urbanistika.ee - the first myth of the city is that it exists

BAT-YAM Biennale of landscape urbanism

2008-06-12T11:05:00.003+03:00

Interesting how everywhere around the globe are happening similar things. These pictures are from Bat-Yam biennale in Israel, but they might just as well be in Lasnamäe :)

http://www.biennale-batyam.org/eng/article_page.asp?id=185&scid=100

Multiple Tallinn – following an archipelago of islands?

2008-05-05T16:55:00.000+03:00

Subject: Invitation to participate in a panel discussion

Place and time: Tallinn, 20^th of May, 19:00, Arts Academy

Initiated by Bauhaus Kolleg IX – Border Cities, Dessau, Germany

Multiple Tallinn – following an archipelago of islands?

Based on the research undertaken by Bauhaus Kolleg IX – Border Cities, detected a sharpening of the historically developed archipelago like city pattern of Tallinn. The addition of global connections and the integration of different time layers in the city, we want to discuss the possibilities, potentials and obstacles to Tallinn’s future spatial development.

With regard to the status quo of the city’s future development, we state that the original spatial structure of an archipelago, strengthened by the Helsinki-Tallinn relation, now reverses and will blur into the direction of a more isotropic city structure. In this process top-down initiatives or real estate speculation guiding the gentrification processes would negate the existence of bottom-up initiatives in less defined areas. The bottom-up developments loose their significance in urban development.

The questions that could arise are stated below:

. exchange value vs. use value

[Who owns the city? What’s the value of local bottom up developments compared with economic interests? Alienation of locals to rapid changes in city development. How is the city negotiated? Participatory systems in city planning.]

. gentrification – the possibility of a directed deliberate city-planning

[spatial impact of dynamics within the city. How to direct city development in an atmosphere of neo-liberal, market orientated economics? Forces within the city – bottom up vs. top down vs. real estate speculation.]

. archipelago structure vs. Isotropic city – advantages and disadvantages

[Archipelago vs. Isotropic city? Would the maintenance of an archipelago structure necessarily lead to hierarchical and social segregation as well as to stigmatisation? Is it possible to maintain characteristic qualities of different areas without negative impact?]

BORDER URBANISM

2008-03-10T13:36:00.003+02:00

06-03-08 // MONU #8 RELEASED!

One of the most grotesque effects of globalisation is that a process which is supposed to unify the world and bind people and the biosphere more tightly together into one global system, ended up increasing the amount of individual countries worldwide. When in 1983 the term "globalisation" was popularised, only 159 countries were members of the United Nations. Today, we recognize 191 states. It has been speculated that there are still more than 200 unrecognised regions around the world which strive for seperation. Such a global particularisation process is going to produce large numbers of new political entities and new jurisdictions with thousands of kilometres of new borders, which will reshape entire regions and cities.

MONU – magazine on urbanism has released its 8th issue –
Border Urbanism. Check it out at MONU .

SlaveCity - Interview with Joep van Lieshout
Potential Nation States by STAR
Global Islands in North Korea by Simone Cartier and Katrin Gimmel
Operation Desert by Peter Mörtenböck and Helge Mooshammer
Kaliningrad by Ines Lüder, Dominique Hurth and Ciarán Walsh
Segregated Istanbul by Pelin Tan
Crisscrossing Lives by Horng-Chang Hsieh and Vittaya Ruangrit
A Fictional Dialogue between two Curators by Umi
Cross - Border Suburbias by Teddy Cruz
Reciprocal Developments by Arjan Harbers and Kristin Jensen
Tijuana - Vernacular by Federico Diaz de Leon Orraca
Border Models by Annemarie Strihan
Bohemian Cheapness - Interview with Jaroslav Kubera
Sin City by Daan Roggeveen
On a Trip Down Memory Lane by Lukas Feireiss
Windsor: The American Sector by Justin A. Langlois
Westberlin - My Cold War Heroine by Vesta Nele Zareh

Fast cities

2007-08-06T12:45:00.001+03:00

While some of us try to cut down the stress and the fastness of the city rush, others praise the "fast cities". Here you can find a classification of cities in a world scale, by their characteristics, intention, approach, history and current development. For them, slow cities are "bad" (and they dont even know of the slow city movement..)

Basic urban studies criticism and knowledge to be put into test:

The 30 Fastest Cities In The World. Plus: 5 Cities Too Fast For Their Own Good and 5 Cities That Are Too Slow.

The life in a city without a car

2007-06-27T12:10:00.001+03:00

It is possible to survive without a car in a city from the USA. This interesting article explains how the life of a San Franciso citizen changes when he decides to make all his activities by public transportation or bike instead of a car. He compares the expences and the time spent. His feelings and thoughts are also interesting.
I would read it, it is worth: http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/16289155.htm

2010 IMPERATIVE

2007-06-27T11:55:00.000+03:00

If you are visiting this weblog you might be a city planner, an architect, a geographer, a designer, or just and interested person on The City.
Even if you are not into any of these fields, surely you have heard about the global warming and the climate change. The question is: Are city planners being trained for the world we will inherit?.
Architecture 2030 (hosted by the New York Academy of Sciences) has arranged a live web-cast for 20 February.
The idea is to reach students, teachers, schools and diferent organizations to change the way of teaching desing and planning. The goal is to prepear ourselves better for the challenges we will face sooner that we thought.
Some schools have already changed the common classes for that day and will participate online in the web-cast. Will you?

http://2010imperative.org/

Visual planning and urbanism in the mid-twentieth century

2007-06-27T11:53:00.000+03:00

Town and Townscape, School of Architecture, planning and landscape; Newcastle University Library

13-15 September 2007

The early to mid-twentieth century was a time of intense debate over the future of cities and the form and appearance that they might take. In the UK the Garden City Movement, with a tendency towards lower densities and decentralisation, was an important influence. Internationally the radical reformation of the city was being promoted by Le Corbusier and others. Other radical models were promoted including ideas of linear cities or Frank Lloyd Wright’s radical decentralisation of Broadacre City. In amongst these grand concepts we can discern a strand of more practical urbanism, modernist in flavour but historically informed, seeking to recover positive conceptions of the city and town after the perceived deprivations of the nineteenth century. One manifestation of this was the UK townscape movement, with its emphasis on pictorial composition.

This conference will consider some of the key ideas of visual planning and the urban of the period, with a particular focus on the advocates of visual and three-dimensional planning as a means of achieving a reformulated twentieth century urbanism.

The keynote speaker at the conference will be Professor Stephen Ward, Oxford Brookes University.
The conference forms part of a project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, “Town and Townscape: The Work and Life of Thomas Sharp”. Thomas Sharp was a key figure in the town planning profession in the mid-twentieth century and a major influence on thought about planning and design and as such his work will be one of the themes of the conference.

Continue reading at:
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/library/sharp/conference.php

Another chinese development

2007-06-27T11:51:00.000+03:00

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2237937.html

shaman town

2007-06-27T11:48:00.000+03:00

the project

WHO: Union of architects, Russia; Union of Moscow architects; A.Asadov Architectural Studio

WHERE: RUSSIA, LAKE BAIKAL, JULY 14-22th 2007

WHAT: The erection of "SHAMAN-TOWN" - haven of ancient gods and places for meditations on wild nature!

DETAILS: Dear friends! We invite you to take part in the international architectural festival “TOWNS”!

The next (fifth) holiday of architecture, beauty and health will take place in one of the most picturesque places of the planet - on Lake Baikal! It is necessary for participants of the festival to build up various arch-objects, suitable for living and meditation. It is possible to use wood (1 cube meter), metal cables for construction and a varnish/paint for exterior. (You can also use other materials after coordination with the organizers).

During the brakes and after the end of the construction of TOWN we plan various sport events for which each command is recommended to have a mountain bicycle and any swimming tool. The organization of horse, pedestrian walks and water rounds is also possible. Living in tents. Each command is given a room in the neighboring tourist hostel.

For participation in the festival it is necessary to build up a team, to fill in an application and to send it to the following address: goroda2007@mail.ru (your sketches of constructions are accepted till June, 20th).

The organizers will appreciate any invitations of sponsors by participants of festival. You can also invite foreign friends and colleagues to participate (the Union of architects will provide support for getting visas), any help in the organization is welcome!

download application form >>> download poster >>>

THE PRELIMINARY PROGRAMM:

13.07 (Friday) - a start from Moscow to Irkutsk

14.07 (Saturday) - road to the TOWN place, distribution of sites

15-18.07 (Sunday-Wednesday) - construction, presentation of TOWN

19-21.07 (Thursday-Saturday) - free time, sports events (the organization of excursions or extreme rounds are possible)

22.07 (Sunday) - departure, excursion in Irkutsk, fly to Moscow.

PRICES:
Air tickets (2-way) ~220-400 euro
Transfer (2-way) ~15-40 euro
Habitation ~4-15 euro/day
This are initial prices. All the reductions depends of sponsors ;)

CONTACTS: goroda2007@mail.ru , ICQ 310548284

UP TO THE MEETING ON BAYKAL!!!

P.S. It is necessary to make a vassination against encephalitis (before 3 month)!

http://www.asadov.ru/2007_gorod-shaman(eng).htm

4th International Congress on Virtual City and Territory "Re-Think the City"

2007-06-27T11:46:00.000+03:00

To be held in Guadalajara, Mexico from October 1st to 3rd, 2007

Website: http://www.ctv2007.udg.mx/index.php
Information: info@ctv2007.udg.mx

Conference Overview:

The challenge of renewing the conceptual structures and the technical
applications to the complex problem of human development, the active
metropolization, the accelerated occupation of territory and, all the
accumulated consequences throughout modern history worsened with
Globalization's dynamic process, have been the fundamental approach of the
"City and Virtual Territory" International Congresses, fulfilled in
Barcelona (2004), Concepcion (2005) and Bilbao (2006). During these, ideas,
studies and projects have been struggled and displayed, under the optic of
contribution to knowledge by the new computer science technologies, concrete
proposals and achieved actions by an interesting group of scientific
investigators, enterprises and prestigious institutions.

