Insurgent Public Space: Guerilla Urbanism and the Remaking of Contemporary Cities

摘要

As the title of this book suggests this work is about the claiming and transformation of urban space by those who are often marginalized or excluded within cities. The book groups a series of chapters that provide different narratives on the remaking of cityscapes within the broader themes of appropriating, reclaiming, pluralizing, transgressing, uncovering and contesting. To a certain extent, the sectioning of the collection in this manner seems slightly artificial as each chapter speaks to most of these themes. For example, James Rojas' chapter on Latino urbanism in Los Angeles under the theme of appropriating notes: Waist-high fences are ubiquitous throughout the residential landscape of Latino neighborhoods. The fences function as a place to keep things out or in, hang wet laundry, sell items, or just chat with a neighbour. Fences are a useful threshold between the household and the public domain. Boundaries bring people together and the fences in Latino neighborhoods redefine boundaries between public and private space. Here the fences break down social and physical barriers by creating a place where people can congregate.