Spaces of production and the development paradigm. Hybridization, morphologies and types

© Elena Calafati, 2021

Elena Calafati

Thesis director: Paola Viganò, Lab-U

Start date: February 2020 / Defense date (expected): :  February 2024 

Abstract

This research investigates the transformation of the spaces of production with regard to the current technological, environmental and socio-economic transitions. By focusing on the interdependence between spaces of production and societal change, it explores the influence these transformation exert on the spatial organization and morphology of the European city.

The research addresses two questions concerning European cities: How are spaces of production changing? What impact will the transition of the spaces of production have on the spatial organization of the European city?

The spaces of production taken into consideration are those where transformation of matter-energy and information takes place. Therefore, this research investigates the spaces where both goods and services are produced. Cities’ spaces of production are being described and studied from a multi-scalar perspective, and namely focusing respectively on architectural typologies, morphological patterns and types of functional and formal mixité of urban fabrics.

From this perspective and through these categories the research will explore the key features of the emerging spaces of production in Europe, with a focus on the transformation that are brought about by the development paradigm. This guiding paradigm relies on a shift of perspective from considering progress focusing on economic growth towards a set of indicators which allow to detect social cohesion, equality, access to public and collective goods and services, among others.

Key words: spaces of production, economic transition, morphology, structure of the city, representation)