Introduction:A space’s atmosphere is an important factor in how that space is experienced. In fact, festival visitors consider the atmosphere as the most important factor in how they experience a festival (Van Vliet 2012). Atmosphere is also what distinguishes physical shops from online web shops (Van Vliet, Moes & Schrandt 2015). Much research underlines the influence of atmosphere on cognitive and emotional processes. As early as 1956, research showed that an assessment of facial expressions in photographs depended on the atmosphere of the space in which the photos were viewed (Maslow & Mintz 1956). The importance of atmosphere inspired the search for ways to influence visitors and allowing them to react to, and even (co-)design, a space’s atmosphere – from museum spaces (Noordegraaf 2012) to urban spaces, from consciously-manipulated spaces to the now inevitable layer of digital information that has entered the public sphere (Mitchell 2005). Researchers have been studying the influence of atmosphere for decades, particularly through the lens of environmental psychology, which focuses on the interplay between humans and their environment (Mehrabian & Russell 1974; Steg, Van den Berg & De Groot 2012). A milestone in atmosphere research was the introduction of the concept of ‘atmospherics’ by Kotler (1973). From here, research into atmosphere mainly took place in the context of marketing research into consumer behaviour in shops and service environments such as restaurants, hotels, museums and festivals (Van Vliet 2014). The question here is whether these gathered insights contribute to understanding how atmosphere works in open public spaces.
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PurposeThis paper aims to consider the relationship between urban events and urban public space, asking whether cities have enough space for events and whether events have enough space in cities.Design/methodology/approachPolicy analysis surrounding events and festivals in the Netherlands is used to understand the dynamics of urban events, supported by content analysis of policy documents. A vignette of event space struggles in Amsterdam illustrates the contradictions of the event/space relationship.FindingsThe research identifies a policy shift in the Netherlands towards urban events from expansive, festivalisation strategies to defensive, NIMBYist policies. It exposes contradictions between protecting space as a living resource and the exploitation of space for regenerative purposes. Three future scenarios for urban events are outlined: conflict and competition, growth and harmony and digitalisation and virtualisation.Practical implicationsDevelops scenarios for the future relationship between events and urban space.Originality/valueProvides an analysis of the recursive spatial implications of the growth of the events sector for cities and the growth of cities for events.
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This paper explores how displays can be used to support human needs and activities in public spaces rather than be employed for commercial purposes only. Based on our analysis of screen usage around the world, eight different categories of usage are described and motivated. For the purpose of illustration, this paper discusses the results of a user study of BiebBeep, a touch screen application built to enhance the social and information function of a library.
Designing cities that are socially sustainable has been a significant challenge until today. Lately, European Commission’s research agenda of Industy 5.0 has prioritised a sustainable, human-centric and resilient development over merely pursuing efficiency and productivity in societal transitions. The focus has been on searching for sustainable solutions to societal challenges, engaging part of the design industry. In architecture and urban design, whose common goal is to create a condition for human life, much effort was put into elevating the engineering process of physical space, making it more efficient. However, the natural process of social evolution has not been given priority in urban and architectural research on sustainable design. STEPS stems from the common interest of the project partners in accessible, diverse, and progressive public spaces, which is vital to socially sustainable urban development. The primary challenge lies in how to synthesise the standardised sustainable design techniques with unique social values of public space, propelling a transition from technical sustainability to social sustainability. Although a large number of social-oriented studies in urban design have been published in the academic domain, principles and guidelines that can be applied to practice are large missing. How can we generate operative principles guiding public space analysis and design to explore and achieve the social condition of sustainability, developing transferable ways of utilising research knowledge in design? STEPS will develop a design catalogue with operative principles guiding public space analysis and design. This will help designers apply cross-domain knowledge of social sustainability in practice.
In veel Afrikaanse landen zien we een inperking van de maatschappelijke ruimte (‘civic space’). Deze ruimte is cruciaal om in democratische staten transparantie, vrijheid van meningsuiting en verantwoording van bestuur te realiseren. In een steeds sterke digitaliserende maatschappij wordt toegang tot digitale middelen een mensenrecht. Daar waar regeringen proberen hun burgers en organisaties dat recht tot digitale informatievoorziening en –uitwisselingen te ontnemen komen de Sustainable Development Goals in het gedrang. Doel African Digital Rights Network (ADRN) wil inzicht verkrijgen in de stakeholders ne technologieën die betrokken zijn net het openen of onderdrukken van de online maatschappelijke ruimte (‘civic space’). Het netwerk beoogt bij te dragen aam empowerment van burgers om hun digitale mensenrechten uit te oefenen. Resultaten ADRN heeft een vergelijkende studie van 10 Afrikaanse landen uitgevoerd naar het gebruik van digitale technologieën voor het openen of onderdrukken van de online maatschappelijke ruimte (‘civic space’). Het project heeft onder andere geleidt tot de volgende publicatie: Mapping the Supply of Surveillance Technologies to Africa: Case Studies from Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, Malawi, and Zambia Looptijd 01 mei 2020 - 20 april 2021 Aanpak ADRN organiseert een netwerk van onderzoekers, analisten, digitale rechtenorganisaties en activisten om de dynamiek van het openen en onderdrukken van de digitale maatschappelijke ruimte in kaart te brengen. Het netwerk bouwt op een interdisciplinaire onderzoeksaanpak o.l.v. het Institute for Development Studies, een vooraanstaand onderzoeksinstituut. Relevantie van het project Het onderzoek leidt tot aanbevelingen voor o.a. beleidsmakers en maatschappelijke organisaties ter bevordering van de digitale maatschappelijke ruimte. Daarnaast worden digitale tools en trainingsmateriaal gefaciliteerd voor het monitoren van ontwikkelingen en dreigingen van de digitale maatschappelijke ruimte. CofinancieringDit onderzoek wordt gefinancierd door UKRI - GCRF Digital Innovation for Development in Africa (DIDA)Meer weten? UKRI GCRF: African Digital Rights Network Website ADRN
