Abstract
Many cities in emerging nations caught up in the global process of urban regeneration pursue a western model of modernity and urbanity without much consideration for its impact on social sustainability. This can result in entrenching already inequitable conditions where policies typically address the interests of elite minorities. This paper presents an alternative approach to analysing and engaging with place and its sociality to reveal nuanced place making practices of existing communities giving voice to marginalized groups and views. Presented within the context of fieldwork studies in the Melbourne suburb of Footscray, this paper focuses on a place mapping technique based on sensory ethnography to identify and analyse existing spatial practices of communities. Ethnographic data is supplemented by audio and visual recordings which are then synthesized and represented in a series of multimodal diagrams based the concept of vertical montage which explores the relationships between time, space and activity. This paper also briefly presents a design exploration of a Master of Architecture student at the University of Melbourne who adopted the mapping technique, developing a richly experiential and programmatically appropriate design for urban regeneration. The methods presented in this paper may help inform the development of regional model of ‘modernity’ that is socially sustainable and specific to place. One that attempts to address inequity in the participation process and acknowledges the importance of existing spatial practices in creating complex and pluralistic urban spaces.
Highlights
Many cities, urban centres and inner city suburbs around the world are currently undergoing urban regeneration
Presented within the context of fieldwork studies in the Melbourne suburb of Footscray, this paper focuses on a place mapping technique based on sensory ethnography to identify and analyse existing spatial practices of communities
While the drive for urban regeneration may differ considerably between this and what is occurring in the inner city suburbs of Melbourne which this paper focuses on, it is possible to draw parallels between the impacts on social equity that occurs within marginalised communities in both contexts
Summary
Urban centres and inner city suburbs around the world are currently undergoing urban regeneration. Modernity for many developing nations is a utopian concept, difficult to imagine outside the idealized conditions of the west. This leads to the uncritical adoption of western policies and methods, often applied in a top-down manner by powerful decision makers – negatively impacting the populations on the ground. While the drive for urban regeneration may differ considerably between this and what is occurring in the inner city suburbs of Melbourne which this paper focuses on, it is possible to draw parallels between the impacts on social equity that occurs within marginalised communities in both contexts. Methods and policies often overlook nuanced and layered place making practices of the local communities. By means of an exploratory process which includes investigation through design, this study examines how this inequity can be addressed by designers through the consideration of the socially produced sensory realm generated by existing spatial practices
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