scholarly journals City image based on mental maps — the case study of Szczecin (Poland)

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-119
Author(s):  
Barbara Osóch ◽  
Anna Czaplińska
Keyword(s):  
Urban Space ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Mental Image ◽  
Border Region ◽  
Synthetic Image ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
City Image ◽  
Mental Maps ◽  
The City

Abstract Perception of space is an especially important part of research on urban fabric. The perception of a city is strongly correlated not only with a specific time and place but, first and foremost, with surveyed populations who, apart from having varying demographic features, frequently represent disparate community and cultural profiles. The objective of this study was to assess how the urban space of Szczecin (Poland) is perceived by its inhabitants and to ascertain the relations between various image elements. The example of Szczecin appears to be interesting, in as much as it is a peripheral city of a cross-border region with a historically and culturally diverse local community. The presented research used a method of analysing mental (image) maps based on the methodology proposed by Kevin Lynch (1960) and modified by the authors to incorporate in-depth interviews. Individual respondents’ views were used to create a synthetic image of the city.

scholarly journals The Mental Image of the City in the Worldview of Activists of Dnipro’s Jewish Programs

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Space ◽  
Mental Image ◽  
Mental Maps ◽  
Cognitive Sociology ◽  
Social Cartography ◽  
Combination Of Methods ◽  
Post Industrial ◽  
The City ◽  
Further Development

The article analyzes the mental image of the city through the prism of a particular ethnic group’s attitude towards it, throwing light on the key features of the formation of urban public memory in general. The study is part of the research project “CityFace: Practices of the Self-Representation of Multinational Cities in the Industrial and Post-Industrial Era,” which covers five Ukrainian cities. Comparative and hermeneutic analysis, methods of cliometrics, social psychology, and pragmatic and cognitive sociology were employed. Furthermore, in order to create a holistic image of the city of Dnipro, the author drew on J. Vidal’s symbolic anthropology, K. Lynch’s concept of the mental image of the city, P. Nora’s idea of sites of memory, etc. The study centers on the contents of personal questionnaires and oral interviews. The interviews involved the methods of mental maps and social cartography, which made possible a clearer interpretation of the geocultural space of the city in the imagination of respondents through the use of drawings and the mapping of objects. This combination of methods allowed the author to build a hierarchy of the main features of the city as seen by respondents from each age microgroup. The study was carried out in several stages from June to August 2019. 32 respondents aged 20 to 60 participated in the questionnaire and interview phase of the study, performing various types of tasks. In the final phase, analysis of the results allowed the author to reconsider the prevalent idea of Dnipro in current literature, as well as to trace the shifting priorities in determining the most important loci of Dnipro across changing generations. Working with activists of Jewish programs, the author was able to construct a picture of the attitude towards of the city among the members of one of its communities and to pinpoint the group-specific and more general features of their perception of the city. Using Dnipro as a case study, the article observes certain tendencies towards a change in the perception of cities and urban space, as well as outlines some prospects of the further development of metropolitan areas in modern Ukraine.

EXPLORING EX-ANTE IMPACTS AND SOCIAL AND SPORTIVE CHALLENGES OF HOSTING A FUTURE NEW INTERNATIONAL MAJOR EVENT: A CASE STUDY OF THE WORLD ROLLER GAMES IN BARCELONA

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Saló ◽  
Laia López
Keyword(s):  
Social Economic ◽  
Research Question ◽  
City Image ◽  
Local Council ◽  
The World ◽  
Future Consequences ◽  
Mega Event ◽  
The City ◽  
The Postponement

Research Question: This analysis arises from the decision of the current local council of Barcelona regarding the postponement of the sporting mega-event ‘World Roller Games’, due to a lack of a social and sportive implication in this event. This research tries to shed some light on the matter and give evidence to the local council to become the world capital of skating. The research question is to analyse whether non-economic impacts could be relevant enough to organise a mega-event.Research Methods: The methodology is based on the perception and experience of spectators and participants on four main impacts (social, economic, sports city image and sports practice) using a survey from a National Roller Skating Championship in Spain, considering that this profile of respondents have a better knowledge of the current situation of this sport.Results and Findings: There are positive expected future consequences of this mega-event to be held in Barcelona in social and sportive terms. We can also conclude that the local council must still introduce some social and sportive policies in the city in order to improve the chances of success in social, sports practice and sportive brand image development.Implications: It is demonstrated that a mega-event should not be seen purely from a perspective of business generation, especially with minority sports like roller skating. There is a clear opportunity to develop social and sportive practice initiatives that can push social cohesion throughout the city thanks to a mega-event such as this one.

scholarly journals »Reclaiming« the City: A Collective Endeavor

Dimensions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 183-202
Author(s):  
Sergiy Ilchenko
Keyword(s):  
Urban Space ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Urban Spaces ◽  
Collective Actions ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Urban Renaissance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City ◽  
Being Moved

