CfP: From preurban structures to cities: urban space as an action context.

CfP: From preurban structures to cities: urban space as an action context.

Session for Kiel International Open Workshop 2017, 20-24th March 2017.

Keynote Speaker: Prof. Andreas Reckwitz, University of Frankfurt (Oder) (requested).

Deadline for applications: November 30th 2016.

Organisers: Stephanie Merten, M.A., Prof. Dr. Annette Haug

 

Only in recent years archaeological urban studies started focusing on human agents while previously, the function and typology of urban architecture have been main issues. In this new perspective, function is not a given entity but results from different forms of spatial appropriation. The interaction between social agents and their built environment become a subject of investigation. Urban spaces are not only empty shells framed by architecture but »centre[s] of […] social relations…« (Deborah Stevenson, The City, Key Concepts Series [Cambridge 2013], 1). In this session, the focus will be on people and their forms of acting as well as on their perception of their urban (architecturally designed) surrounding.

This session will serve as a platform to discuss concepts, theories and methods from different disciplines to move the human being in the foreground to (re)fill the urban structures with ›life‹. Possible research questions of »urban space as an action context« could be:

– In what way are architectural forms appropriate for specific forms of use or open to diverse forms of spatial appropriation? In what way does the built space influence on specific forms of action?

– In what way does urban design provide a specific perception and action frame?

– What is the role of designed space for social (daily) practices?

– What are the reasons for changes in urban design?

– Is it possible to conceive the sensual perception of the urban surrounding?

– Which theories or methods are useful to reconstruct human action, perception, movement etc. in cities?

The session will focus on urban structures from prehistory to the (post)modern times. Applications from various disciplines, like archaeology, history, philology, anthropology or sociology are explicitly welcome to offer a wide interdisciplinary exchange, to get an insight into different research questions in urbanism and to mutually enrich each other.

If you are interested to contribute with a paper or if you have further questions, contact smerten@gshdl.uni-kiel.de or ahaug@klassarch.uni-kiel.de For more information concerning the Workshop, visit http://www.workshop-gshdl.uni-kiel.de