research methodology for urbanism

Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

Roberto Rocco & Egbert Stolk

integrating academic value in

design-based research

Challenge(the(future

URBANISM

why this course?

2

The graduation yearThe Graduation year is composed by three main courses +

studio based learning

• Research and Design Studios (with their own sub-

courses) 50 ECTS

•Graduation orientation 2 ects

•Methodology (Thesis plan) 4 ects

•Theory (theoretical Review paper) 4 ects

Design and Research Studios former Output

(before the reform)

PowerPoint presentation + Sloppy Report= knowledge produced was largely lost

4

Current structure of the

masters education at

TU Delft

5

Design and Research Studios Output: Thesis Report

6

Methodology Course Output:

Thesis plan

Theory Course Output:

An academic paper

Eroded public spaces: Impacts on public space by socio-economic transformations in Eastern Europe. Tadas Jonauskis

- 1 -

Abstract – This paper will review the literature regarding to socio-economic changes on public spaces in

Easter European countries after the fall of USSR. It covers the topics of privatization, commercialization,

virtualization and mobilization that are the main process affecting the use of public space. Public space is the

main focus of this paper and the main question to be answered is how public space was impacted and changed by

rapid socio-economic transformations in Eastern Europe. Therefore this paper investigates the way society have

changed and the way new elements which were introduced, such as car and virtual networks, after the fall of

Soviet Union affect the behaviour and life style of the people which resulted how differently people started to

use pubic space. Literature review on these elements and aspects will give an overview and suggestions how the

public space is used and what are the threats and negative elements created by the processes of transformation

that can be avoided or solved in later graduation project stages.

Key words – Public space, urban life, street vitality, meeting place, shifted centralities, Eastern Europe, urban

society, privatization, car culture, commercialization

1 Introduction This paper will explore the reasons why public

space have changed and is still changing in state of

transition from socialism system to capitalism one

in Eastern European countries after the fall of USSR.

Socialist cities had strict rules on how the public

space had to be used and how society had to look

like and to be shaped. The use of public space was

not only different in physical characteristics from

the Western cities but also it was different how

society was seeing it and using it. A sudden change

after the fall of USSR led to number of

interpretations and unplanned and chaotic changes

in the way people were using public space. Soon

after former limitations of public realm, public

opinion and public politics in Soviet Union society

was free to express itself in a way it could imagine.

People were fascinated by formerly forbidden

‘western culture’ which suddenly became

unbreakable part of everyday life and horizon to

reach, “first comes Coca Cola, then a Shell petrol

station, then a Rolls-Royce dealership and you are

part of the league” (Bogle August 1996). As Kiril

Stanilov investigates, numbers of different social

and economic processes have started to change the

use of public space, and ‘western culture’ gained

more and more importance (Stanilov 2007).

However ‘western culture’ didn’t bring only wealth

and life quality, but on contrary it resulted in

number of negative effects which are expressed in

the way people are using public space.

This paper will cover main reasons of the public

space to be changing. Literature review will help to

identify the changes and the affects on public space.

The main question to be answered with this paper is

how public space was impacted and changed by

rapid socio-economic transformations in Eastern

European countries.

This paper will start investigating the privatization

of land together with privatization of former state

economic activities was provoked by the need of

relaying of your own. It resulted in physical

shrinkage of space and shifted balance between

public and private spaces (Stanilov 2007). In

addition new commercial activities are effecting and

changing the meaning of public space by creating

and promoting consumerist way of using the space

which lead to decay of users in other than commerce

oriented spaces. Another aspect is increase in use of

virtual networks which created new possibilities to

practice public discussions and public opinion and it

led to fewer reasons for meeting other people in

physical space. In addition mobility and private car

Eroded public spaces: Impacts on public space by rapid socio-economic transformations in

Eastern Europe.

