Ultural Context 02 Public Works, PublicSpace Project : Instant City

You will be assigned a specific project, urban space or urban thesis to investigate over
the course of the semester (see list below). Each relates to one of the thematic lectures
that will be delivered, providing you with a starting point for your interpretation and
analysis. Your task is to carry out extensive research around this project or place and
document your research systematically in a research paper or journal. You should
interrogate the allocated project carefully considering the following:
a? What makes your project significant?
a? What are the important physical and programmatic features?
a? In what ways can it be understood to relate to paradigms of public space, and
public life?
a? In what ways can it be understood as being similar to other projects or places, both
historically and contemporaneously?
a? How has the project/place been used, interpreted and mediated?
a? What effect has the project/place had on subsequent developments in public
space? Do we think differently about it today?
You are encouraged to be innovative and creative in your research, but should consider
the following material essential:
a? Drawings of the original proposal. If commissioned via a competition were there
different iterations? Were there other significant entries?
a? Drawings of subsequent modifications or transformations.
a? Visual evidence of similar projects a typological, formal, stylistic, programmatic, etc.
a? Interpretive drawings focusing upon the relevant characteristics a circulation,
structure, spatial arrangements, programme, etc.
a? Photographic studies
a? Information about possible networks that the project connects to. For example
systems of world trade; networks of production, consumption or exchange; sites of
collective memory; etc.
a? Information about the social context a who is it for? who is it by? Who might it not
be for?
All of the projects will present you with certain difficulties. Some will be extensively
published and discussed and others less so. You will need to demonstrate a level of
initiative and perseverance to find suitable material. In some cases you will need to
emphasise the contextual material about the time, place and relevant themes.
Perseverance will be rewarded.
Visual quality and clarity will be rewarded.

o The research paper should be 2000 words [excluding References & Bibliography];
o The paper must include a bibliography listing all books, articles, websites and films
consulted in your research; the sources of any quotations and illustrations must be
credited. Refer to the library website for details on constructing a bibliography.
o You should ensure that you have attended a Library Induction and that you are
familiar with the Harvard System of referencing (see
community.ucreative.ac.uk/index.cfm?articleid27187) and the Universities Policies
on Academic Misconduct, in particular in relation to Plagiarism. (see Student
Regulations Handbook 201011)
o Your paper should be word-processed with text no smaller than 11 point and 1.5 line
spacing.
o It must be extensively illustrated. Illustrations should be of print quality; either scanned
at a minimum of 250dpi from a print source or if sourced from the internet large
enough to be resized at 250dpi and reproduced in a legible manner. All illustrations
should be referenced.
o Analysis and Interpretation of your allocated Public Space should be argued
persuasively and reasons should be given for what you have to say.
Your paper must not be primarily descriptive. Instead it should focus on providing a
range of interpretations, contextualisations and analysis.
o The cover or inside cover should identify your name as well as Unit code number and
the date of submission.
o A PDF VERSION OF YOUR ESSAY ON A MAC FORMATTED DISC SHOULD
ALSO BE SUPPLIED WITH THE PRINTED TEXT.