In this perspective, we propose to continue this joint effort and generate
an ample space for meeting all those who search for solutions to the
urban/territorial development with social equity, the preservation of
natural environment, the impulse of a citizen's participation culture, its
democratic consequences and the possibility to find out better ways to trace
a qualitative horizon to our cities' development; as well all those that
contributes positively to face the territorial-entail challenge and the XXI
century's imaginaries.

In order to continue this process, the Art, Architecture and Design Center
of the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, accompanied in this effort by an
important group of public and private institutions from several countries,
we CONVOKE public and private organizations, researchers, students,
professionals and all those who may be interested, to the 4th International
Congress on Virtual City and Territory, "Re-Think the City," to be held in
Guadalajara, Mexico from October 1st to 3rd, 2007.

Towards Carfree Cities VII conference, Istanbul August 27-31, 2007

2007-06-27T11:45:00.000+03:00

Towards Carfree Cities VII - Istanbul, Turkey

- 2007 Conference - Registration - Call for Proposals - Draft Programme - Accommodation - Payment Options

Istanbul, Turkey will be hosting Towards Carfree Cities VII from August 27-31, 2007. Our local hosts this year are the Turkish Traffic Safety Association, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and Istanbul's City and Regional Planning Department. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of World Carfree Network will take place on the last day, August 31. There will be optional excursions on the weekend after.

Theme

This year's conference theme "Building a Livable Future in a Changing Climate" emphasises the positive potential and urgency of addressing global climate change through the creation of high-quality, carfree human habitats. We will be looking at how proximity can reduce our dependence on mobility - how cities can be transformed into a compact, space-efficient urban settlement pattern in which one's daily wants and needs can be met within walking distance. We will focus on how an urban environment transformed in this way can increase people's quality of life.

On another level, the theme hints at the growing potential for change in the social and political climate. For example, walkable communities are increasingly seen as a solution to various negative global health trends, ecological building methods are rapidly gaining in popularity, and public opinion on global climate change has shifted rapidly towards universal recognition of this pressing global problem.

Based on the insights of experiencing Istanbul's world-class carfree areas, the conference will bring these concepts together into a coherent recipe to be adopted and adapted by cities worldwide.

See our call for proposals for programme content (presentations, workshops, activities, etc.). The deadline to submit a proposal is April 30.

http://www.worldcarfree.net/conference/

COMPETITION: Design For The New Centre Of Riga

2007-06-27T11:39:00.000+03:00

The subject of the Competition is an urban construction and architectural idea which graphically and textually describes integrated development of the Competition Site. The urban construction and architectural idea and the explanatory note should include an urban design for the New Centre of Riga in Tornakalns and an architectural solution for the Riga City Council and the public administrative complex in line with the Assignment of the Competition.

The registration and submission deadline is 3rd September 2007.

Visit the website for further information: http://www.rdpad.lv/en/rcnc/

Rotterdam Architecture Biennale STARTS

2007-05-24T11:42:00.000+03:00

We already warn it, but it's always interesting to remind important events.
TODAY starts the Architecture Biennale in Rotterdam, whose main theme for this edition is THE CITY and its future.
Activities will run till 2nd September.
Rotterdam is also the "City of Architecture" in 2007. It seems a scape to The Netherlands is worth. Did you already plan your holidays?

Info:
http://www.biennalerotterdam.nl
http://www.rotterdam2007.nl

Continuity and Change in Cities

2007-04-16T11:43:00.000+03:00

May 23, 2007 - May 25, 2007 / Alkmaar, Netherlands
2nd Meeting IFHP Working Party Continuity and Change in Cities
Theme: Continuity and Change in Cities: A Game with Many Players
www.alkmaar.nl/workingparty

43rd ISOCARP Congress. Call for papers

2007-03-21T11:50:00.000+02:00

The International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) is prepearing its 43rd Congress. It will take place in Antwerp (Belgium) from 19th to 23rd of September 2007.
At the website you will find more information on the event. At the moment is the "call for papers" stage, but in the website there are always interesting news about the planning field.
Besides the Congress there will be two workshops, one in Brussels and the other one in Antwerp.

http://www.isocarp.org/files/CallPapers_Registration_Brochure2007.pdf

events

2007-03-21T11:49:00.000+02:00

New concepts and approaches for Urban and Regional Policy and Planning?
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
LEUVEN | APRIL 02-03 2007
http://www.planning-and-development.be/

First International Conference of Young Urban Researchers (FICYUrb)
Held at ISCTE, Lisboa, Portugal
June 11 - 12, 2007
https://conferencias.iscte.pt/index.php?cf=3

Kaupunkitutkimuksen päivät 2007 - Talous, kasvu, kulutus
Aika: 3.-4.5.2007
Paikka: Tieteiden talo (Kirkkokatu 6, Helsinki)
Järjestäjät: Yhdyskuntasuunnittelun Seura, Alue- ja
Ympäristötutkimuksen Seura sekä Suomen Kaupunkitutkimuksen Seura

--
Teele Pehk
Department of Regional Studies
University of Tampere
teele.pehk@uta.fi
phone: +358 (0)33551 7807
mobile: +358 4565 18948

Delirious No More

2007-03-20T12:20:00.000+02:00

WANING SPACE: I __ NY

By Rem Koolhaas

What happened after New York lost its Deliriousness? Rem Koolhaas has written a short article a few years ago that complements his work Delirious New York.

read the article in Wired magazine here

Slow cities and the slow movement

2007-03-09T12:25:00.000+02:00

Fired by the success and support for Slow Food the Italians set about initiating the Slow Cities movement. Slow cities are characterised by a way of life that supports people to live slow. Traditions and traditional ways of doing things are valued. These cities stand up against the fast-lane, homogenised world so often seen in other cities throughout the world. Slow cities have less traffic, less noise, fewer crowds.

Slow and colourful

Towns in Italy have banded together to form an organization and call themselves the Slow Cities movement. In their zeal to help the world they have formed what amounts to a global organization that sets out to control which cities in the world can call themselves Slow Cities and which cannot. This is not a movement. Social movements are movements from the bottom from the community. The seachange movement, the organic movement, the vegetarian movement, the homeschooling movement, are examples of movements. No-one controls them. No-one assesses you to see if you are allowed to call yourself a seachanger or if you can say you are a vegetarian.

Yet, the Slow Cities movement – Citta Slow – holds the power to assess a city that wants to be called a slow city. Citta Slow have developed a:

Manifesto – setting out the underlying principles
Charter of Association – cities wanting to be granted the status of Slow Cities must sign this charter
A list of member cities
Plans for an annual gathering.

No town or city with more than 50,000 residents may apply to be called a Slow City. The Slow City manifesto contains 55 pledges or criteria, grouped into six categories upon which cities are assessed; environmental policy, infrastructure, quality of urban fabric, encouragement of local produce and products, hospitality and community and Citta Slow awareness. To qualify to be called a Slow City and to use the snail logo, a city must be vetted and regularly checked by inspectors to make sure it is living up to the Slow City standard of conduct.

The principles of the Slow City movement are one we would like all cities no matter how big or small to live by. Hopefully the movement will continue and another grassroots slow city movement will operate in parallel whereby cities that cannot meet the strict criteria for one reason or another can still call themselves slow cities and continue to work towards sustainable living and the ethos of the slow movement.

Perhaps this new movement is already here. Check out slowlondon. As the site says: "Firstly, it is nothing new. There are people in cities all over the world who have found all sorts of ways to bring a sense of relaxation to places where it can often be stressful to live. slowlondon provides a place for these people to meet and share their ideas. On the other hand, there are many of us who are interested in finding out how to make commuting a pleasure rather than a chore....how to avoid fallling into bad habits at work just because everyone ele does it like that... how to reclaim time as the friend it really is.

"slowlondon hopes to provide inspiration and also support, because sometimes it requires a certain bravery to stand up and say no, there are other ways than this.

"The principles that underpin slowlondon apply to whichever city you live in. Some of the details may be different but on the whole, people all around the world face the same challenges."

Source: http://www.slowmovement.com/slow_cities.php

Monu num.7: Call for papers

2007-02-28T11:52:00.000+02:00

Hi!
The very interesting magazine on urbanism, Monu, is prepearing its next number.
The 7th publication of Monu will deal with what they have called "2nd urbanism". Those cities not so known as the A-list of metropolis in the world.
Send your text, photographies or any other material related to the topic.

Further info: http://www.monu.org/call7.htm

KRAX: open urban network... Proposal from Barcelona... !

2007-02-14T11:54:00.000+02:00

Hi urbanistika friends!!!
My name is Mariano and I´m writing you from Barcelona as part of City
Mine(d), an international organisation of urban interventionists. Right
now we´re developing a project called KRAX, which is an investigation, a
mapping, into urban creativity and civic participation as ways to
confront imposed changes in neighbourhoods and cities around the world.
We are focusing on those "cracks in the city" that arise as a result of
urban plans that only benefit economic interests, but are no good for
the inhabitants of the city.

