, accepting it as a means of care towards the structure and environment. Appreciation for the aesthetic impact that results from regular repair needs to be seen as an evolution of design and acceptance towards the changing dynamics of the structure.

Moving forward in a post pandemic urban environment initiates a need for connection with nature within the given space frame provided by urban fabric. Elsea and Casagrande mention the common theme of integration of natural elements with man made structures. Creation of localised spaces with a sense of ‘paradise’ within the existing framework requires intermingling of activities with the organic characteristic of the city’s pattern of space usage. While Elsea’s precedents demonstrate a structural placement of pedestrian movement simultaneously with landscaping as an urban element, Casagrande’s projects follow the organic dominance of nature to lead the way. The preference of human activity within the project is guided by the natural growth and the ow of elements like rainwater through the built environment. Within urban outdoor activity, the presence of a guided ow of pedestrian route of hardscaping helps the e cient ow of crowd within a speci c space like in the case of linear urban parks. Design elements that support static activities as seen in Elsea’s project of Doha within the traditionally recognisable typologies are identi able by the local user groups.

Casagrande’s projection of the development of ruins focuses on the democratic growth of nature unhampered by human intrusion wherever possible also resonates with Harper’s idea of requiring recurring care for the enhancement of natural life interlinked with human activities within a structure. Here, the structural framework used is not earth based material but the renunciation of man made structure to be governed by nature. The presence of abandoned or unused structures post the industrial revolution has hampered the urban neighbourhoods and raising safety and land use issues. Casagrande’s urban design solutions deal with the changed relation with space use and keep the relevance of the available built density within urban frame. This approach along with McDonald’s evaluation of the environmental revolution beginning to reconsider our relation with the city as a space for essential activities is changing the relevance and urban based activities.

ffi

The post pandemic city requires a serious consideration of the materials that are used in public space that are coming in physical contact with multiple users around the day. The pandemic has resulted in an advanced study into the materials that can retain microbial matter for longer period of time. This means the requirement of sanitisation multiple time to e ectively reduce the spread of any harmful microbial matter if need be. The concentration of resources into recurring sanitation can be redirected into the care and maintenance of earth based material used in and around the city. As observed in the cases of linear parks that do not have the spacial consideration for social distancing, such urban spaces are forced to remain closed or at partial capacity which directly opposes its primary purpose of providing inclusive public spaces within a dense urban neighbourhood.

Reassigning urban spaces to support multi use activities that can instantly and easily switch its purpose. The execution of this on urban level does lie in Elsea’s approach of multiplying traditional typologies of open spaces which are easily identi able and resourcefully adaptable by local communities. This may also solve the issue of urban space relevance in coming times as such typologies have survived and evolved through the test of time. The real challenge is the unpredictability and constant nature of change as mentioned by McDonald and the inevitable change that technological development is bringing in the ow of physical tra c within the city. The designing of communities that function as a self su cient bubble rather than a household considered as a bubble must be the next step towards keeping a healthy social and urban life with respect to McDonald’s evaluation of the revolutions that is changing the way we utilise urban facilities.

ffi

References

Balmori, D. (2010) A Landscape Manifesto. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Charlesworth, E. (2005) City Edge. Oxford, England: Architectural Press.

Childs, M. C. (2012) Urban Composition: Designing: Developing Community though Urban Design. New York, NY: Princeton Architectural Press.

Cutieru, A. (2020) How has public space changed in 2020? Archdaily.com. ArchDaily. [Online] [Accessed June 25th, 2021] https://www.archdaily.com/953517/how-has-public-space-changed-in-2020.

Higgins, A. (2020) The High Line has been sidelined. When it reopens, New Yorkers may get the park they always wanted. Washingtonpost.com. [Online] [Accessed June 21st, 2021] https:// www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/the-high-line-has-been-sidelined-when-it-reopens-new-yorkersmay-get-the-park-they-always-wanted/2020/06/23/5e2a59e0-acd1-11ea-94d2-d7bc43b26bf9_story.html.

High line reopening — story (n.d.) Pentagram.com. [Online] [Accessed June 25th, 2021] https:// www.pentagram.com/work/high-line-reopening/story.

Mehta, V. (2021) “Evaluating Public Space.” In Public Space Reader. Routledge, pp. 404–411.

Paköz, M. Z., Sözer, C. and Doğan, A. (2021) “Changing perceptions and usage of public and pseudo-public spaces in the post-pandemic city: the case of Istanbul.” Urban design international.

Reijndorp, A. and Hajer, M. A. (2001) In search of the new public domain. Rotterdam, Netherlands: NAI.

Yarina, E. (2017) “How architecture became capitalism’s handmaiden: Architecture as alibi for the high line’s neoliberal space of capital accumulation.” Architecture and culture, 5(2) pp. 241–263.

Cities and Urbanism | Research Methodologies and Events

Articles inside

Part 3

Part 2