Digital Space as Public Space
Hou introduces public space as a forum for open discussion -
the use and vitality of public space is indicative of the well being of a
democratic society. He gives examples of Iran and Moldova in which public
protests and mass mobilizations were organized using social media (Twitter) as
a tool. In his examples, social media was only a tool to bring people together
– not the platform for the entire discussion (public space was the platform). However, in our society, social media is ever
increasing in its popularity and our dependence on it, and many discussions
start and end there without the involved parties ever coming face to face. Is
the degradation of public space in our society because we have replaced it with
social media – a virtual public space?
Public charging stations in Chicago
I think virtual public space deserves more of our consideration. You are right, it is taking part of the social load that built public spaces used to carry. It is the new reality, so we need to find ways to integrate the two types of public space (virtual and material). The image you posted, I think, embodies this idea. People are going to use their phones but the architecture brings together these people. We need to embrace this behavior without allowing ourselves, as a society, to forget how to socialize face-to-face. There is an inherent good in virtual spaces but there is also an inherent danger.
ReplyDeleteFrom the lens of Jane Jacobs, there are many eyes on the virtual sidewalk so we all feel safe there. Maybe that means that we are forgetting how to keep our physical sidewalks safe? Is there a way we can safeguard both types of public spaces simultaneously?
In the past few weeks we discussed participation in architecture and I think we can certainly take some lessons from the participatory nature of the digital world to apply to our physical environment. People can define their own space and own level of privacy and control their interactions in spectacular fashion in the digital world but this can be far more difficult when the physical world has to be maneuvered. The digital world offers the allure of safety (whether it actually exists is up for debate) and there may be ways in which we can be more suggestive of safety and control in the physical world through our architecture.
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