Category Archives for Articles
Health and Discipline
by Alan Mee As the term ‘Geography’ becomes more and more like a thin cover for a treasure trove of disciplinary specialities (medical geography, political geography, social geography, population geography, historical, urban, cultural, etc), the idea that ‘spatialising’ information can … Continue reading
Obduracy, Openness and Change
by Alan Mee The ‘hardening’ of the city fabric, described by Hommels (2005) as obduracy [1], is the subject of increasing research in urban studies and technology studies internationally. It is argued that capitalist expansion can be hampered by the … Continue reading
The Ethics of Aesthetics
by Alan Mee “It is my job to create universes…I have a secret love of chaos. There should be more of it. Do not believe -and I am dead serious when I say this – do not assume that order … Continue reading
Urban Neglect
by Alan Mee While it could be said that in Ireland, neglect in the countryside has been forever with us, and the isolated ruin has an almost romantic appeal[i], urban neglect seems to be more recent, and at this point, … Continue reading
Uirbeacha Láithreach (Instant Urban)
by Alan Mee When travelling the Irish countryside, it is not unusual nowadays to come upon a car showroom in a pastoral setting, apartments in fields on country roads, and other arguably instant indicators of the Irish urban condition. It … Continue reading
Lead Urban Designer
by Alan Mee The consolidation of the Urban Forum in Ireland reflects the basic need for multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approaches to management and change in the designed environment here, and joinedup thinking in policy and vision. Initiated by the RIAI, … Continue reading
Unbuilding Theory
by Alan Mee The relevance of theory to the current state of the designed environment in Ireland has not had much debate here, as people maybe feel that speculation or contemplation is a luxury, given the shocking future we are … Continue reading
Design and Irish Streets
by Alan Mee According to the UK’s Manual for Streets (2010), streets and roads make up around three-quarters of all public space in the UK. While there is no equivalent figure available for Ireland, it is quite likely, given the … Continue reading