Tadas Jonauskis

Study number 1535536 _ tadasjonauskis@gmail.com

Delft University of Technology, Department of Urbanism

5th Graduation Lab Urbanism Conference

January 28th 2010

8

Eroded public spaces: Impacts on public space by socio-economic transformations in Eastern Europe. Tadas Jonauskis

- 6 -

away from physical space to a virtual. Increased mobility created separation of the people from each other and segregated areas which are mono-functional and pedestrian unfriendly and car oriented. In the end we can conclude that cities started to change from open and collective to closed and individual cities. It changed from open city in terms of open and well accessible public space to a closed city in terms of privately owned and fenced city. Accordingly collective way of living was changed to a private ‘western lifestyle’ with the importance if individual rather than society as such. To sum up, public space was important tool to create collective communist society but now it is not used and not understood as a tool to create and promote social interactions but in opposite it is resulted to be used as a tool to separate and alienate people and create the city for individualities. 10 Recommendations The main intention of this paper is to determine the processes that are affecting the use of public space after the fall of USSR in Eastern European countries. It showed the way people are using public space under new social and economic conditions and how public space has changed in past couple decades. This given overview will give literature based argumentation for further site specific empirical research and will play a theoretical underpinning role in graduation project. Acknowledgements I would like to express my appreciation to mine main mentor Stephen Read who gave well structured support on the topic of public space. Also I would like to appreciate Remon Rooij and Ana Maria Fernandez-Maldonado for a support and lessons on writing this paper. Bibliography ANDREWS, KALIOPA DIMITROVSKA, 2002, Mastering the post-socialist city: impacts on

planning and the built environment, International Conferences A Greater Europe, Rome.

AUGÉ, MARC, 2008, Non-places an introduction

to supermodernity, Verso, London

BOGLE, SALLY, 1996 August, Invasions of the

Market Snatchers, Energy Economist,

CARMONA, MATTHEW, 2007, Public places -

urban spaces : the dimensions of urban design: Architectural Press, Oxford

CHRISTIAANSE, KEES, 2008, "[Restricted

Access] or The Open City?" In Urban trans

formations, by Ilka Ruby and Andreas Ruby, 138-145, Ruby Press, Berlin

GEHL, JAN, 2001, Life between buildings : using

public space, Danish Architectural Press, Copenhagen

HAJER, MAARTEN, ARNOLD REIJNDORP, AND ELS BRINKMAN, 2001, In search of new

public domain : analysis and strategy, NAi Publishers, Rotterdam

HANASZ, WALDEMAR, November 30, 1999, "Engines of liberty. Cars and the collapse of

communism in eastern europe."

JACOBS, JANE, 1998, The death and life of great

American cities, Random House, New York

KAREN A. FRANCK , QUENTIN STEVENS, 2007, Loose space, Routledge, New York

LEFEBVRE, HENRI, 2003, The urban revolution,

University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis

MOISEEVA, ANASTASIA, 2007, "Network city.

Urban transformations." Master thesis, Delft

READ, STEPHEN, 2009, "Technicity and

Publicness: Steps toward an Urban Space.", Footprint, pages:7-22

SASSEN, SASKIA, 2001, The global city : New

York, London, Tokyo / by Saskia Sassen, Princeton University Press, Princeton

SIK, ENDRE, AND CLAIRE WALLACE, 1999, "The Development of Open-air Markets in East-

Central Europe." International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, pages: 697-714

STANILOV, KIRIL, 2007, The Post-Socialist city, Springer, Dordrecht

TEERDS, HANS, 2009, "Public Realm, Public

space", In OASE 77, Into the open. Accomodating the public, by Tom Avermaete, Klaske Havik and Hans Teerds, pages: 21-31, NAi Publishers, Rotterdam

WAGENAAR, COR, 2004, Happy : cities and

public happiness in post-war Europe, NAi Publishers, Rotterdam

Theory Course Output:

An academic paper

9

URBANISM @ TU DELFT

OTBChair:Urban an Regional Development

Prof. Wil Zonneveld

OTBChair:Neighbourhood Change and Housing

Prof. Maarten van Ham

Chair:Environmental Technology

Prof. Arjan van Timmeren

Chair:Cultural History & Design

Prof. Eric Luiten

Chair:Landscape Architecture

Prof. Dirk Sijmons

Chair:Urban Design

Prof. Henco Bekkering

Chair:Theory & Methods

Prof. Han Meyer

Chair:The Why Factory

Prof. Winy Maas

Chair:Spatial Planning & Strategy

Prof. Vincent Nadin

Chair:Design & PoliticsProf. Wouter Vanstiphout

Section: Spatial Planning & Strateg

y

Section: Urban D

esignSection: Urban L

andscape

Org

anis

atio

nal

Tre

e of

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Urb

anis

m, T

U D

elft

, jan

201

3 b

y R

ober

to R

occo

Section: Environmental Technology

How

stu

dent

s en

teri

ng th

e Mas

ter

of U

rban

ism

of t

he T

U De

lft

posi

tion

th

emse

lves

in t

erm

s of

kno

wle

dge m

odel

pur

sued

(sam

ple 2

014)

THIS COURSE’s LEARNING OBJECTIVES

at the end of this course, you will...

