Henrietta Palmer Livres

Languages are constantly transforming as humans interact, change habits and ways of doing things. This is not a radical observation. More intriguing to ponder is whether languages also transform us and the world in which we exist. Does it matter what words we use about the world? Could we, by shaping a language, also shape the world? Would the world look different if other words had been used?This work is about the urban environment, and how it is transformed by people interacting with the world that surrounds them by evoking more just living conditions. It is also an effort to demonstrate how the urban environment could be imagined in ways that differ from the neoliberalist view. Other imaginations, arising from different perspectives on and incentives for development, such as equity and inclusiveness, might produce another city entirely. From urban practices in four different contexts in Sweden, South Africa, India and Brazil, this book investigates four dynamics of change: conflicts, commons, networks and hybridity. From this framing, new concepts and radical imaginaries emerge, presented here as a Language of the Becoming City

The urban environment is perpetually evolving, shaped by historical forces and solutions tailored to the aspirations of each era. Today, however, we confront unprecedented challenges such as fossil fuel depletion and climate change, significantly impacting urban landscapes. This book explores contemporary urban transformations in Shanghai, Los Angeles, and Pune, representing major global economies and diverse urban contexts. It integrates insights from a multidisciplinary group of thinkers and practitioners alongside participants from the Resources programme at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm. The work presents scenarios and visions for a hopeful urban future, emphasizing resource efficiency and improved urban living. Henrietta Palmer, the editor and Professor of Architecture, has led the Resources programme since 2005, focusing on cities in the global south. The book synthesizes three years of research, offering innovative strategies for addressing global challenges like resource depletion and rapid urbanization. Its core thesis posits that change and uncertainty are essential for sustainable urban development. By advocating for progressive transformations over complete redevelopment, the authors redefine development, critiquing its appropriation by markets and elites. The text is radical yet optimistic, grounded in practical experience and the resilience of informal practices, making it both scholarly and applicable.