Contested Pasts

oreen Massey’s essay “Places and their pasts” published 1995 highly influenced geographic thought on places by foregrounding the co-production of local histories and global processes, establishing a foundational framework for understanding places as contested, relational, and temporally layered. This anthology brings together the experimental research projects emerging from a 2025 master seminar at the Technical University of Berlin, each of which re engages Massey’s conceptual thoughts. By deploying small scale spatial interventions in Berlin’s contested sites—Görlitzer Park, the new Tacheles, and Holzmarkt—the projects reveal how local histories intertwine with places, producing dynamic, contested meanings of urban space. The volume demonstrates the methodological promise of “small experiments” for testing and extending Massey’s theory. Ultimately, it offers contemporary planning a nuanced, practice oriented perspective on how places can be understood, contested, and reshaped through iterative, participatory research.

The rising global importance of social networking sites (SNS) transforms them into a relevant new theatre for negotiating and constructing perceptions of reality. Aiming to bridge the material-semiotic divide, this study harkens back to Lotman’s semiosphere theory and Gell’s theory of the art nexus to shed light on fundamental mechanisms of SNS interaction involving human and non-human actors and communities holding different norms, perceptions, and presuppositions. It asks: How are messages and meanings created, shared and translated in communication involving diverse points of view on social networking sites? How does semiotic agency circulate between human and non-human entities (messages, their authors and readers, other affected bodies, as well as underlying norms, perceptions and presuppositions) involved in SNS communication? How could communication on social network sites be formally represented to account for processes of semiotic translation and distribution of agency between human and non-human actors in actual SNS interactions? To address these questions, it uses as case study an SNS conversation on the removal of a public monument to a controversial author of the Soviet period in contemporary Lithuania. It applies the Connective ontology, a formal conceptual domain model of SNS communication, to represent interactions between users in this conversation as a process of semiotic translation involving opposing semiospheres with very different assumptions of what is real, what is important, and what is right. It illustrates how key ontology entities can serve to represent the circulation of meanings in an SNS conversation and the role of semiospheres in blocking interpretations and catalysing meaning-making. Following Gell, it elaborates a conceptualisation of SNS interactions as a communicative nexus, involving authors, indexes, prototypes, and recipients in binary relationships where semiotic agency circulates between them in a process of recursive abduction, demonstrating how agents of meaning involve not just human but also non-human actors in situated contexts of SNS interaction that are affected by and have implications across a blended, virtual-physical reality.

The article proposes some methodological reflections on doing oral history in borderland areas, starting from the case study of the Slovene-Italian borderland. It elaborates on some mistakes and difficulties the author has faced when conducting interviews in the Slovene-Italian borderland. She reflects on various challenges and obstacles, from language to terminology and conflicting collective narratives. She concludes that, as in any oral history project, as well as in borderland areas, it is important to create a relaxed atmosphere that allows for an open discussion of issues of the shared past. In a space often full of conflicting narratives and memories this is not always easy, and it is probably easier for those who are several generations distant from the events. However, the key elements of such an interview are creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and honesty and especially to (patiently) listen to the narrator, without judgement.

In contemporary architectural Design, we speak of a parametric structural design. A design that integrates new functionalities crossed with the spatial geometry of objects. It has been considered structured because it optimizes combinations that integrate a minimum of materials and data to respond to functions, uses, and needs more adapted to a society in perpetual evolution. Parametric modelling allows the usability of new materials and the integration of new structures in a variety of design environments. This transdisciplinary research explores aspects of parametric modelling, a design method that creates digital models using algorithms and parameters. By focusing on the material and immaterial plurality of the designed space, this method enables the generation of complex and innovative forms that would be difficult to realize with traditional methods. Then, from a position that redefines the city as both a "medium" city and an "object" city, we explore the fields of application and novelties that are investing in the fields of architectural construction. We examine how parametric modelling can be used to create more sustainable and environmentally efficient buildings, using parametric processes, and optimizing the use of space. In this sense, our research will lead us to identify two aspects of parametric modelling: the conceptual parametric design aspect and the constructive parametric design aspect. Finally, the results of our research enable us to identify a design process that demonstrates the feasibility of using parametric modelling to generate viable, sustainable, and versatile spaces.

Colombo, Sri Lanka’s commercial capital is a forceful creation of European colonialists who occupied the island for over four centuries. Its urban structure displays the social fragmentation sought by the rulers. Colombo elaborates an extraordinary process of city-making, stratified with its Dutch-origin, British-reshaping, and post-colonial adaptation. Proclaiming such a contested past as an inheritance requires an inclusive heritage interpretation. The recent renovation of monumental buildings for potential market values and demolishing minor architecture do not display such a heritage interpretation. This, placing undue attention on a selected social group, is found to be further emptying the compartmentalized city. The exclusion of some sub-societies also cost possible stewardship to urban heritage. Having observed the non-sustainability of current heritage-interpretation practised in Colombo, we searched for alternative means to unify societies in time-space thus sustaining the...

Urban space, which is shaped by the dwelling patterns of a culture, records the evolution of its identity, and as such acquires a heritage value. This unique way of becoming a heritage emphasises that it is not the walls nor the floor nor the monuments that are facing it, but the environmental quality of the urban space that needs to be paid attention. Each culture proclaims the heritage within its current cultural consciousness; thus protection of this environment quality would enhance a continuous life. The conventional conservation practices, placing priorities with physical elements, pay less attention to the mentioned environmental quality. They, neglecting the evolved activity patterns and concepts, challenge the phenomenological values of the urban space. This paper interprets conservation as a cultural activity, rather than a physical petrifaction of its wall, aimed at signifying the urban space within the present day cultural consciousness. It, assessing heritage values, pr...

