Visions have always been an intrinsic part of the urban space. In temporal sense, their manifestations were based in the future, but their conceptualisations in present have varied from being bound by the past shaped to present purposes, to futuristic enthusiasm enabled by technological advancements. But, what are the modern day narratives of collective advancement embedded in urban design and how far are current urban horizons?
In this seminar, we will look at the urban design projects in the recent history that have shaped our discussions about the urban, utilized hopes for the future, and, if built, had various levels of successfulness. To develop analytical and critical framework, we will read and discuss texts from the field of architecture, but also various other fields of study, such as media theory, anthropology, economy, etc.
The aim of the seminar is to provide you the skills to ‘read’ urban design projects and contextualize them within the society and technology.