As the postindustrial city model is repeating all around the world,
these "urban aggressions" are found everywhere. But that´s only the bad
part of the story... The good part of it (and that´s why we started
KRAX...) is that also everywhere the neighbours are standing and
fighting for their rights to the city. People´s mentality is changing,
and now they want to be active participants of the decisions made over
their street, square, neighbourhood or city... So, KRAX is not a
research on the urban problems that cities are facing around the world;
it is more a "catalogue", a database of creative and powerful tools and
experiences coming from the neighbours themselves. We are in contact
with movements/collectives/organizations from Tokyo, Caracas, Madrid,
Santiago de Chile, Chicago, Mostar, Harlem, Buenos Aires, Sevilla,
London, ...

One of the ideas behind KRAX is to build a Documentation Center. This
space is intended to be a learning place, where you can know about other
initiatives around the world, and we want to make it available
physically as well as virtually. This Doc Center is growing thanks to
the contribution of the different groups: we are getting in touch with
each one of them to gather material that can be interesting for the
whole network...
We are also, and this is another idea behind KRAX, organizing the KRAX
Conference at the end of April (24-28th). This Conference is a gathering
of several initiatives from different neighbourhoods from Barcelona with
groups from different cities. We are starting to develop the program for
the Conference along with neighbours (tomorrow we have a big meeting
with some of them), and we will begin arising the same questions to the
KRAX mailing-list participants (krax@moviments.net).

If you can tell us something about what´s going on in Tallinn or
Estonia, it would be great! Also, if you want to write something about
the situation around there (or write something about cities, in
general...), you can send it to us and we will publish it on the KRAX
blog (http://krax.citymined.org).

Ok, that´s all... A long email already....
Let´s keep in touch!!!
Mariano.
-

Scandal around destroying a graffiti

2007-02-11T11:11:00.000+02:00

I happened to see a surprising article in the Times.
While street art is seen as something much more than dirt in many places and Banksy (here random pic) is a renowned graffiti artists who's works sell for £ 25.000 (!),
it still strikes me that graffiti is valued so much that destroying it makes it to the news:

Council cleaners jetwash away Banksy’s graffiti art

Nicola Woolcock, The Times, February 10, 2007

When council cleaners spotted graffiti 24 hours before the official opening of a new London square, they enthusiasically removed every trace of the offending drawings.

Unfortunately, the two stencils they wiped out were drawn by Banksy, the subversive artist. One of his works fetched more than £100,000 in auction at Sotheby’s this week.

To make matters worse, the street cleaners did not deem the graffiti worthy of being photographed before destruction, as is their usual policy. Nor did they seek permission from the building’s owners.

The council has now admitted its blunder and apologised.

The street cleaners, armed with jetwashers, had been ordered to touch up the area before the official opening of Gillett Square in Hackney last November.

Two days before the ceremony, Hackney Cooperative Developments (HCD) decided to uncover a 4ft Banksy stencil of a girl wearing a frilly dress and a gas mask. It had been covered by plywood for several months.

It was scrubbed off the day after, along with another Banksy picture on their building of a man’s face.

Adam Hart, executive director of HCD, wrote to Hackney Council complaining that the murals had been removed, saying: “These were famous artworks by Banksy and of considerable value and there is likely to be something of an outcry.” He said later: “Perhaps the nature of the whole thing is that graffiti is ephemeral, so maybe Banksy would approve.”

The council is now drawing up a list of graffiti artwork in the borough that should not be removed. Mr Hart said: “It’s something they need to be aware of so they don’t eradicate everything that gives character to the area.”

Tartu and Tallinn, targets for Europan 9

2007-01-31T12:14:00.000+02:00

Yes, the next edition of Europan competition is alredy here. Under the generic theme "European urbanity, sustainable city and new public spaces" this important competition is proposing 73 european cities as sites where to develop ideas on urban planning. Tartu and Tallinn are in that list.

We made a short entry about it on our World Events blog: http://worldevents-urbanistika.blogspot.com/2007/01/europan-9.html

Visit the official Europan 9 website to get all the information: www.europan-europe.com

EUROPAN 9

2007-01-31T11:56:00.000+02:00

Here we have the new edition of one of the most important competition in Europe for young architects and city planners. All the information will be ready on next monday, 5th February, at the official web site.

The generic theme of Europan 9 is "European urbanity, sustainable city and new public spaces".

This edition counts with two Estonian cities, Tartu and Tallinn, as proposed sites.

If you cannot wait till next week, visit the website. Basic information is already launched: http://www.europan-europe.com

Good luck to all you!!!

Linnalava

2007-01-27T12:23:00.000+02:00

HABITAT5. HOUSING. NEW WAYS OF INHABITING

2007-01-27T11:57:00.000+02:00

From 2nd till 3rd of February will take place in Albacete (Spain) the conferences under the title “Habitat5. Housing. New way of inhabitating”. Organized by Foro Civitas Nova, a very interesting initiative in research, knowledge exchange and awareness of housing and urban development.
Experts in different areas will analyze the habitats where we live from several perspectives: space, technology, social behavior, environment or flexibility.
Even if you cannot attend to the conferences, i would have a look on this web site. They have interesting material on urban studies.
Conferences site:
http://www.forocivitasnova.org/jornadahabita5i.htm (english)

kalamaja

2007-01-27T11:34:00.000+02:00

Kalamaja on tallinna üks vanemaid eeslinnu, kuid selle praegune hoonestus pärineb põhiliselt 19. saj. lõpust 20. saj. algusest ning on ehitatud tüüpprojektide järgi. Ühetüübiliste majade kordumine tänavate ja piirkondade kaupa tekitab omapärase arhitektuurse atmosfääri, mida viimase paarikümne aasta jooksul on väärtustama ja taastama hakatud. Kalamaja blogi kutsub arutlema, kas ja kuidas peaks kaitsma sealset miljööd; kui palju on miljööväärtuslikus piirkonnas ruumi tänapäevastele lahendustele

1st INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF YOUNG URBAN RESEARCHERS

2007-01-22T11:58:00.000+02:00

The First International Conference of Young Urban Researchers (FICYUrb) will take place at ISCTE, in Lisbon – Portugal, June 11th and 12th, 2007. The organization of this scientific meeting was born from the will to create a space of interdisciplinary debate. Young researchers in urban studies that work and develop their researches on cities are expected to play a major role in this scientific meeting dynamic’s. The Conference is intended to be an adequate space to disseminate the most recent academic researches in urban studies from a wide range of disciplinary perspectives of the social sciences. While encouraging an international scientific debate, the Conference will provide a place of interchange between young urban studies practitioners and senior academics with a wide experience, especially those invited to the Opening and Final lectures in the meeting.

Call for papers:Those interested must send an abstract of approximately 250 words and a shortBiography-CV by March 16th , 2007. Papers in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French will be accepted. Authors will be noticed by April 2nd , 2007 . Completed Papers expected by May 14th , 2007.Guidelines for authors will be sent soon.

Further information:
https://conferencias.iscte.pt/index.php?cf=3

Alvar Aalto, through the eyes of Shigeru Ban

2007-01-19T11:59:00.000+02:00

Are you planning to visit London?? If you are, then you are lucky to find a very interesting exhibition at the Barbican Center.
There is no need to introduce Alvar Aalto, but maybe you do not know that Shigeru Ban in one of the most important architects in the world. He is japanese and his works are very innovative about the use of materials. He was one of the first in using recycling in architecture.
The exhibition faces again the work of Alvar Aalto but through the personal experience of another architect, who belongs to another generation and was born in a different culture.

The exhibition will be open from 22 February till 13 May at the Barbican Centre of London.

More info: http://www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery/event-detail.asp?ID=4341

Urban Probes: Encountering our Emerging Urban Athmospheres

2007-01-17T12:24:00.000+02:00

Part of the Urban Athmospheres research program, Urban Probes is a project from Intel Research Berkley described as:

-A lightweight, provocative, intervention methodology designed to rapidly deconstruct urban situations, reveal new opportunities for technology in urban spaces, and guide future long term research in urban computing.

Urban Probes draw large inspiration from the work of several leading researchers in developing technology probes and domestic probes. Such probes combine the social science goal of collecting information about the use and the users of the technology in a real world setting, the engineering goal of field-testing the technology, and the design goal of inspiring users and designers to imagine new kinds of technology to support their needs and desires.

Urban Probes complements these bodies of work by addressing similar themes with respect to urban life. As technology moves from office to home to street, we want to avoid bringing along with it 'workplace' values such as efficiency and productivity at the expense of other possibilities. Urban Probes provide methods that aid researchers in gathering fragmentary glimpses into the rich texture of people's daily urban street life... - taken from the original website

Culture and City - call for papers

2007-01-14T12:08:00.000+02:00

EUROPEAN FELLOWSHIPS FOR
TRAINING IN URBAN STUDIES
ISSUE 2007:

CULTURE AND CITY
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The importance of the European city for the process of European integration lies to a great deal in the cultural heritage it provides for present urban residents and future generations. On the basis of this strong backbone of identity, cultural heritage as well as cultural expression will generate a place where economic, social and political changes can be collectively faced.

The workshop and the conference will develop scientific research on:
- Culture as a factor for urban regeneration
- Culture as a strategy for social cohesion
- Culture and the creation of innovative milieus

The role of culture has been recognized by cities in order to boost economic development by subsidies to cultural events and investment in cultural buildings. In which way can culture provide a sustainable urban development in ways that attract visitors and enterprise and at the same time enhance citizens’ identity and everyday life? In what ways can cultural and urban regeneration support social cohesion?

VENUE: Karlskrona, Sweden

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION 1st of April 2007
WORKSHOP: 29th June – 6th July 2007
CONFERENCE: 16th – 18th November 2007

For further information about the programme and application procedure, please visit: www.urban-future.net

Tallinn new tramlines

2007-01-12T12:20:00.000+02:00

4 different plans of tram road development in Tallinn

SAY SOMETHING!!!

there is hot discussion going on about new tram roads in Tallinn. If you have an opinion about it feel free to comment.

