Harvey, D. C., Hawkins, H., & Thomas, N. J. (2012). Thinking creative clusters beyond the city: people, places and networks.

Harvey, D. C., Hawkins, H., & Thomas, N. J. (2012). Thinking creative clusters beyond the city: people, places and networks. Geoforum, 43(3), 529-539. doi:http://dx.doi.org.lib-ezproxy.tamu.edu:2048/10.1016/j.geoforum.2011.11.010

Abstract

This paper develops an ethnographic study of a small rural based ‘creative cluster’, called Krowji, situated in the town of Redruth in West Cornwall, UK. The dominant geographies of creative industries research and policy in recent years have an acknowledged urban bias together with a focus on narratives of agglomeration. This paper sits alongside research that brings to the fore ‘other’ geographies of cultural production, and reflects an increasing interest in work on creativity in rural areas. Following work by Storper and Pratt, we explore Krowji’s complex interdependencies, investigating ‘the relations within, without and across the cluster’. We focus on the relationships between Krowji and its surrounding area together with the spatialities and temporalities of the relations that occur across and beyond the cluster. We address the dynamics and durability of relations formed within the cluster also paying attention to their disconnections. In offering this analysis we develop a valuable counterpoint to the urban bias of much work on creative clusters and we contribute to work that is looking more closely at the temporalities and spatialities of cultural production. Further, we point towards the value of ethnographical research on the creative industries.

World Habitat Day OSLO October 7th

WORLD HABITAT DAY CONFERENCE 2013 – INFRASTRUCTURE 2013: COMMUNICATION

7 OCTOBER AT THE HOUSE OF LITERATURE OSLO

How is Information and Communication Technology (ICT) serving as infrastructure in cities that bridges the gap between the formal and informal city, and further the impact of ICT on development and reduction of urban poverty?

Infrastructure 2013
In 2013, Habitat Norway has designated our activities to shed light on infrastructural challenges in growing cities and in informal areas. Throughout the year, Habitat Norway is hosting seminars focusing on the access to infrastructure and discusses new technology and opportunities. While five evening seminars are looking into the following matters: water, sanitation, electricity, public transportation and solid waste management, the Habitat Day conference is devoted to information and communication technology. More information about ‘Infrastructure 2013′ here: http://habitat-norge.org/infrastructure-2013/

World Habitat Day – Infrastructure 2013: Communication
Digital information and communication technology have become a necessary infrastructure of the urban environment today. For the inhabitants in informal settlements and the urban poor, new mobile technology, social media and internet services makes formerly unavailable services and information available. Mobile currency, medical information services, updates on security issues and prices on goods to mention a few, are communicated through internet and mobile phones. Open online maps enables inhabitants in settlements not visible in the formal maps to geotag their communities. The technology and social media increases transparency, but also provides a platform for urban poor to spread information on issues affecting them and voice their opinion.

What kind of role has these tools as a necessary infrastructure in urban planning and development strategies? Do they contribute to securing the rights of slum dwellers and contribute to a more prosperous life? How can new technology be utilized in response to urban poverty?

We have invited both national and international speakers to introduce the overarching issues related to information and communication technology in cities today, discuss ‘smart cities’ in developing countries, as well as give glimps of spesific projects and cases.

http://habitat-norge.org/habitat-day-conference-7-october/

Bottom Up Urbanism - wikispaces_course at NEU School of Architecture

Course description: 
The course will be organized in two Semester-long modules. The first module (Open to Department of Architecture Students) is dedicated to (1) a literature review of past, present and near-future theories, practices and speculations of participatory, bottom-up, open-source design process and urbanism, (2) identifying the problem areas in case studies that these theories and speculations have been put to practice, gauging the extent to which they have failed or succeeded and the reason for that (3) a rigorous cataloging of theoretical or practiced techniques and technologies of both mediation and representation in participatory design (4) envisioning, proposing and conceptual design of possible technologically enhanced solutions and presenting them through design briefs, video-proof of concepts, etc.
The second module is a multi-disciplinary semester-long workshop (Open to Architecture, Visual Design and Game Design Students) with a hands-on approach to design development and implementing prototypes of the digital, physical or hybrid platforms and augmented objects of mediation and representation, proposed as the outcome of the first module of the class as elaborated above. To create these prototypical models, students are offered the basic technical knowledge necessary for programming virtual platforms, as well as platforms that allow for physical computing and electronic prototyping. These skills will be acquired in a series of integrated technical workshops focused on the use of open-source programming and prototyping platforms.

Instructor: 
Nashid Nabian nnabian@gsd.harvard.edu

http://bottomupurbanism.wikispaces.com/Presentation