DIALOGUES 44. The Return To Public Space
“Public dialogue is public space… the privileged material space of the public sphere, and that is where democracy lives,” said Ares Kalandides, Professor of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University, during the 44th SNF DIALOGUES, held on Wednesday, June 30 at the Antonis Tritsis Metropolitan Park Open Theater. After more than a year of discussions held exclusively online, and at a time when being able to coexist in outdoor spaces is more crucial than ever, the SNF DIALOGUES gathered with an in person audience, and addressed the issue of coexistence within public space - in essence, an issue of democracy. The discussion also featured Ersi Filippopoulou, NTUA Architect & Jurist, and Kimon Hadjibiros, Emeritus Professor of Ecology and Environmental Management, NTUA.
“Public space demonstrates the collective consciousness of the people,” commented Ersi Filippopoulou, adding, “The quality of a space does not only relate to its materials or design, but also to how much we respect it and consider it an extension of our own private space. There is a contradiction in this, which is probably explained by the way we perceive our public selves.”
Commenting on citizens’ responsibilities and the relationship between public space and the environment, Kimon Hadjibiros stated, “Everything we do impacts the planet, therefore the adaptation of individual behavior, that is how we will behave as citizens, must take into account not only those around us in the park, the neighborhood, or the city, but in the entire planet.” Referring to the pandemic, he stressed, “It is an excellent example of how we are ultimately destroying public space. Public space became the space where the disease was transmitted.”
“No one ever bothered to ask the users of public space what they need. No dialogue was ever started. Citizens don’t have to decide, but they do need to enter into a process of dialogue,” said Ares Kalandides. In discussing the management of public spaces, he noted, “How this management functions and who undertakes it is of great importance. We have seen that the more diversified the management body is, the more successful it tends to be, because it becomes more inclusive.”
The DIALOGUES are curated and moderated by Anna-Kynthia Bousdoukou.
*The opinions expressed by DIALOGUES participants, whether representing officially institutions and organizations or themselves, are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) or iMEdD. Speakers’ remarks are made freely, without prior guidance or intervention from the team.