You can also send your comment about tram roads by e-mail hendrikson@hendrikson.ee

More information:

http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/368872

http://www.hendrikson.ee/?m1=66&m2=67

The 3rd Christina Conference on Women's Studies

2007-01-12T12:09:00.000+02:00

GENDER, IMAGES, AND GLOBAL CONTEXTS
March 8-10, 2007, University of Helsinki, Finland

Programme and registration:
http://www.helsinki.fi/kristiina-instituutti/conference/index.htm

Early bird registration closes Monday 15 January!

Registration (by January 15th, 2007)
120 euros
Late registration (after January 15th, 2007)
150 euros

Student fee (by 15th January, 2007)
50 euros
Student fee (after January 15th, 2007)
70 euros

Modelling Paldiski

2007-01-10T12:28:00.000+02:00

work by Helen Rebane

Landscape architecture course for 2nd year architecture students- 22-24 september 2006

The aim of the introductional course was to open minds towards the environment and the surface that we are walking on – the landscape – and interpret it in models according to given themes.

Modelling helps to analyse the characters of the landscape’s different aspects. The idea of the modelling is similar to creative mapping – the process of searching for original materials and testing different ways of compatibility are already part of active imagination, not just rigid analyse. Students were encouraged to invent their own techniques for modelling. Materials have their own character and „message” that is not universal but unique.

The chosen place was Paldiski and especially the bastions from czar Peter I era. After the workshop at the site (tutored by Kalle Komissarov, Katrin Koov and Lilia del Rio) students were asked to make models for three themes – borders, voids, rhythms – of the site. After approval they had to make a final model/drawing with conclusions and give a landscaping idea for enhancing the site.

About results. The course was rich of original materials and self-expressions. Without going here into details we can find joyful, clever, elegant, fragile, thoughtful, systematic models. These models are speaking about students who were excitedly working.

Katrin Koov

work by Mari Hunt

MODELLING URBAN SPACE WORKSHOP

2007-01-08T12:16:00.000+02:00

Estonian Academy of Arts
Tallinn, Estonia
january 8-18 2007

Week 1: Social Positioning / Tagging Tallinn

Tue January 9: Preparatory Day

18.00 - 20.30 Screenings of interesting, urban videos by Estonian architects and students

EKA hall 412

Wed January 10: Lecture day at EKA Auditorium

10.00 Opening of the Intensive Course, prof. Panu Lehtovuori, EKA Urban Studies

10.15 prof. Mauri Kaipainen, Tallinn University: Soft Ontologies

12.00 Lunch

13.30 prof. Rein Ahas, Human Geography, University of Tartu:
Mobile positioning data in urban studies. Social Positioning Method and Live Maps
15.00 Discussion

15.15 Coffee
15.45 Architect Ülar Mark, Urban Mark Architects: Mobile positioning in urban planning

---
17.30 – 18.30 Tagging Tallinn
workshop start-up, organising groups and tasks

Thu January 11: Tagging Tallinn workshop

TAGGIN' TALLINN links:

Work in groups

15.00 – 17.00 common tutoring session, Lilia del Rio, Panu Lehtovuori, Kalle Komissarov

EKA hall 412

Fri January 12: Tagging Tallinn workshop

12.00 – 14.00 Interim critique.

Mauri Kaipainen, Ülar Mark, Kalle Komissarov, Lilia del Rio, Panu Lehtovuori

EKA hall 412

Sat January 13: Tagging Tallinn workshop

Work in groups

Week 2: Space Syntax and Sims

Mon January 15: Lecture day

12.00 - 13.30 Tagging Tallinn workshop wrap-up and discussion

14.15 - 15.30 prof. Anssi Joutsiniemi, Tampere University of Technology: Modelling urban space 1. Configurations and simulations. EKA Room 412

15.30 – 15.45 Coffee break

15.45 – 17.15 Anssi Joutsiniemi. Modelling urban space 2. Using movement sequences to model metropolitan scale configurations. EKA Room 119b

17.15 – 18.30 Space Syntax workshop start-up
Alain Chiaradia, Anssi Joutsiniemi, Mauri Kaipainen, Lilia del Rio, Kalle Komissarov, Panu Lehtovuori

SpaceSyntax website

Tue January 16: Space Syntax workshop

Work in groups

Tutoring by Alain Chiaradia and Anssi Joutsiniemi

Wed January 17: Lecture day at EKA Auditorium

In the morning work in groups (Room 412)

Tutoring by Alain Chiaradia and Anssi Joutsiniemi

14.00 prof. Alain Chiaradia, London: Theory of Space Syntax, links between social and spatial configurations (double lecture)

17.00 Discussion, led by prof. Anssi Joutsiniemi

18.00 Coffee

18.30 – 19.30 Space Syntax workshop interim critique
Alain Chiaradia, Anssi Joutsiniemi, Kalle Komissarov, Panu Lehtovuori

Thu January 18: Space Syntax workshop

Work in groups. Tutoring by Alain Chiaradia

Fri January 19: Space Syntax workshop and closure

10.00 – 12.00 Space Syntax wrap-up and discussion EKA hall 412
Alain Chiaradia, Anssi Joutsiniemi, Kalle Komissarov, Panu Lehtovuori, Lilia del Rio
14.00 + Cleaning the room, burning cds
16.00 - 18.00Taggin' Tallinn Design group meeting
18.00 + Winding down evening.

Urban competition in Tartu

2007-01-05T12:18:00.000+02:00

The city of Tartu is organizing a competition for a district
in the city centre,
Küütri Street - Kaubahoov park.

The deadline is March 13.

For a more detailed description see tartu.ee (in Estonian)

A Finnish-Estonian planning seminar

2007-01-05T12:17:00.000+02:00

January 30, 2007 in Ülemiste Hotel:

SOOME – EESTI ÜHISSEMINAR

”Planeering kui vahend keskkonna kujundajana”

Esialgne programm:

10.45 Registreerimine

11.15 Avamine, Eesti Siseministeeriumi ja Soome Keskkonnaministeeriumi esindajad

11.45 Muutused planeerimiskultuuris viimasel 10-15 aastal ning trendid, Matti Vatilo, Soome Keskkonnaministeerium, Jaak Maandi, Eesti Siseministeerium

13.15 Lõuna

14.30 Maastik planeerimises, Marja Mikkola, MA-arkkitehtit

15. 15 Teemaplaneeringu ”Asustust ja maakasutust suunavad keskkonnatingimused” elluviimine ja mõju, kajastamine üldplaneeringutes, Tiia Kallas, Viljandi Maavalitsus

16.00 Suundumused linnakeskkonna planeerimisel, Ilkka Holm, Järvenpää linn

16.45 Eesti-Soome planeerimisalase koostöö algusaastate kogemus, Jukka Noponen, SITRA

17.15 Seminari kokkuvõte, Eesti ja Soome ministeeriumide esindajad

17.30 Seminari lõpp

Registreerimine kuni 15. jaanuarini e-posti teel Silja Ilvese juures Siseministeeriumi planeeringute osakonnas

OMA at Latvia

2007-01-02T12:11:00.000+02:00

The Latvian Ministry of Culture announced plans to move forward with its first museum of contemporary art, designed by Rem Koolhaas and the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA). The 16,000 m2 museum, to be built in the port city of Riga, will be Latvia's first new museum of art in over 100 years. Imagined as a multi-functional centre for contemporary culture, the museum will host seminars, concerts and theatrical performances, in addition to housing international exhibitions and a permanent collection of contemporary Baltic art.

Paldiski: Landscape + urbanism

2006-12-21T12:27:00.000+02:00

Part of the course of landscape architecture, every year a workshop is being held. The habit is to go directly to the site and have a direct contact in the creation of landscape(s). This year the place was Paldiski, which was a former closed military city. Different from previous years was that together with students of architecture, the course was open to urban studies people. The rooms were provided by local municipality. In Paldiski we had bicycle excursions in the city and around the peninsular.

The purpose of the workshop was to find different ways to approach urban landscape and the method was named ‘prototypical’. Which meant, that students formed groups which each looked at one landscape topic such as: 1- geology, plants, climate; 2- new clear plant, pollution; 3- ports, infrastructure; 4- fauna; 5- industry, services; 6- build environment. Then they had to extract the strongest element of their topic and tune it to maximum. Landscape prototype should be seen in this context like any other prototype. Like for example in car industry, where prototypes are made to test certain characteristics and look at different performative aspects. Students were asked to concentrate only to their topic and make “no compromises”. In this way a bottom-up approach was tested, where particular landscape characteristics were enhanced.

6 Groups were mix of 2nd and 5th year students of architecture, to provide more internal discussion in the department. Chair of Urban Studies was represented successfully by two students. The course of landscape architecture is managed by Katrin Koov and the workshop was tutored by her and Kalle Komissarov. Guest critic was Lilia del Rio.

