REFRAMING DIGITAL PRACTICES IN MEDIATED PUBLIC OPEN SPACES ASSOCIATED WITH CULTURAL HERITAGE

Carlos Smaniotto Costa; Georgios Artopoulos; Aleksandra Djukic

Carlos Smaniotto Costa Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon (PT)
Georgios Artopoulos The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia (CY)
Aleksandra Djukic University of Belgrade, Belgrade (RS)

Resumen

This article addresses the relationship between digital media technologies (deliv- ered via smart phones, tablets, wi-fi connections) and their use in public open spaces (parks, gardens, squares, plazas, streets, etc.). In the age of ubiquitous and pervasive computing, digital technology is entering the context of the everyday appropriation of the urban environments. Due to the rapid development and increasing possibilities of ICTs for application in the public realm, digital tools challenge a better understanding of the consequences by social scientists and urban designers. This leads to questions about the many ways ICTs affect the use of public open space, the risks included as well as the degree to which these new, emergent, uses fit into the concept of a virtual society. This article focuses on the capacity of ICTs to transform our cities into more social places and con- tribute to more interesting and engaging ways to navigate and interact with pub- lic spaces. It is based on the European COST network CyberParks, in the frame- work of which several aspects of the relationship of ICTs with public spaces and urban design have been analysed. The results show that ICTs cause and enable innovative outdoor social practices, which provoke spatial and social experts to use them in policies, design and research, in order to produce responsive and inclusive urban spaces. Therefore, aspects such as promoting leisure and recre- ation, integrating social media and enabling association with heritage will be ex- plored and discussed on the basis of examples already studied in three different countries (Serbia, Portugal and Cyprus). Cultural heritage can be used to influ- ence positively the social cohesion, as it can be promoted in such a way that, instead of provoking tensions and division, would offer spaces of inclusion, in- creasing everyday experiences and provide a sense of belonging to socially ex- cluded communities.

mediated public spaces, mobile technology, cyberparks, spatially dis- tributed narratives, historic cities.

Biografía del autor/a

Carlos Smaniotto Costa, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon (PT)

Carlos SMANIOTTO COSTA (PhD) holds a diploma degree in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning and a PhD degree in Urban and Landscape Planning from the Leibniz University Hannover/Germany. He is professor of Landscape Design and Urban Ecology in the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning at Lusófona University, teaching in master’s and PhD programmes. Smaniotto is member of Lusófona’s Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Education and Development, where he leads the Experimental Lab on Education, Space and Memories. Smaniotto has been working on a number of national and international research projects covering different issues but all centred on sustainable urban development and transforming cities into more liveable spaces. He has published widely on environmental, social, urban geography as well as urban planning and design issues in professional journals in Portuguese, German, English and Italian. He is one of the initiators and the chair of the COST Action TU1306 CyberParks.

Georgios Artopoulos, The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia (CY)

Georgios ARTOPOULOS (PhD), Assistant Professor, Science and Technology in Archaeology Research Center, Cyprus Institute, works on immersive and performative spaces, on virtual environments, modelling and simulation for the study of built heritage and the creative exploration of historical narratives in the context of public open space. Giorgos holds a Master of Philosophy and a PhD, University of Cambridge (UK) with a Doctoral Award from the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Previously he was employed by the Heriot-Watt University, UK, the University of Melbourne, the University of Cambridge and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Giorgos has contributed in more than 12 International Research Programs and received the Best International Short Film award in Mestre Film Festival, Venice. His work was presented at La Biennale di Venezia, the Royal Institute of British Architects, London, the London Design Festival, Seoul Biennale of Architecture & Urbanism 2017, the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago, the ISEA 2006 and 2008, the British Council, Brussels, the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, and in many art exhibitions. His work was published in more than 28 peer-reviewed journals and books of architecture and 35 International Conference proceedings and exhibition catalogues.

Aleksandra Djukic, University of Belgrade, Belgrade (RS)

Aleksandra DJUKIC (PhD) is Associate Professor at Faculty of Architecture, University of Belgrade, Department of Urban Planning and Urban Design. Her field of professional activities and research is directed on urban design and planning, urban morphology, urban renewal and heritage. She has published four monographies, more than 180 articles and chapters in international and national scientific journals, books, proceedings. She has participated in numerous national and international research projects and workshops and she was a leader of one national research project with international cooperation and Project manager of Interreg Danurb project for Serbia. She was a keynote speaker at three International conferences and she gave a lectures at Universities in Granada, Graz and Bari. She is in the Editorial board of two international scientific journals in the field of architecture and urbanism, and in one national. As an architect and urban planner in practice, she has done more than 50 urban plans and designs, 10 realized buildings and 5 studies in Urban renewal and planning (for UNDP, Ministry, Local government). She has received numerous awards in international architectural and urban competitions, awards in urban practice and two rewards for the best paper at International congresis. She is vice president of Town Planning Association of Serbia and representative in ECTP-CEU.