Abstract This contribution elaborates upon the appropriation of urban space in spatiotemporal and procedural interventions in the example of the city of Kharkiv, as well as the impact of urban space on the process of how various groups rediscover and use various parts of the city. Being moved during collective actions - in the sense of feeling urged to move along - goes beyond routine practices by influencing the city and its perception. It seems that these general processions, celebrations, and festive activities of the residents are their contributions to the process of »urban renaissance« - the rebirth of interest in the urban way of life. Since public spaces reflect the historical inheritance of local communities, joint transformative actions such as, »appropriation «, »production«, and »governance« of urban spaces are considered. This article advocates for the practice of domestication of urban space by the local community, as well as the need for the existence of »urban lagoons« - free (unregulated) areas of the city used as resources for urban development and interaction of citizens.

scholarly journals Urban, industrial and technological risks. Synthesis of the elements of vulnerability of the city of Hassi-Messaoud

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lahcene Bouzouaid ◽  
Moussadek Benabbas
Keyword(s):  
Urban Space ◽  
Job Search ◽  
Population Distribution ◽  
Risk Assessments ◽  
Demographic Development ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
The City

Abstract Today, Algeria is one of the developing countries that are engaging seriously into a new approach consisting of all kinds of combined risk assessments for better prevention them. Note that, this is a fairly important parameter, that is, the safety of people and property. However, the magnitude of the risk, of whatever nature, affects a variety of diversified aspects (Human, economic, technical and environmental). This study presented a case study, which is sometimes paradoxical, seeing that it is the result of the combination of all risk factors and specific factors related to them connected to a fragile urban environment: Hassi-Messaoud. It is well known that Hassi-Messaoud is one of the most important city for Algeria's economy; in which the demographic development is mainly known by incessant flows of immigrants, motivated essentially by job search. This arbitrary of population distribution exposes this city to a certain danger; especially as Hassi-Messaoud is in a zone subject to a probable risk expressed here by being characteristic of an oil zone. Thus, this article aimed to provide elements of risk assessment related to oil activity. This approach could conclude that, through a schematic scale, the different types and levels of exposure and vulnerability could be identified, that is, characteristics of the urban space in question.

scholarly journals Application of Urban Geology in Construction Projects (Case Study: Urban Geology of Sarpol-e Zahab, Kermanshah Province, Iran)

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sajad Afzali ◽  
Faezeh Taheri Sarmad ◽  
Mojtaba Heidari ◽  
Seyed Hossein Jalali
Keyword(s):  
Urban Space ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Urban Geology ◽  
Natural Phenomena ◽  
Horizontal Acceleration ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City ◽  
Financial Losses

Urban geology is a preliminary study for the construction and development of cities, which has been more prominent in recent decades in some countries despite its long application history. It assesses the impact of geological and natural phenomena on urban space and available structures. The earthquake on Nov. 21, 2017, inflicted a lot of damage to the city of Sarpol-e Zahab, west of Iran, including financial losses and casualties. Reconstruction of this city and planning for its sustainable development entail conducting urban geological studies. In the present study, the effect of natural phenomena on Sarpol-e Zahab County was studied by investigating its geology and geomorphology. The results showed that, in addition to the earthquake that habitually affected the city of Sarpol-e Zahab, the hazards of other phenomena are also significant. Recorded horizontal acceleration in the recent earthquake confirmed the high seismicity of Sarpol-e Zahab has.

scholarly journals Colonial Values and Asylum Care in Brazil: Reclaiming the Streets Through Carnival in Rio de Janeiro

2020 ◽  
pp. 155-161
Author(s):  
Julia Evangelista ◽  
William A. Fulford
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Colonial History ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
The City

AbstractThis chapter shows how carnival has been used to counter the impact of Brazil’s colonial history on its asylums and perceptions of madness. Colonisation of Brazil by Portugal in the nineteenth century led to a process of Europeanisation that was associated with dismissal of non-European customs and values as “mad” and sequestration of the poor from the streets into asylums. Bringing together the work of the two authors, the chapter describes through a case study how a carnival project, Loucura Suburbana (Suburban Madness), in which patients in both long- and short-term asylum care play leading roles, has enabled them to “reclaim the streets,” and re-establish their right to the city as valid producers of culture on their own terms. In the process, entrenched stigmas associated with having a history of mental illness in a local community are challenged, and sense of identity and self-confidence can be rebuilt, thus contributing to long-term improvements in mental well-being. Further illustrative materials are available including photographs and video clips.