Time of the workshop: 22-24.09.2006
Nr of participants: 25

Text by Kalle Komissarov, photos by Tarmo Stöör

80th Anniversary of the Bauhaus Building in Dessau

2006-12-20T12:12:00.000+02:00

From December 2nd 2006 is running an exhibition for celebrating the 80th anniversary of the building designed by Walter Gropius that hosted the Bauhaus school in Dessau. The exhibition will be open till March 11th 2007 and it explores the topic on three levels:
-the restoration of the Bauhaus Building
-the building’s impact on the media
-its interior architecture as a prototype of modern spatial organisation

Official web site:
http://www.bauhaus-dessau.de/
Short article on the building’s restoration:
http://www.bauhaus-dessau.de/images/body/sanierung_7_2006_en.pdf

GREATER HELSINKI VISION 2

2006-12-20T12:11:00.000+02:00

_international ideas competition_

Greater Helsinki municipalities and State of Finland (Ministry of Environment) organize an open ideas competition for the future land use and spatial vision of Greater Helsinki. The organisers are expecting refreshing entries to participate the competition and vision the future Greater Helsinki 2050.
The aim of the competition is to find innovative ideas for the future land use planning and develop sustainable strategies and concrete solutions for strengthening the status and competitiveness of Greater Helsinki as an attractive region to live and conduct business in. The competitors are expected to present their general vision for the Greater Helsinki in 2050 together with the detail study supporting it.
Total of EUR 500 000 will be awarded as prizes and purchases.
The sunmission of entries is 31 May 2007.

All the information here: http://www.greaterhelsinkivision.fi/

1st ARCHITECTURE, ART AND LANDSCAPE BIENNIAL OF THE CANARIES

2006-12-19T12:14:00.000+02:00

To creatively involve the people of the Canary Islands, its residents and visitors in a reflection on the conservation of its unique natural surroundings whose beauty and variety never fail to surprise us, with a view to promoting the interest of different social groups and collectives in the configuration of a large space for shared co-existence, preserving the natural environment, valuing the urban landscape, promoting dialogue between the different islands for a better understanding of the needs of the people of the Canaries and of its visitors, instigating actions and debates with renowned architects, urban planners, landscape architects, artists and sociologists, while also attracting young generations of creators and experts. The seven islands making up the Canaries could be seen as a metaphor of the diversity of man or microcosm, conceived as a complete summary of the universe or macrocosm. Starting off from the term microcosm we will then pose questions affecting man’s encounter with his surrounding environment and his optimum use of it. To encourage the setting in place of the necessary synchronicity between “celestial bodies” represented by the conjunction of man and the environment in which he develops and inhabits. Questions pertaining to the preservation of the natural environment and the urban environs, the infrastructures and equipment most suitable to the characteristics of each island, will make up the central axis of the actions, even when the importance of certain equipment already in place in various countries makes an exhibition event essential, required, and even exemplary. We want to offer residents and visitors examples of actions by leading urban planners, architects, landscape architects and artists which stand out for their suitability, respect for the user, the environment and the surroundings in which they are emplaced, and for their innovative character and the proportion and beauty of their lines.

Rosina Gómez-Baeza, Director

Official web site:
http://www.bienaldecanarias.org/

city as it is

2006-12-19T11:33:00.000+02:00

‘Now let me call back those who introduced me to the city’

Walter Benjamin

This part of the blog is for sharing each others city experiences. The modest aim is to introduce the city theme from a persons point of view. This person can be you or somebody else, but it has to be someone.

If we do not notice the city, it ceases to exist. So help us to keep it real and thought-provoking.

Smacked by the city is meant for your own individual translations and findings about the city. This is your direct way of seeing things in the way they coincide with your life.

City as image is about representations, the way people see cities through certain mediums. Here you will get acquainted with the filtered and somehow distorted city.

SMACKED BY THE CITY

Sometimes the city just hits you, showing its twisted and unexpected sides.

The urban space as a reservoir for expressions is waiting to be translated and revealed. What is happening on the streets, behind the corners or inside the buildings, how do people feel themselves and how do they show it. Whenever you find a message, some unlike logic or a statement, please share it with us by describing and explaining it.

Open your eyes and your mind, the deepest content is often hidden and disguised. Look for the meanings of a city!

CITY AS IMAGE

"It's time we were on our way. I'm hungry, and the city awaits."

-Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)

When you first enter a new city, it`s more than likely, that this is not the first date between you... You probably already have some kind of image in your head about the city and the first impression of your new lover can be enchanting or dissapointing pending on the expectations you had before.

We all tend to have a personal kaleidoscopes about every important city in our head, before we have really visited the place. The image is composed of the books we have read, films we have seen, poems we have learned by heart, comics and photographs we have explored.

This blog is a place to share these images, which have had strong influence on you and designed your vision of the citys. You are very welcome to
write personally about films, books, pictures, photographs, comic strips or poems where you have find interesting representations of a city. Visual material to illustrate the topic would be also very welcome.

Bon apetit!

WEBSITE FINALLY LAUNCHED!!!!

2006-12-18T22:41:00.000+02:00

I am most happy to announce the launch of the final website urbanistika.ee

There is a list of 12 blogs which deal with different issues, related with urban planning, architecture, society, transformation of cities, everyday life, studies, readings, activism, etc.

you are all welcome to start posting on it sooner than soon! (i will send you the invitation)
If you would like to be invited, please write us- urbanistika@urbanistika.ee

A toast for the website!

Innovative planning

2006-12-18T12:24:00.000+02:00

Historically, urban planning has been understood as big scale blueprints for future urban extensions, or as managing the elements of urban system, to take two examples. Currently, it is near paradigmatic to view planning as communication and the fabrication of consensus between conflicting interests. The planner is now in the city, among its citizens.

While innovative approaches to collect users’ experiential knowledge and facilitate multi-actor processes are developed and tested, the older practices and institutional structures often sideline new ideas. Simultaneously, planning is increasingly seen as economic development, as project-driven or facilitating activity. Entrepreneurialism may be a contradictory development vis-à-vis public participatory planning. However, private processes do represent a different set of stakeholders.

The practices and the judicial frame of urban planning are changing across Europe. Estonia makes no exception. This blog aims at collecting actual experiences of new planning approaches both in micro and macro scale. We are interested in new coalitions, urban agenda setting and liminal bodies, but also in the practices of real-estate companies and scenarios of IT investors.

We hope to shed light to meta questions, such as legitimation after participatory democracy or the societal utility of planning, without forgetting concrete issues, such as efficient methods of brainstorming or technological solutions of web-based opinion tagging. In the end, we assume that the future planning system and the relevant professionalisms are quite different from the current ones. Who can plan? For who?

Text by Panu Lehtovuori

gentrification and tallinners blog

2006-12-18T11:30:00.001+02:00

"No more yuppies, please! Thank you" says one piece of New York anti-gentrification graffiti.

Gentrification is a process, in which an area’s existing low-income residents are replaced by a more affluent section of society. This is a process that also involves investment into an existing residential area that is initially marked by low cost properties. The first people who begin this process and move into these areas are initially drawn by low prices. However, these areas often have a sense of authenticity and bohemian character about them, which before long, becomes attractive to the existing middle class or the new middle class, the young urban professional or ‘yuppie’, who are – in a certain sense - buying into history… ‘’Oh, I fancy Kalamaja, it would be cool to live there!’’ Thanks to process of gentrification, former blue-collar worker areas, turn to white-collar residences.

Like all things, there are two sides to this issue: firstly, the renovation of dilapidated houses and buildings of historical significance, alongside the opening and development of new social gathering places etc, can only be considered a positive change. Conversely, as an area moves ‘up market’, the original inhabitants are eventually ‘priced out’ of their homes, as value increases due to demand, and succeeding generations of original inhabitants are forced to look for property in other areas.

In Tallinn the process of gentrification is apparent in the ‘wooden-house’ areas such as
Kalamaja, Kassisaba, in Kadriorg. Here a huge amount of buildings have been renovated. However, some buildings stand empty - sometimes due to uncertain ownership, or sometimes simply because the new owners don’t care about them. Perhaps their aim is to damage the buildings in the hope of receiving planning permission, when they would simply tear down the existing building and build new one – bigger of course?

The Estonian ownership reform has been very influential in this process of gentrification. This reform granted the return of properties, which had been nationalised during the Soviet regime in the 40s, back to their former owners - and in the event that the previous owners were no longer living, then to the closest relatives. However pleasant this may sound for the receiving parties, the returning of old property now meant extra subtenants and extra problems for the new owners. While the issues related to new ownership such as unwanted subtenants, and real-estate markets are very complex and difficult, they undoubtedly have had an influence on the developmental process. Because city support to these areas is very poor - only protected buildings and some certain details (for example, historical doors) have received financial support from the City’s Cultural Heritage Department – the responsibility for this culture depends upon the inhabitants and the owners.

As an art historian, I welcome the processes that give shape to a neighbourhood’s physical appearance, especially when it comes to renovation and redevelopment. In Kadriorg, several buildings have been restored, and the overall appearance of the streets has changed tremendously. Of course we must be aware that there can be bad examples as just easily as good examples.

With all this in mind, my question is this…. Is it necessary to bring in the yuppies to save our cultural heritage?

Contest

2006-12-13T11:25:00.000+02:00

ARCHITECTURE FOR HUMANITY IS LOOKING FOR A NEW LOGO

Architecture for Humanity, the american organization that promotes architectural and design solutions to globla, social and humanitarian crises, has open a competition for a new logo.

The top 10 proposals will get the book ‘Design Like You give A Damn: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises’ and the winner will receive 1000$. You can work individually or in a team, but send your design before December 15th.

You will have more information in their web site, it is worth to visit anyhow. Good luck!! http://architectureforhumanity.org/logo/index.html

QUOTES

2006-12-04T11:37:00.000+02:00

I post here some quotes i've found from famous movies or tv shows, that can fit for the subtitle for the website (right under urbanistika.ee, which is the main title) Please comment on which one you prefer and suggest others that you may like!

Example:
U R B A N I S T I K A . E E
City is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get (from Forrest Gump)

• The Truman Show
Christof: We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented.

• Murphy's Law
The first myth of city is that it exists.

