Urban Eidos

According to a Western cultural heritage, where the idea of free citizenship and democracy originated, citizenship, place, and the city belong together. The idea of free citizenship and democracy is reflected in the understanding of the human being as a zoon politikon, literally translated an animal who lives in the polis, the city. It is […]

Questions regarding place, the individual, and community in 21st century cities are encouraging new research as a result of the transformation of daily life around a barrage of data, entertainment, hyper communication, instant consumer satisfaction and more all constantly available at our side in our pocket or bag we carry. We compulsively interact with this barrage, directing our attention that…

By analyzing the way architecture is taught and practiced, we can clearly see that we are currently in a situation similar to that denounced by Viollet-Le-Duc in the middle of the Beaux-Arts period… something that, as history has taught us, cannot lead to anything good

This paper critically discusses a common liberal relationship between civil society and civility. It highlights how liberal theory constructs a theory of civil society which, at the same time, suggests that one can pursue certain democratic ideals as long as they remain ‘civilised’. The paper shows how these liberal ideals have in practice constrained the voices of many from participating…

Much has been written about successful communities and why certain places are “destinations” and others are not. Italo Calvino’s “Invisible Cities” emphasizes in poetic prose that the city is a constantly evolving place – simultaneously both being constructed and decaying, aspirational and fleeting. Through this we come to realize: do we ever really know what an ideal space is?

Utopia is typically associated with community. Despite the existence of individual, “private” utopias, traditionally, a utopia does exist for a single human being but for a group of people – a community. If we set aside the more sinister version of utopia, the so-called dystopia (which also has groups of humans as its focus) and look at the ‘positive’ utopia,…

Artificial natures exemplify how human desires, technological innovation, and environmental considerations intersect, creating hybrid landscapes that encapsulate both dreams, ideas, ideologies and anxieties of our era. As such, investigating these spaces may provide critical insights into contemporary cultural narratives, urban planning practices, ecological ethics, and social dynamics.

Over the past seven years, fuse* has undertaken a continuous exploration of botany, ecology, and artificial intelligence. Through three distinct but interconnected series – Artificial Botany, Unseen Flora, and Mimicry – the studio’s practice investigates how algorithmic tools can be used not only to simulate but also to reimagine natural systems, species, and evolutionary trajectories. From early experiments with botanical…

This essay is an experiment emerging from a long-term photographic project. For over six years, we have done a photo documentation of the structures that children build in the forest. A small selection taken from this substantial archive will be presented here, alongside this essay. With this text we want to demonstrate, that these ‘dens’ or ‘forts’ echo the concept…

This essay critically examines the proposition of whether a damaged landscape can serve as a generative starting point for design outcomes. Focusing on extractive landscapes, it explores the evolving narratives across Germany, India, and the United States. These contexts provide contrasting yet interconnected material with their inherent possibilities and narratives. By engaging with these geographies, the essay interrogates dominant conceptions…

This study explores the possibility of applying serious games to increase citizen participation and foster spatial justice in urban decision-making processes. Drawing on theories of spatial justice, social innovation, and participatory spatial planning, it investigates how game-based approaches can smooth dialogue between citizens, experts, and other stakeholders. The focus is to bridge the gap between citizens’ needs and demands and…

The relations between Self and space are not an abstract issue, but essential for society. ‘Modernity experienced a transition from community to anonymous society,’ the German sociologist Tönnies said at the end of the 19th century already. What about this today? And what about the Self, the single individual unit inside such contexts, and its space? How is life perceived…

The design of American college and university residence halls has evolved significantly over time, reflecting broader changes in architecture, student demographics, and societal trends. In the 19th century, many residence halls emphasized Collegiate Gothic styles with monastic student rooms and grand, light-filled common spaces. Post-WWII dormitories, influenced by modernist principles, prioritized functionality with spartan interiors and limited student amenities. These…

The essay which follows is a look into complex points-of-view in regards to the collective consciousness, consciousness and the Self. There has been a large body of research done on collective consciousness, consciousness and the Self over the last century. This article overviews that research and comes up with a conclusion based on my own thoughts that collective conscious is…

The following offers a historical critique of the emergence of the Self in the West as co-constitutive with the normalization of colonial-capitalist exploitation. Particularly, the focus here is on the psychology and epistemology of foregrounding the Self as the principal marker of identity (as opposed to religious, national, or familial identity). The impact of this transition from Descartes and Locke…