1. be able to explain what urbanism is at tu delft, including the different worldviews and different

logics of enquiry deriving from them 2. have practiced critical thinking skills in describing urban issues and challenges and

understanding how theory and practice interact to tackle those challenges

3. be able to formulate  research questions and to connect relevant methods of inquiry to answer

them. you will also be able to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the methodology of your

research and design projects.

4. be able to COMMUNICATE ideas in an excellent way using image and text, both orally and in written

form.

5. Be able to argue what is the roles and the value of design and of research in urbanism studies

6. Be able to explain the ethical issues involved in the activity of planning and designing for people12

how this course works• 9 sessions of 3 hours each (27 hours)= 5 ECTS (140 hours)

13

Interactive lecture active learning

Interactive lecture

active learning

evaluatingdiscussing

evaluatingdiscussing

1st part

2nd part

writing skills

how are you evaluated

14

in-class exercises 10%

25% MID-TERM EXAM

65%

FINAL ESSAY

the essay

• a paper using academic standards (part of the course)

• in pairs (self-organise)

• FOLLOWING A TEMPLATE (provided)

• Answering to proposed themes (provided)

• Using literature (partially provided)

• deadline 10 days after final delivery for q3, until 12 p.m.

Essays will be uploaded to Blackboard.

15

Examples at issuu

16

ww

w.m

etho

dolo

gyfo

rurb

anis

m.w

ordp

ress

.com

What is research? …

RESEARCH is typically defined as a

systematic investigation on a subject

that generally leads to the production of

explicit knowledge adding to the existing

body of knowledge about the subject.

What is Research?

What is research? We assume that academic

research can be done using

traditional and

non-traditional tools.

Traditional forms of research

A scientific method, which is the base of

any traditional form of research,

consists of the collection of data

through observation and

experimentation, and the formulation

and testing of a hypotheses.

Traditional forms of research

TRADITIONAL forms of research include, for

example, the collection, organisation and

analyses of data leading to the

substantiation or disproval of a previously

stated hypothesis. It can also lead to the

discovery of unexpected new models.

in urbanism studies

• we prefer to use ‘objectives’ rather

than ‘hypothesis’.

• (This is why a ‘research question’ is so

important. A good Research question

implicitly contains the object of

research and a practical objective)23

Attributes of scientific research:CUDOSMerton’s Scientific Norms*

• Communalism

• Universalism

• Disinterestedness

• Originality

• Skepticism (Organized Skepticism)

* Merton, R. The Normative Structure of Science, 1942

Non-traditional forms of research

•Use of visual media, such as video and photography and new ways of

visualisation and representation

•Use of new technologies (tracking technologies, GIS, 3-D cartography,

real time mapping)

•Experience research (anthropology)

•“Action based” research

•Design led investigation and invention

Non traditional forms of research…

might be comparable to scientific methods because:

1. They might be conducted in a systematic way aiming at answering a research question, prove or disprove a hypothesis

2. They might lead to new knowledge and add to the existing body of knowledge

worldview

Generic Criteria for any academic pursuit

Question answer

methods

27

Four main world views in science:

PositivistPost-positivistConstructivistCritical theory

Discipline Specific Issues

Role of Text and Image*

Relationship of Form and Content*

Function of Rhetoric*

Manifestation of Experience

28

Problems with research by design

Non traditional results (non-textual) that are the outcome of RbD might have the following limitations:

• Incommensurability with traditional results (results cannot be compared)

• Experiential content : it goes against the notion of generalizability or at least transferability of research

• Lack of shared definitions of scientific criteria (It cannot be communicated accross disciplines)

Lack of shared criteria with

traditional research

It does not respond to a group of

expanded criteria that is

compatible with, and comparable

to, those held in traditional

forms of research.