• "Angels in America" (2003) (mini)
Roy Cohn: A city! Good! I was worried... it'd be a garden. I hate that shit.

• "Avatar: The Last Airbender" (2005) {The Serpent's Pass (#2.12)}
Katara: Let's talk about this on our way into the city.

• "Batman" (1992) {Christmas with the Joker (#1.38)}
Dick Grayson: How one man holds up an entire city. Sounds familiar?

• "Batman" (1992) {I Am the Night (#1.34)}
Robin: This city would fall apart without you.

• "Biff Baker, U.S.A." (1952) {Grey Market (#1.2)}
Tom Davenport: I'll give you each a Marseilles. This cocktail is a special creation of mine. I call it that because, like the city, it has everything: warmth, intrigue, wickedness, coldness and, as you can see, beauty.

• "Cheers" (1982)
Carla: There's an entire city that agrees with you.

• "Friends" (1994) {The One Where the Monkey Gets Away (#1.19)}
Joey Tribbiani: You're a monkey lost in the city. Where would you go?

• "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969) {How Not to Be Seen (#2.11)}
Second City Gent: Well, I've been in the city for twenty years, and I must admit...I'm lost.

• "Naked City" (1958)
Narrator: [regular sign off] There are eight million stories in the naked city. This has been one of them.

• "Pokémon" (1998)
Flint: Pewter City is grey, the color of stone. My name is Flint, and you're sitting on my merchandise, young man.

• "Pokémon" (1998)
Flint: Pewter City souveneirs, you want to buy some?

• "Power Rangers Mystic Force" (2006) {Broken Spell: Part 1 (#1.1)}
Vida Rocca: I'll go with you. Not everyone in the city's a coward.

• "Powerpuff Girls, The" (1998)
Princess: I know you think I'm too little to own my own city, but don't worry. I won't let you down. I'll be the best little capitalist piglet Princess you ever had.

• "Seinfeld" (1990)
Jerry: Oh, come on, there's a lot of people walking around the city that look like me.

• "SpongeBob SquarePants" (1999) {The Sponge Who Could Fly (The Lost Episode) (#3.16)}
Old Man Jenkins: I knew no good would come from city folk and their flying machines.

• "Stargate: Atlantis" (2004)
Col. Steven Caldwell: Can we submerge the city again?

• "Stargate: Atlantis" (2004)
Dr. Rodney McKay: [sighs] It's a city, not a yo-yo.

• "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (1987) {Leatherhead Meets the Rat King (#3.36)}
Leatherhead: This city is no place for this gator. I'm going back to my swamp!

• "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (2003)
Nobody: Who am I? I might just be a glimmer of hope for a lost city. I'm the guy the cops would thank if they knew I existed. But they don't. Who am I? I'm Nobody.

• "Transformers" (1984)
Megatron: Is there anyone brave - or stupid enough - to oppose us? This city is under martial law... and I am the marshal!

• "Viva la Bam" (2003)
Bam's Uncle: [In Pisa, Italy] The whole goddamn city is named after pizza

• 'Round Midnight (1986)
Ace: It would be the best city in the world if I could just find some okra.

• 1776 (1972)
Roger Sherman: Might be the city tavern.
(this one I chose because maybe our blog is like a city tavern..)

• Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (2002)
Mars: My dad used to say, "Mars, don't ever live in a big city, nobody knows you." But isn't that the best part of it - no one to judge you, no one to tell you how to live your life?

• Alithini zoi (2004)
Joy: In this city, you always have to turn somewhere

• Annie Hall (1977)
Alvy Singer: I don't want to move to a city where the only cultural advantage is being able to make a right turn on a red light.

• Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
Stationmaster: I never will understand you city folk. Always rushing, rushing, rushing, always in a hurry. That's why you have stomach trouble.

• Babe: Pig in the City (1998)
Ferdinand: Face it, you're just a little pig in the big city.

• Band Wagon, The (1953)
Tony Hunter: The city was asleep. The joints were closed. The rats and hoods and killers were in their holes.

• Dark Avengers, The (2005)
Bryan Yuen Sage: The city never sleeps. Ha, I love that phrase... and it's true. But only because I woke it up...

• Easy Rider (1969)
Stranger on the highway: I'm from the city... Doesn't matter what city; all cities are alike.

• Fando y Lis (1968)
Young Lis: The tree disguised itself as a leaf, the house as a door and the city as a house. The same scene over and over.

• Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Sloane: The city looks so peaceful from up here.

• Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)
Capt. Gray Edwards: The city may be lost, but we're not.

• Ghostbusters II (1989)
Ray: [of the insulting birhtday party kids] Ungrateful little yuppie larva. After everything we did for this city.

• GoBots: War of the Rock Lords (1986)
Crasher: [to Solitaire upon seeing Cordax for the first time] What a primitive place. Ha ha! You can't tell the inhabitants from their surroundings. You call that a city? Huh?

• Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
Power Worker: Hey, you. This is city property. No trespassing. What are you, deaf? Don't try that Halloween shit with me.

• Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Kevin McCallister: Excuse me, but this is an emergency. What city is it out there?

• Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)
Claudia: It's time we were on our way. I'm hungry, and the city awaits.

• L.A. Vice (1989)
Detective Jon Chance: Don't you miss the city?

• Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The (2003)
Gothmog: [sniffs] Fear. The city is rank with it.

Prepared for war at 9 am

2006-11-28T10:21:00.000+02:00

Some signs in EKA say "Bush is a UFO"

When they told me I couldnt walk this way, I ask but why?, really why? What does the life of this person has to do with my life?

This morning, the city centre of Tallinn was turned into a graveyard, a murder scene. Streets were empty of cars, pedestrians, life and everything except those flashy yellow vests in every corner. Most of these flashy yellow vests were just looking at the shop windows, talking and spending the time. When I came out of home at 6.30 they were already there. There were not even souls in the street, but they were "guarding" bodies.

Physical bodies which can never experience a city as it usually is. They are cursed to live in empty streets full of yellow ghosts, for all their lives. I feel sad for them. Life under constant protection must be horrible. And it is in moments like today, that ideotic movements and closings in the space it interacts with us. This is the way Bush interacts with Estonia. It is all a game, what are they playing behind those fences? The magic circle is closed to those who carry no metal parts nor are normal. You must be abnormal to play such a game.

TALLINNA VISIOONI KONVERENTS

2006-11-24T12:39:00.000+02:00

What is really the vision of Tallinn as a City?

Is Tallinn a Global City? Should it BE a Global City? What is a Global City?

"City as Eternity"

How to "import brains"? Why "importing brains"? What to do with the "imported brains"?

Irony within the Major of Tallinn

Tallinn wants to marry Helsinki?

post your comments and opinions of the Tallinn Vision Conference!

Official website

gentrification and talliners

2006-11-17T20:15:00.000+02:00

"No more yuppies, please! Thank you" says one piece of New York anti-gentrification
graffiti.

Gentrification is a process, in which an area’s existing low-income residents are replaced by a more affluent section of society. This is a process that also involves investment into an existing residential area that is initially marked by low cost properties. The first people who begin this process and move into these areas are initially drawn by low prices. However, these areas often have a sense of authenticity and bohemian character about them, which before long, becomes attractive to the existing middle class or the new middle class, the young urban professional or ‘yuppie’, who are – in a certain sense - buying into history… ‘’Oh, I fancy Kalamaja, it would be cool to live there!’’ Thanks to process of gentrification, former blue-collar worker areas, turn to white-collar residences.

Like all things, there are two sides to this issue: firstly, the renovation of dilapidated houses and buildings of historical significance, alongside the opening and development of new social gathering places etc, can only be considered a positive change. Conversely, as an area moves ‘up market’, the original inhabitants are eventually ‘priced out’ of their homes, as value increases due to demand, and succeeding generations of original inhabitants are forced to look for property in other areas.

In Tallinn the process of gentrification is apparent in the ‘wooden-house’ areas such as
Kalamaja, Kassisaba, in Kadriorg. Here a huge amount of buildings have been renovated. However, some buildings stand empty - sometimes due to uncertain ownership, or sometimes simply because the new owners don’t care about them. Perhaps their aim is to damage the buildings in the hope of receiving planning permission, when they would simply tear down the existing building and build new one – bigger of course?

The Estonian ownership reform has been very influential in this process of gentrification. This reform granted the return of properties, which had been nationalised during the Soviet regime in the 40s, back to their former owners - and in the event that the previous owners were no longer living, then to the closest relatives. However pleasant this may sound for the receiving parties, the returning of old property now meant extra subtenants and extra problems for the new owners. While the issues related to new ownership such as unwanted subtenants, and real-estate markets are very complex and difficult, they undoubtedly have had an influence on the developmental process. Because city support to these areas is very poor - only protected buildings and some certain details (for example, historical doors) have received financial support from the City’s Cultural Heritage Department – the responsibility for this culture depends upon the inhabitants and the owners.

As an art historian, I welcome the processes that give shape to a neighbourhood’s physical appearance, especially when it comes to renovation and redevelopment. In Kadriorg, several buildings have been restored, and the overall appearance of the streets has changed tremendously. Of course we must be aware that there can be bad examples as just easily as good examples.

With all this in mind, my question is this…. Is it necessary to bring in the yuppies to save our cultural heritage?

Movements Against Wal-Mart

2006-11-15T11:05:00.000+02:00

Wal-Mart, the biggest chain of hypermarkets in America, came to colonize Mexico in the last decade. Since then, they have become the biggest chain in Mexico also, taking over the cities as if no context was around.

This is the Wal-Mart from my neighborhood in Guadalajara. The scale from the 1970's grid is interrupted by the cluster of Wal-mart, Sam's Club, Costco (Price Club), Megamercado and the recently finished Plaza Galerías (shopping centre).

