On approaches

Radical Spatial Futures seeks to understand the convocation, importance, and relevance of radical imagination within the ‘sub-field’ of critical spatial practice, specifically acting in contexts of contemporary urban conflict in both the global North and South. By examining the motivations, processes, methodologies, and outcomes of fabulating common imaginaries through spatial production, the study seeks to understand the intersection of CSP and radical imagination in creating 'common imaginary landscapes' and fostering alternative perceptions of being together in deeply divided contexts. 

On urban conflict

This study places the deeply entrenched divided imaginaries of citizens in the epicentre of understanding urban conflict. This does not necessarily only include distinctly ‘divided’ cities, like in the case of Cyprus, but urban contexts where divisions might be manifested in specific areas, or in materialities and conditions which generate conflict. Contested contexts, therefore, might include cases where conflict is related to the refusal of sovereignty focusing on ethnonational issues, where conflict is primarily due to the refusal of pluralism, and where conflict is directly related to specific conditions or materialities, for example the access to water, housing, and public space. All these contestations create wicked problems with spatial manifestations and no simple solutions. They are also manifested in the social and spatial imaginaries of citizens, creating deeply entrenched divided imaginaries. These, not only divide ‘ones’ from ‘the others’ physically, but also perpetuate divisive narratives of ‘otherness’, halting any perceptions that alternatives of being together, or otherwise are even possible. In such urban contexts, instances of radical and common imagination with those who are considered ‘the others’ become inherently paramount.

On critical spatial practice 

Critical spatial practices (CPSs), in this project, are recognised as instances where such alternative emergence occurs. Located on the edges of the architectural discipline and ranging anywhere between architectural, artistic, urban, pedagogical, and researched-based approaches to the production of space, CSPs are firstly and foremostly concerned with spatial production. They inherently act with and through space. Their approaches and outputs can be varied, including from buildings, maps, research, workshops, exhibitions, protests, gatherings, community plans, to participatory budgets. Most importantly, their approaches of acting are also inherently critical. Their practice is defined by a sense of urgency towards a wicked problem but, at the same time, is critical towards current systems, ways of operation, divisions, and other manifestations of oppression.

In essence, CSP is fundamentally political, focusing on problematising and visibilising matters, on diverting and transforming them, and on supporting their transformation and change. This ‘critical’ milieu of ‘spatial’ practice, is hence, recognised as having the capacity to problematize and transform the entrenched spatial manifestations of conflict and their associated divided imaginaries. 

On radical imagination

When exploring contexts of urban conflict and contestation in relation to the emergence of alternative imaginaries, in this case through the work of CSPs, radical imagination becomes an imperative part of the discussion. Radical imagination is understood as the ability to re-imagine “the world, life, and social institutions not as they are but as they might otherwise be” (Haiven and Khasnabish, 2014, p. 9) whilst acting prefiguratively within present structures. Without radical imagination, it is impossible to move forward and for any meaningful and bottom-up change to occur; as without it “we are left only with the residual dreams of the powerful” (Haiven and Khasnabish, 2014, p. 10). Radical imagination is what, through a dynamic of continuous conflict and dialogic discourse, fosters the creation of ‘common imaginary landscapes’ which are nevertheless, not identical for all involved. 

On methodological approaches

The study proposes a co-productive case study analysis of (and with) spatial practices that are recognised as agents of radical imagination and act in contested contexts around the globe, using a critical, feminist, and qualitative approach. This methodological approach is formed around a strategy of convoking radical imagination by facilitating a series of spaces of encounter between different actors. Ultimately, the study aims to develop a new vocabulary to support the emergence of new ways of acting spatially and in common, and most importantly, transforming divisive narratives in contested urban contexts.