Non-explicit knowledgeIf visual representation is not interpreted

(through traditional textual analysis), and

knowledge is not made explicit, we will lack

parameters to judge, asses, use and disseminate

the knowledge produced, especially when it

comes to conveying new knowledge across

different communities of practice.

contribution of design to academic research

The contribution of design

practice to academic research

can be best described as a

spectrum with two extreme poles

1. Exploratory practice within the traditional

model of academic research

2. Practice as generator of relevant questions

explored within structures provided by

traditional models of academic research

3. Problematic view that claims that design

practice IS academic research

contribution of design to academic research

Specific features of Urban Design

Urban design CAN be subject to scientific evaluation methods (ante- and post-occupation analysis,

environmental impact analysis, financial feasibility and sustainability, spatial analysis, like Space Syntax

and Visibility, etc)

in real life, Urban design is subject to political and economical constraints

There is a consistent collection of basic technical rules on urban design (e.g. ideal width of streets, material

resistance, optimal occupation rates of plots, etc).

The ROLE OF DESIGN is enhanced when it addresses relevant problems of stakeholders involved

The ROLE OF DESIGN becomes even richer, with an emphasis on its capacity to COMMUNICATE and SPATIALIZE IDEAS, working as an instrument for decision-making

UKCGE’s proposalTo broaden the traditional scientific model (formation

and testing of a hypothesis), redefining its general

terms, the UKCGE proposes the following

parameters:

1. The acquisition of relevant data

2. The exercise of critical and analytical skills

3. Sustained and coherent argumentation

4. Clarity in presentation and communication

UK Council for Graduate Education

Hertfordshire Proposal:

necessary and sufficient criteria for academic research

Criterion based assessment

•Dissemination

(Communication + Impact)

•Originality

•Context

Dissemination•Research must influence the actions of others

practioners: The opposite scenario is one where everyone is constantly re-inventing the wheel, which is not effective.

•Research should make generation of knowledge more efficient. By sharing knowledge, we allow the creative energies of co-researchers to be applied to more advanced topics.

•Research is therefore a CUMULATIVE process, even if one rejects the [Modernist] notion of it being progressive.

Communication & Impact

•Research must have a target audience. There is no

guarantee that this audience will recognise the

research as such. However, it is more probable that the

research will impact on the audience if it is

communicated through an effective (oriented) channel.

•The audience is firstly the community of research,

because by sharing knowledge with them we can

maximise the development of the field.

OriginalityResearch must result in something

original that was not known or

interpreted in this way before

Knowledge must be knew for the audience

and not only for the researcher

ContextResearch must be contextualised because

1. By placing outcomes in a critical context,

the researcher contributes to the argument

in defense of originality and soundness

2. The researcher makes clear the way in which

the knowledge develops or originates from

existing modes of understanding

Impact and relevance

Knowledge must be disseminated.

Dissemination means not only putting

the work out in the world, but also

doing so in a TARGETED way, so it reaches

an audience for whom it is

CONSEQUENTIAL.

Originality and contextThe audience will only recognize originality if they

are familiar with, or are presented with, a

CONTEXT in which originality becomes apparent

and against which the research can be

validated.

This context is the theoretical framework in which

research must exist.

Finally, this course proposes an expanded understanding of what design is in different scales.

45

Thanks for watching!Any questions? Please write to:Roberto Rocco

Chair spatial planning and strategy

Department of Urbanism

delft university of technology

r.c.rocco@tudelft.nl

references:

BIGGS, M. & BUCHLER, D. 2008. Eight Criteria for practice-based research in the creative and cultural industries. Art, Design and Education in Higher Education, 7.

LARSEN, G. L. 2012. An Inquiry into the Theoretical Basis of Sustainability. In: DILLARD, J., DUJON, V. & KING, M. C. (eds.) Understanding the Social Dimension of Sustainability. London: Routledge.

ROCCO, R. & ROOIJ, R. Educating the Critical Urban Planner and Designer: A didactical experience in an area of practice. INTED, 2010 Valencia. IATED.

46