During the political situation of Mexico, the leftist movement organised a campaign against Wal-mart and all big american enterprises that find shelter in Mexico. Yesterday there were manifestations where they took over one of these hyperstores in a protest against americanization. Here some videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUvP5wqh4ec

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hVKcpPb4s8

ANARCHITECTURE

2006-11-13T10:57:00.000+02:00

A concept first proposed By Gordon Matta-Clark in 1970's, anarchitecture was retaken by architect Lebbeus Woods as a political act and manifesto. It has been used since then often by architects to oppose the capitalist architecture which is commodified by consumerism.

Last weekend there was a camp dealing with that. Luckily, the exhibition remains open one more month!

Camp for Oppositional Architecture 2006 >Theorizing Architectural Resistance >
10 - 11 November
Exhibition: 10 November - 10 December

A project by An Architektur, Berlin

The small part of the built environment that is subject to planning at all is almost completely controlled by the claims of capitalist utilization: globalized markets and cultures ask for commodified spaces, nation states and corporations require spectacular architectures for representative purposes, the multitude of consumer subjects demands room for individualized privacy. What's left to do? Join the Camp for Oppositional Architecture!

Lectures by: >Tatjana Schneider + Jeremy Till (Sheffield), Alexander Levi + Amanda Schachter (Madrid), Maria Theodorou (Athens), Miguel Robles-Duran >(Rotterdam), Craig Buckley (New York), Ole W. Fischer (Zurich), BAVO >(Rotterdam), Elisabeth Blum (Zurich), Markus Miessen (London).

The camp is accompanied by an exhibition, which will be on show at Casco from 10 November - 10 December 2006. The venue is Expodium, Boven Vredenburg 27, 3511 DL, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

www.cascoprojects.org
www.oppositionalarchitecture.com
www.anarchitektur.com

2006-11-11T21:59:00.000+02:00

HI EVERYBODY!!!

SOME NEW WORLD EVENTS

**ON-SITE: NEW ARCHITECTURE IN SPAIN **
September 22nd - January 14th, 2006
Pabellón Villanueva in The Royal Botanical Gardens of Madrid, Spain

This exhibition was created by MoMA of New York some months ago and now we have the opportunity to visit it in Europe. The exhibition shown in Madrid has been enriched by two new complementary activities: “On Site Tour” and “On Site Talk”. First one are six thematic itineraries through Madrid and the second one a series of lectures related to the topic where relevant architects will be invited.

Further Info: http://www.promomadrid.com/onsite/

http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/2006/on_site.html

**MAGICAL URBANISM**

Well, this is not an event…….or not a usual one. Here i point you out a web site i found by chance. It is created and maintainined by Mike Ernst. He is right now traveling around the world with a urban studies programm, and this site is focused on this experience that i dare to call as an “event”
The site is interested because of the trip itself, but also all the links and archives he proposes. I am in touch with the boy and i invited him to participate in our future web, when ready.
If i were you i would really have a look to Mike’s site.

http://www.magicalurbanism.com/

alternative mapping

2006-11-11T14:11:00.000+02:00

Flight Patterns

Wanted to share this with you: "Here’s a hypnotically beautiful image, generated using flight pattern data from the US Federal Aviation Administration. Done by Aaron Koblin" (from YouTube).

Besides, in the seminar in Helsinki we were shown very similar videos called TRacescape done by and Finnish photography student about the city and the cars & pedestrians moving there. Sadly there's only one shot to show you know.

the rich - the poor

2006-11-04T13:50:00.000+02:00

Although the notions of richness and poverty need so much more discussion & clearance - as was started in one of the Key Concepts seminar- I just wanted to post here a link for a quite surprising recent research.

Basically, it says that low-income people who were living in higher-income neighborhoods died at substantially higher rates than the poor who were living among the poor.

Why?
One theory is primarily economic. "They may have a home right next to a health clinic, a pharmacy or a private gym, but proximity does not mean access,'' said Winkleby. Instead of enjoying a movie or a game of racket ball after work, the poor person living in the wealthy neighborhood might be working her second shift just to keep up with the rent.

Another theory reaches for a sociological explanation -- that people who feel isolated or out-of-place tend to have poorer health than those who feel part of a community, no matter what their economic status. “You look out every day and you’re at the bottom of the social ladder.” Loneliness can be a killer.

For example:

70% - The higher risk of death during the period of the study for low-income women who reside in higher-income areas compared with their wealthier neighbors.

60% - The higher risk for low-income women who reside in higher-income areas compared with low-income women in poorer areas.

---

I haven't managed to find any responses to the research by any planners-urbanists. Would be very interesting though.

For more see the Stanford Institute homepage and an article in "Postimees" ("Rikkurite naabrus lühendab vaeste inimeste eluiga").

global:ideas:bank and Curitiba

2006-11-02T13:02:00.000+02:00

Residents of Curitiba, Brazil, think they live in the best city in the world, and a lot of outsiders agree. Curibita has 17 new parks, 90 miles of bike paths, trees everywhere, and traffic and garbage systems that officials from other cities come to study. Curibita's mayor for twelve years, Jaime Lerner, has a 92 per cent approval rating. read the whole story here

The Global Ideas Bank is a digest of innovative and creative ideas for the betterment of cities, ecology, social empowerment, etc. as they describe it themselves:

- The Global Ideas Bank aims to promote and disseminate good creative ideas to improve society. It further aims to encourage the public to generate these ideas, to participate in the problem-solving process.

- These ideas we term social inventions: non-technological, non-product, non-gadget ideas for social change. These are a mix of existing projects, fledgling initiatives and new bright ideas.

- In this way, the Global Ideas Bank is part-suggestions box, part-ideas network and part-democratic think-tank, giving the "ordinary" person a chance to have their creativity recognised, rewarded and even put into practice.

- The Global Ideas Bank further aims to provide information and a community to help those individuals who wish to make their idea or project a reality in their own community. See the Practical Help and Success Stories sections for more on this.

Calendaristika

2006-11-02T10:52:00.000+02:00

Regina has created three (google) calendars for the urbanistika master:
urbanistika 1 (1st year schedule)
urbanistika 2 (2nd year schedule)
education-extra (other events and things that are interesting)

you should have received an invitation by now. If you havent, let us know and we will invite you.
as Regina wrote,

i really think that kind of an online constantly updated calendar is a good tool for improving the studies.

anybody of you can make changes there,
just have a look before how the information has been written down there already, not to double anything or so.

besides,
i suggest - if you have reached the 3 calendars finally - to make a search in the public calendars [we too have an option wheather to make our calendar public or just to keep it to ourselves] for one that is called Urban Issues. there's information about future seminars and conferences. for that look at the bottom left corner of the browser, there's a search box.

what do you think about it all?
ah let's just give it a try and see.
best, regina

fear

2006-10-29T11:21:00.000+02:00

President Bush signed a bill authorizing the construction of fencing along nearly 700 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill calls for at least two layers of reinforced fencing and other security measures. Where fencing is not practical, the other measures, including cameras, lighting, sensors and surveillance, may be employed. - CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/26/border.fence/index.html

"A fence will slow people down by a minute or two, but if you don't have the agents to stop them it does no good. We're not talking about some impenetrable barrier," said T.J. Bonner, who heads the National Border Patrol Council, the AP reported. -CNN

I think the formula for fear is very simple: Increase the security = increase the fear. The more self-enclosed and paranoid a country generally becomes, the easier it is to scare it. Just say BOO and they will jump and search your body and history. Sadly, it is not only the USA's problem: the disease spreads.

Luckily they keep the balance on that side. Those of us who are on this side, searching for openness and peace, can keep doing what we think is best. At the end all that will remain will be their karma and insanity.

URBANISTIKA DOT EE: Photos from our trip to Switzerland

2006-10-27T10:41:00.000+03:00

URBANISTIKA DOT EE: Photos from our trip to Switzerland

the metamorphosis of marginality

2006-10-23T12:02:00.000+03:00

I found a good study made by the American researcher Janice Perlman about favelas in Rio. Her 1970's book "Myth of Marginality: Urban Poverty and Politics in Rio de Janeiro " has been developed further in 2002 and has been presented to the World Bank under the title "The Metamorphosis of Marginality: The Favelas of Rio de Janeiro: 1969-2002"

you can see the presentation here

Beautiful Urbanism

2006-10-23T10:59:00.000+03:00

Call for submissions - magazine on urbanism - monu.org

The one movement in urban design that included the name beauty in its name, the City Beautiful movement in the 1890’s and 1900’s, had a vision of beauty that was limited to the reproduction of planning and design concepts that had long been outdated. In short, a feeble attempt to clad a banal and old conception of urban life in even older clothes.

Today the term beautiful is virtually banished from any discussion about urban life – the design professions sometimes secretly talk about the beauty of buildings but otherwise are completely ignorant about the beauty that emerges and really matters – the life in the city. Most of those who are concerned with the part of cities that are not made of concrete, steel and glass, eschew the term altogether – sustainability, fairness and justice, are words that we feel comfortable with – beauty not.

As a consequence, when architects and designers start thinking big they have tended to draw caricatures of urban life: The utopian planners of the 60’s and 70’s started with an ambition to reintroduce the scale of day to day life into thinking about the city but mostly got caught in scale-less structuralism. Another extreme is the 90’s chic to embrace the bigger is better, the uncritical entertaining of the endless growth fantasies of high capitalism and its real estate markets.

While the urban professions shied away from a progressive use of the term, it has been co-opted by those in the business of mindless real estate development or those who seize conservative images of the city like the infamous new urbanism gang.

