Urban Space: REFLECTION

REFLECTION

Urban spaces essentially focus on cities and the complex patterns of movement, flows and linkages that bind them in space. It also seeks to recognize the patterns of distribution and interaction with cities. My aim was to focus on the use of space in the urban area in Trinidad. Gohen (1998) in his article progress to geography speaks on public space in cities. He states that public space is charged with both meaning and controversy. In addition space is what many people value, space to which it attributes symbolic significance and asserts  claims. He also highlighted that Citizens create meaningful public space by expressing their attitudes, asserting their claims and using it for their own purpose. This process is dynamic for meanings and uses are always changing. All my blog entries focused on the use of space in various form through economic , political, cultural and social activity.  

Jacobs approached cities as living beings and ecosystems. She suggested that over time, buildings, streets and neighborhoods function as dynamic organisms, changing in response to how people interact with them. She explained how each element of a city – sidewalks, parks, neighborhoods, government, and economy – functions together synergistically, in the same manner as the natural ecosystem. This helps us  discern how cities work and how they break down. This was evident in the blogs posted in terms of how various groups used space for instance the religious group on the Brian Lara promenade. Similar ideas were present in http://anurbanexploration.blogspot.com/ ,  as she highlighted how creative meaning was given to public space as individuals expressed themselves in various forms und used the space provided in various ways.

The question of housing was a key issue examining human rights. This led me to the concept of homelessness in cities.  I chose to highlight this aspect of public space since the presence of homeless people on the streets was very visible.  I addressed the issue on http://francis03arzu.blogspot.com/ since the same issues arose.   The final argument was that the problem of homelessness and homeless people need to be viewed from the eyes of the homeless, otherwise there is a concern that strategies put in place will fail to meet the needs of homeless groups.

Another use of space highlighted was mobility, which was seen as an important process in shaping cities. I liked how http://dairyoftheurban.blogspot.com/  suggested ways in which one could avoid relying completely on transport. My take on transport on mobility was the varying impacts it had on the environment which was also mentioned in her post.

Over the past weeks it was a pleasure capturing the activities and uses of public space in Trinidad; which brings me to the point, that as geographers we have a particular interest in learning from the way urban society views, manages and contest this collective resource, this shared symbolic space.

 

Goheen, G. Peter. Progress in Human Geography." Public Space and Geography of the Modern City" 22,4 (1998): 47