3. Intervening with Agriculture: A Case Study of Guerrilla Gardening in Kingston, Ontario

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Crane
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Urban Agriculture ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Community Gardening ◽  
Spatial Justice ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Right ◽  
The City

The purpose of this study was to analyze guerrilla gardening’s relationship to urban space and contemporary notions of sustainability. To achieve this two case studies of urban agriculture, one of guerrilla gardening and one of community gardening were developed. Through this comparison, guerrilla gardening was framed as a method of spatial intervention, drawing in notions of spatial justice and the right to the city as initially theorized by Henri Lefebvre. The guerrilla gardening case study focuses on Dig Kingston, a project started by the researcher in June of 2010, and the community gardening case study will use the Oak Street Garden, the longest standing community garden in Kingston. The community gardening case study used content analysis and semi-structured long format interviews with relevant actors. The guerrilla gardening case study consisted primarily of action based research as well as content analysis and semi-structured long format interviews. By contributing to the small, but growing, number of accounts and research on guerrilla gardening this study can be used as a starting point to look into other forms of spatial intervention and how they relate to urban space and social relations. Furthermore, through the discussion of guerrilla gardening in an academic manner more legitimacy and weight will be given to it as a method of urban agriculture and interventionist tactic. On a wider scale, perhaps it could even contribute to answering the question of how we (as a society) can transform our cities and reengage in urban space.

Analysis of the local communities focused around improving the quality of urban space on the example of activities in public spaces and cultural activities in Bytom

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylwia Widzisz-Pronobis ◽  
◽  
Grzegorz Pronobis ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Space ◽  
Local Community ◽  
City Life ◽  
Social Activists ◽  
Good Investment ◽  
New Vision ◽  
Basic Ideas ◽  
The City

Bytom is a polish, post-industrial city which is looking for a new vision of the future. City dwellers are between a history related to coal and new challenges. It is not easy for them to understand that industry is a thing of the past and you need to look for yourself and your identity again. Groups of social leaders are trying to show a different picture of the city and engage more and more people to act for the city. Building the city's identity and new image are basic ideas. However, in the era of global discussion about climate change and the technologization of city life, it becomes important to become aware of the role of greenery and community. In the article I want to show how Bytom social activists promote and animate the local community in the spirit of collectivism and improving the quality of life in the city. The assumption of the described groups was the maximum involvement of residents in activities to improve the space in Bytom. In the article I want to show what tools they used and what effects they obtained. Particularly important here are activities that contribute to making the community aware of the role of greenery and pedestrian space. The effects of social activities show more clearly how important are strong communities opposing local authorities and supporting good investment decisions. Analysis of the activities of social groups showed how important local leaders play and how various methods and tools used by them gave measurable effects in the city space. The bottom-up activity helped to understand the advantages of a pedestrian city, which is Bytom, and to show how little it takes for the city to gain a new image.

Edible public space. Experimenting with a socio-environmentally just urbanism

TERRITORIO ◽  
2012 ◽  
pp. 39-43
Author(s):  
Chiara Tornaghi
Keyword(s):  
Urban Planning ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Urban Agriculture ◽  
Critical Geography ◽  
Space Project ◽  
Social Environmental ◽  
The Right ◽  
The City

This paper presents an English case of urban agriculture, the Edible Public Space Project in Leeds, contextualised in a context of urban agriculture initiatives committed to social-environmental justice, to the reproduction of common goods and the promotion of an urban planning which promotes the right to food and to the construction of urban space from the bottom up. The case study emerged as the result of action-research at the crossroads between urban planning policies, community work and critical geography. As opposed to many similar initiatives, the Edible Public Space Project is not intended merely as a temporary initiative hidden within the tiny folds of the city, but rather as an experiment which imagines and implements alternatives to current forms of urban planning within those folds and it contextualises them in the light of the ecological, fi nancial and social crisis of the last decade.

scholarly journals On Allotopia: The Spatial Accumulation of Difference in Bixiga (São Paulo, Brazil)

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 387-404
Author(s):  
Jeroen Stevens ◽  
Bruno De Meulder
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
Urban Analysis ◽  
Territorial Claims ◽  
The City

This article will unfold a longe durée spatial biography of the urban area of Bixiga (São Paulo, Brazil) to probe the particular role of space in the conflation of different cultural practices and territorial claims. The extended case study bridges indigenous, colonial, and postcolonial urbanization as they amalgamated an intricate assemblage of material and cultural strata. Combined historical urban analysis and fieldwork allow to uncover how the resulting urban milieu integrates discrepant urban worlds, perpetually iterating between centrality and marginality, innovation and degradation, oppression and resistance. Building on Foucault’s (1984) conception of heterotopia, Bixiga will surface as an allotopia, a place that accommodates, cumulates, and celebrates a multitude of differences. It sheds light, this way, on more insurgent histories of urbanism, where urban space is piecemeal forged through contentious struggles over space in the city.

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