Page_C1E1 – URBINARY

CYCLE 1 / EPISODE 1

Finding our place: rethinking observation in urban studies

Written by Dafni Riga and Giulia Oldani

This episode delves into the multifaceted practice of observing urban spaces, challenging traditional approaches that rely solely on quantitative data. It emphasizes the need to integrate intangible elements—such as emotions, sensory experiences, and human interactions—into urban and spatial analysis to fully understand the dynamics of places.
Drawing on insights from scholars like Gloria Calderone, Barbara Piga, and Lizzy Privitera, the episode explores innovative observation methods, including community-led walks, psychogeography, and bodygraphy, which highlight the importance of embodied experiences and interdisciplinary collaboration. By reflecting on the role of scholars as active participants in the observation process, the episode calls for a more inclusive and dynamic understanding of urban environments, one that recognizes the evolving and subjective nature of these spaces. This perspective fosters a richer, more democratic approach to urban studies, planning, and design.

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Guests

Gabriele Pasqui

Gabriele Pasqui is a full Professor of Urban Policies and Planning at Politecnico di Milano. With degrees in socio-economic disciplines and theoretical philosophy, as well as a PhD in Urban Policies from IUAV University of Venice, Gabriele brings a multidisciplinary perspective to understanding urban environments. His key research interests include interpreting the dynamics of contemporary cities, exploring urban policies, and examining urban governance and strategic planning. Thanks to his diverse academic background, Gabriele is able to observe urban spaces through less conventional and more flexible tools, drawing from his background in philosophy. This perspective challenges the more tangible methods often favoured by planners and urban scholars.
In this episode, Gabriele’s insights provide a rich backdrop for understanding where the field of urban studies stands today and, by extension, where we, as urban scholars, should position ourselves. His contributions set the stage for the discussion between Dafni and Giulia, serving as both context and inspiration.

Barbara Piga

Barbara Piga is an Associate Professor at Politecnico di Milano and the Coordinator of the Laboratorio di Simulazione Urbana Fausto Curti – Labsmiurb since its foundation in 2007. At labsimurb she coordinates and leads research projects related to experiential simulation and sensory urban design. She is founding partner of the REAACH – Representation Advances and Challenges Association since its foundation in 2022. She is also member of the Board of the interdepartmental research laboratory i.Drive – Interaction Between Driver, Road Infrastructure, Vehicle, And Environment since 2019, where she is responsible for mobility experiential simulation and the urban/landscape environment guidelines (assessment and design perspective). She is member of the Scientific Committee of the POLIMI laborA laboratory (since 2022), which develops simulations in both Virtual Reality, physical, and holographic modeling.

Gloria Calderone

Gloria Calderone is an architect by training with a PhD from the University of Florence. Gloria’s research delves into the fascinating intersection of performing arts, public spaces, and urban life, exploring how bodily experiences influence people’s perceptions of public spaces—the meanings and values they attribute to them. Her research employs qualitative methods and participant observation, providing deep insights into these dynamics. Currently, Gloria is a research fellow at the University of Palermo, where she is conducting studies on inner areas and their unique challenges. We first met Gloria at the AESOP Young Academics Conference 2024, where she presented her work on bodily and synaesthetic experiences in urban spaces. Her presentation struck us as highly relevant, and we invited her to join this episode because of her expertise and sensitivity to the role of the body offer a critical perspective for understanding our positionality as observers of urban spaces.

Lizzy Privitera

Elisa (Lizzy) Privitera is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto. Lizzy holds a degree in architecture from the University of Catania, where she also earned her PhD in Community Environmental Planning. Lizzy is actively involved in the Listening Project—a community-based initiative that collaborates with local partners to envision and work toward equitable transitions. Her research focuses on how the co-production of knowledge can drive environmental and social urban justice. This project serves as the centrepiece of today’s interview. In other interview, we touched on topics like emotions, bodily experiences, and subjective observations of space, but we didn’t dive into practical methods. With Lizzy, we aim to explore how these approaches can be applied in practice, using her experience in the Listening Project as a guide. Specifically, we’ll focus on one of the project’s core tools: walking methods, and how they enable deeper engagement with urban spaces.

CYCLE 1 / EPISODE 1

Finding our place: rethinking observation in urban studies

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