Postmodern Urbanism

Defining postmodern
the contemporary movement of thought which rejects totalities,
universal values, grand historical narratives, solid foundations to
human existence and the possibility of objective knowledge.
Postmodernism is sceptical of truth, unity and progress, opposes
what it sees as elitism in culture, tends towards cultural relativism,
and celebrates pluralism, discontinuity and heterogeneity
(Eagleton, 2003: 13, note1)

Rapid technological change shifting political concerns, the rise of

social movements especially with a gender, green, ethnic, racial
focus But the question is even bigger: is modernity itself
disintegrating, including the whole grand edifice of Enlightenment
world-views? Is a new type of society appearing, perhaps structured
around consumers and consumption rather than workers and
production? (Lyon, 1999: ix)
 What is it then?
A new way of looking at urban space with
postmodern ideals

Gentrification
Historic Preservation
Postmodern architecture
Mixed Use Development
Exurban development suburbia in cities
 In attempt to enhance cities as places of
consumption, cities support development
of festival marketplaces and other tourist
attractions.
Suburban areas no longer primarily
residential and, in fact, are creating new
densities with functions competitive with
central business district.
 Edge Cities

Has more leasable retail space than

liveable
Has more jobs than bedrooms
Is perceived by the population as one
place
Was nothing like city as recently as thirty
years ago
 Master Planned Communities

Features: a definable boundary; a

consistent but not necessarily uniform
character; overall control during the
development process by a single
development entity; private ownership of
recreational amenities; and, enforcement
of convenants & restrictions by a master
community associations.
 Responses to postmodern
urbanism
Community Neo-traditionalism; local
references, increased interaction

Environmental Critique Pedestrian &

transit orientation; Anti-sprawl w/higher
densities

Market Niche expensive master planned

communities; gentrification
Birmingham as Postmodern City
Bham previously
though of as non
place, defined by
motorways and post-
war modernist
architecture
 Regeneration came about not so much as
planning and building but attempt to use
culture to drive symbolic economy
Use of arts, flagship architectural projects
and shopping precincts
City centre rebuilt in quarters favouring
pedestrianisation as effort to undo
motorway city image
Connection now to consumption
 Brindley place
Mailbox
Custard factory
Fort Dunlop
Selfridges
 Regeneration is signifier of new and
promotable image for city
Peoples image of city changes to that of
community space
Questions arise about whos image is
being portrayed? Urban regeneration is
important but what about access, true
representation of all classes, citizenship
and belonging. Whos Bham is it?
Are the various images of it authentic?
 Sample Exam Question

It has been argued that places and spaces

speak to us in ways which reinforce our
cultural identity. Drawing on contrasting
examples, critically evaluate this view of
places and spaces