Public space in curren debate: a critical reflexion about post-modern urbanism

Abstract

Post-modern urbanists have argued that public space is disappearing. For them, public spaces, defined as places of citizen construction and social encounter, have been replaced by pseudo public spaces like the mall or the gated community. This nostalgic view of a modern mythical past does not consider a historically precedent and more representative characteristic of public space. As Foucault would argue; public spaces are places where power is expressed and exercised. However, Foucault certainly misses an aspect. This is, the possibility of social resistance to power, expressed in the replacement or at least alteration of the meanings of urban order. It is using this framework of powerÍ€“resistance to power, that the concept of public space and the discourse that defines it as a place of citizen construction should be re-discussed.