Space Is Politics. A Manifesto on Architecture
Book Presentation and discussion with author Hans Teerds, Prof. Dr. Anne Eusterschulte, FU Berlin, and Moojin Park, Office ParkScheerbarth
'Space is Politics' explores the inherently political nature of architecture and urban space. Drawings on Hannah Arendt's political theory, I argue that space is a constitutive element of democratic life, not merely its setting. The design of public spaces, such as streets, squares, and parks influences who meets, who participates, and who is excluded. Architecture is never neutral. It marks access, defines boundaries, and shapes the conditions of public life. I urge the necessity to renew our understanding of architecture as a social and political practice that needs to be reclaimed from technocratic and commercial interests and reintroduced into the democratic discourse.
Hans Teerds’ introduction to the book, will be followed by two responses – one from theory and one from practice.
The theoretical reflection is contributed by Anne Eusterschulte, Professor at the Institute of Philosophy at Freie Universität Berlin and co-editor of Hannah Arendt: Kritische Gesamtausgabe. The practical perspective comes from Moojin Park of Office ParkScheerbarth, Berlin, bringing insights from contemporary architectural practice.
