Η γεωγραφία των κοινωνικών δικτύων ως μέθοδος αστικού σχεδιασμού στην Αθήνα της κρίσης

Περίληψη

The detection of the current crisis in the urban space of Athens reveals the correlation of the spatial with the social reality. This paper presents an innovative methodology for the planning of urban space that is based on the mapping and reinforcing of social networks which are seen as an instrument for the restructuring of the urban tissue. This methodology was developed in the frame of the undergraduate course Planning of Urban Space of the School of Architecture of NTUA, whose objective is the investigation of interconnections between urban space and society through the systematic study of the urban tissue. The analytical work was based on interviews and field work that was carried out in the period 2013-2014 in the area of Fokionos Negri-Plateia Amerikis in central Athens. The starting point for this methodology has been the recognition of the importance of the invisible social processes in the structuring of the spatial reality as a result of the ways through which the different social groups infuse meaning to space, claim it and leave their imprint on it. Embarking upon this principle we attempted the mapping of the network of social relations and the investigation of its spatial imprint. For this purpose a system of four variables has been adopted (social group, need, action, space) with the following working hypothesis: social groups have needs which they address through actions that leave material imprints on urban space. The structure of the network affects in a formative way the spatial reality and determines the potential of its restructuring based on the existing dynamic by means of activating its hidden capacities. Considering that the study area is characterized by a high degree of social exclusion, it was deemed necessary to develop a network with the aim to improve social cohesion and symbiosis of the involved social groups. This method eventually enables an in depth view on the problematic of the restructuring of the urban tissue since it is taking into consideration the factors and the processes of production and arrangement of space. We believe that it contributes to the ongoing discussion regarding appropriate urban intervention approaches for dealing with the complex problems of the crisis and its multifaceted impacts on the urban space of Athens.