Sustainability has been a pressing, complex, and ch allenging agenda for urbanists. Its focus turns on wider issues of environment and societies thus broadening the concept d efine in the Brundtland report. Eco-city, ecologica l footprint, green building and cultural planning are among significant initiat ves resulted by the reincarnation of sustainable d evelopment of Brundtland report. Undoubtedly, nature plays a huge role in defining place-legibility but its perception by inhabitants plays a much big ger role in sustaining that place. Having tested types of cohabita tions of nature and culture, we have made attempts to emphasize the significance of society in interpreting place-legibility for sustainable development. The first administrat ive capital of Sri Lanka, the World Heritage City of Anuradhapura was built as a political cum re ligious polis. The legibility of this city is shape d by its location, evolved hydraulic civilization and values placed subsequently. Th e protecti...

Colombo, Sri Lanka’s commercial capital is a forceful creation of European colonialists who occupied the island for over four centuries. Its urban structure displays the social fragmentation sought by the rulers. Colombo elaborates an extraordinary process of city-making, stratified with its Dutch-origin, British-reshaping, and post-colonial adaptation. Proclaiming such a contested past as an inheritance requires an inclusive heritage interpretation. The recent renovation of monumental buildings for potential market values and demolishing minor architecture do not display such a heritage interpretation. This, placing undue attention on a selected social group, is found to be further emptying the compartmentalized city. The exclusion of some sub-societies also cost possible stewardship to urban heritage. Having observed the non-sustainability of current heritage-interpretation practised in Colombo, we searched for alternative means to unify societies in time-space thus sustaining the...

Sustainability has been a pressing, complex, and challenging agenda for urbanists. Its focus turns on wider issues of environment and societies thus broadening the concept defined in the Brundtland report. Eco-city, ecological footprint, green building and cultural planning are among significant initiatives resulted by the reincarnation of sustainable development of Brundtland report. Undoubtedly, nature plays a huge role in defining place-legibility but its perception by inhabitants plays a much bigger role in sustaining that place. Having tested types of cohabitations of nature and culture, we have made attempts to emphasize the significance of society in interpreting place-legibility for sustainable development. The first administrative capital of Sri Lanka, the World Heritage City of Anuradhapura was built as a political cum religious polis. The legibility of this city is shaped by its location, evolved hydraulic civilization and values placed subsequently. The protection of the city centre as a dead monument, focusing on one cultural layer, undermines its multicultural making. This conversion of a multicultural place into a mono-cultural space has depleted its liveability, and as such is not sustainable. Having found how those forced values have challenged city's liveability, we used eco-city planning and cultural planning to restore the liveability of city's Royal Park. Qualitative research methods were used for field surveys and modest design charrettes were used to test our proposals. Our restoration plan, based on socio-culturally defined eco-city concept, not only strengthened city's sustainability but also prepared the grounds for an eco-society.

Sustainability has been a pressing, complex, and challenging agenda for urbanists. Its focus turns on wider issues of environment and societies thus broadening the concept defined in the Brundtland report. Eco-city, ecological footprint, green building and cultural planning are among significant initiatives resulted by the reincarnation of sustainable development of Brundtland report. Undoubtedly, nature plays a huge role in defining place-legibility but its perception by inhabitants plays a much bigger role in sustaining that place. Having tested types of cohabitations of nature and culture, we have made attempts to emphasize the significance of society in interpreting place-legibility for sustainable development. The first administrative capital of Sri Lanka, the World Heritage City of Anuradhapura was built as a political cum religious polis. The legibility of this city is shaped by its location, evolved hydraulic civilization and values placed subsequently. The protection of the city centre as a dead monument, focusing on one cultural layer, undermines its multicultural making. This conversion of a multicultural place into a mono-cultural space has depleted its liveability, and as such is not sustainable. Having found how those forced values have challenged city's liveability, we used eco-city planning and cultural planning to restore the liveability of city's Royal Park. Qualitative research methods were used for field surveys and modest design charrettes were used to test our proposals. Our restoration plan, based on socio-culturally defined eco-city concept, not only strengthened city's sustainability but also prepared the grounds for an eco-society.

Colombo, Sri Lanka’s commercial capital is a forceful creation of European colonialists who occupied the island for over four centuries. Its urban structure displays the social fragmentation sought by the rulers. Colombo elaborates an extraordinary process of city-making, stratified with its Dutch-origin, British-reshaping, and post-colonial adaptation. Proclaiming such a contested past as an inheritance requires an inclusive heritage interpretation. The recent renovation of monumental buildings for potential market values and demolishing minor architecture do not display such a heritage interpretation. This, placing undue attention on a selected social group, is found to be further emptying the compartmentalized city. The exclusion of some sub-societies also cost possible stewardship to urban heritage. Having observed the non-sustainability of current heritage-interpretation practised in Colombo, we searched for alternative means to unify societies in time-space thus sustaining the diversity of urban spaces. Our empirical studies have established the need to integrate the inherent cultural values of the colonial-built urban fabric in heritage interpretation. The results of vibrant heritage-interpretation results have been studied through a literature survey with aims to contribute towards the development of an inclusive heritage interpretation practice to protect Colombo’s colonial past sustainably.