This issue of Monu wants to tackle the issue of beauty in urban life and jumpstart a discussion about how to reclaim the term for progressive urban thinking. What is the beauty of urban life? What are the conditions that create beauty? Where do we find our own places of beautiful urban life? Is it (window-) shopping along fancy boulevards, the seductive gazes cast on a crowded sidewalk, traffic circles crowded at rush-hour or bike messengers zipping through streets? Is it dingy bars and obnoxious car-repair places or romantic parks and rooftop terraces? There are thousands of moments and images that can come to mind. How can planners, designers, builders, thinkers and activists relate to an agenda of beauty in urban life and recapture a vital concept.

We invite writing and photography, speculation and sophisticated analysis -whether roughly outlined and collaged or beautifully written and arranged.

The next issue will appear in the Winter of 2006. Contributions or questions should be sent to editors@monu.org by the end of November.

International Competition in Valencia

2006-10-21T20:14:00.000+03:00

Hi!

You might know that Valencia (Spain) is hosting the 32nd America's Cup in 2007. Around this event a lot of political decisions have been taken, especially related to urbanism. Basically in less than 5 years all the areas near the port have been changed (or will be changed). Before, all those areas were almost forgotten by polititians and city planners, therefore they had their own characteristics, an own personality as a fishmendistrictc, ex-industrial area or harbour reserve. Now all this is turned (or will be) into sailing and leisure facilities and high standard apartments.
All the urbanism changes related to 32nd America's Cup are managed by Consorcio Valencia 2007, a supposed public organizationthat gathers national, regional and municipal authorities. Their lastest proposition is launching an international ideas competition to plan all the maritime areas of the city.

Rita Barbera, Valencia major, presented the competition some days ago in Venice Biennale. She urged to participate to "the best architects and urbanists of the world to create the best seafront ever", whatever...
This competition, and the whole idea of changing Valencia seafront is supported by the International Union of Architects (UIA) and its president Mr. Giancarlo Ius (by the way personal friend of some valencian polititians).

The project is huge and, actually interesting...but, i guess the criterion of our beloved Consorcio Valencia 2007 is far from the one we might have. Or not, you never know.

Further information:
http://www.uia-architectes.org/texte/england/valencia2007/annonce.html
http://www.valencia2007.com/

Inés (in Valencia)

World Events Blog starts running

2006-10-20T15:41:00.000+03:00

Hi everybody!!

The World Events Blog withing the website Urbanistika dot ee starts running now. We will use this preliminary blog until the final web site is ready. Here we go!!!

What is World Events Blog?

This permanent blog as part of the web site urbanistika dot ee belongs to the section of Worl Wide blogs. Its intention is to serve as source of information to all those interested in the City as a topic to be studied, thought, analysed and planned. We would like that this little corner of the ciberspace is used as an easy way of being aware of all those events related to the Urban Studies all around the world. It is our will that this blog serves as a complement to the other ones in urbanistika dot ee. Therefore, we will try to list the interesting information commented or proposed in the other blogs for all those interested. Openings, exhibitions, courses and seminars, competitions, books and publications, magazines, documentals or films and any interesting links related to our topic will be included in this blog.
The task of being updated and aware in a word wide scale is difficult, and certainly something will be missed. Therefore this blog is open to anybody willing to participate, the more participants the better this blog will be. Any suggestion will be also welcome in order to improve this little enterprice.
Please participate by creating new entries in our blog or by sending a mail to ines.urbanistikadotee@gmail.com. Thanks a lot.

tartu mnt

2006-10-19T16:42:00.000+03:00

Biking around the newly finished tartu mnt, I realised it is the paradise for bikes and pedestrians-- now. Without the cars, both sides of the street seem quite close and reachable. The old feeling I got about it - looong and far - dissapears when the linearity is gone. But the cars, when they come, will mark the linearity again, as they usually do. I must admit, I enjoyed the street quite a lot. It is funny how wide and short it is.

The only cars I saw were the gardeners'. I wonder why they are actually putting flowers in late october? Its all part of the image of it being ready and beautiful for its opening. I feel bad about those tiny and defenseless trees, how they will survive the winter and the traffic with only half a meter away from cars and their snow.

the queen should visit us more often

2006-10-19T12:54:00.000+03:00

i live only 4 tramstops from school, but think the last time i saw so many policemen (and women. actually i think there were more women) was during the metallica concert. there is a crappy intersection of pärnu mnt and vabaduse pst, where (law-obidient) pedestrians have to wait three times for the traffic lights to change before crossing it diagonally. i admit, that i usually jaywalk there myself, because i have to cross it like 3 times a day and waiting for nothing pisses me off. but today nobody seemed to have a rush - they were quite content taking their time to cross the intersection. one or two who tried to run faster got angry looks from others and a whistling from the police. the drivers didn't try to slide under the yellow light and gave passage to pedestrians on crossings. it is my subjective opinion, but i saw people smile alot more. i think the fuss of having a policeofficer after every 50m is quite humorous, but come to think of it might be that they felt safer and slowed down abit. i feel for car owners, because parking spaces have been limited and the police is putting up some metal fences around old town. at the other end is the question of control over public space and delimiting the possiblity to contest the rules. when i was in london 2 years ago i went to an exebithion of salvador dali's art. i was carrying a quite heavy backpack and i wasn't allowed to leave it anywhere. i felt like an elephant in a porcelan shop, so i took it of for 5 minutes and tried to keep a constant watch over it (i was afraid that it would get stolen). well, and one second it was gone. when i asked for it at the reception i got scolded for leaving my luggage - the security was about to call the bomb-squad and to blow my unattended bag into pieces with a watercannon. today i was smiling and thought to myself, that tomorrow i will shave my beard :) it's enough that barmen and -maids constantly adress me in english (some say i'm italian, some say i'm brittish - but deffinately foreign), i don't want my bag to be searched in public :P

but i think the queen should visit us more often to remind us that we don't need the police to be polite to each other - all it takes is just focusing attention and care. everybody knows right from wrong, good and bad. then why won't people act accordingly? individualism? oh, the idealism of youth :) what do we need the laws for then?

SWISS evening

2006-10-19T08:14:00.000+03:00

To help you recover what we did in Switzerland, we will gather on 27th of October. PLACE- PÄRNU MNT 27-13 at 7.00pm.
Call Lilja or somebody else who is already there if you cannot get in.
We will continue looking for the truth:
What was Herzog & De Meuron about after all? How does Renzo Piano get light to his buildings? What to do with kapuns? Who was actually humming in Vals baths? How to survive a night in the barn? How to cross the Rhein river? Where was Zürich's nigthlife? How to make touristic turns? Why did we like Swiss people and why not, and how we made them angry? And last but not least, who actually grabbed the apple from the tree?

Photos from our trip to Switzerland

2006-10-18T01:36:00.000+03:00

Hi everybody!!

I have created an account for sharing with all of you my pics from our trip to Switzerland with the EKA Urban Studies MA partners and some other friends. Here it goes: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ialsowannashare/

Laura has also created another one with her pictures: http://my.opera.com/digipisik/albums/show.dml?id=146231

Hope you like and will to share yours.

Greetings from Spain!

Inés

about privacy

2006-10-17T23:27:00.000+03:00

an 'ideological' topic that for me grew out from the calendar proposal (and of course, more generally, from the whole subject of having a blog) and although there might be actually no problem at all i'd still like this topic to be discussed -
the privacy.
i've understood that till now the conception has basically been a blog that is in whole, (pardon,) saba ja karvadega, opened for everybopdy to see.
with all the things that may be too stupid for that (like us discussing about railways for example) and thus not very flattering to us and
with all the things that are too clever for that (like us discussing about railways of course) and as such could attract "academic espionage".

and then showing our calendar with all the preprepresentationmeetings to the publicity ....

in summer somebody asked me why estonians - while taking part in international projects - never tend to give out information. so i gave it a thought and could think of two (opposing) reasons:
1. letting other people know that you have some information is dangerous, a feeling conceived by the soviet time
2. keeping information to you gives you an advantage. a feeling kinda related to the postsocialist time. god knows who else may benefit if you share what you know.

heh. equally ridiculous reasons both. but i'm still made careful about publicity. so what about public and semiprivate spaces in the website (and private-private?)?
or if i am just personally lacking the "western-style" free and opened working skills, this blog would be exactly the place for practicing it?
what are your thoughts?

error fixed

2006-10-17T20:12:00.000+03:00

I apologise for the mistake, but I have sent an invitation to all I know are interested so far in the website so you can post. Please let me know if there is somebody else I forgot or that might be interested!

suggestion, no 1

2006-10-17T20:10:00.000+03:00

greetings,
i raise my cup of coffee to you all,
and
wanted to propose that we could have
a calendar on the website.
online and with the latest information updated as soon as something new is heard. it would especially convey the timetable of the urb.studies as the lectures are still quite an unstable materia and the information about sth taking place comes from very different sources and is always missed by somebody.
one look at the calendar and you get the picture. at least the latest version.

MEETING NEXT WEDNESDAY

2006-10-16T14:30:00.000+03:00

Wednesday at 21.00 in Noku
be there! tell those who are interested as well.

Before the meeting, at 18.00 there will be the weekly screening of a movie dealing with urban culture in Tallinn University (meeting point is at 18.00 in front of the main bldg). This week's movie is the Brazillian "City of God". There will be a short intro and outro about favelas in Rio and in Caracas.

welcome notice

2006-10-16T14:25:00.000+03:00

While the website is in creation, this is a temporary blog to discuss the urbanistika dot ee website ideas, new blogs, moderators, etc. Feel free to post your opinions and questions, and anything you think about the upcoming website.