The Ludic City

Featuring extensive observation of behaviours in public spaces and detailed studies of Melbourne, London, Berlin, New York and Brisbane, this book represents a fresh and detailed depiction of play in the specific context of urban public space.

Klappentext This international and illustrated work challenges current writings focussing on the problems of urban public space to present a more nuanced and dialectical conception of urban life. Detailed and extensive international urban case studies show how urban open spaces are used for play, which is defined and discussed using Caillois' four-part definition a " competition, chance, simulation and vertigo. Stevens explores and analyzes these case studies according to locations where play has been observed: paths, intersections, thresholds, boundaries and props. Applicable to a wide-range of countries and city forms, The Ludic City is a fascinating and stimulating read for all who are involved or interested in the design of urban spaces. Zusammenfassung This international and illustrated work challenges current writings focussing on the problems of urban public space to present a more nuanced and dialectical conception of urban life. Detailed and extensive international urban case studies show how urban open spaces are used for play, which is defined and discussed using Caillois' four-part definition competition, chance, simulation and vertigo. Stevens explores and analyzes these case studies according to locations where play has been observed: paths, intersections, thresholds, boundaries and props. Applicable to a wide-range of countries and city forms, The Ludic City is a fascinating and stimulating read for all who are involved or interested in the design of urban spaces. Inhaltsverzeichnis Introduction: The 'Function' of Urban Public Space 1. A Theorisation of Everyday Urban Social Life 2. Understanding Play in Public 3. The Spatiality of Social Interactions 4. How to Study Play in Cities 5. Paths 6. Intersections 7. Thresholds 8. Boundaries 9. Props 10. The Shape of Urban Play: 1960s Functionalism Revisited 11. The Dialectics of Urban Play: Fun Follows Form, Fun Follows 'Function' ...

Autorentext

Quentin Stevens

Inhalt

Introduction: The 'Function' of Urban Public Space 1. A Theorisation of Everyday Urban Social Life 2. Understanding Play in Public 3. The Spatiality of Social Interactions 4. How to Study Play in Cities 5. Paths 6. Intersections 7. Thresholds 8. Boundaries 9. Props 10. The Shape of Urban Play: 1960s Functionalism Revisited 11. The Dialectics of Urban Play: Fun Follows Form, Fun Follows 'Function'