Human-made space, sustainability and cultural aspects

Course coordinator: Dr. Georgiadou Zoi

Abstract

Cultural diversity is a dominant feature in postmodern societies, reinforced by the use of digital technologies and based on compulsory or voluntary movement of large groups of people. Though worldwide there is rapid development, as far as technology is concerned, many countries are obliged to address situations that belong to history. This process entails many challenges and creates new conditions of rapid growth of multicultural societies establishing circumstances of co-habitation with collective or ephemeral characteristics. This intercultural interaction and the relationships between different groups of people give new meanings to spaces, introducing new interpretations, redefining their forms or imposing places that may exclude large groups of people.

Following the statement that design is a complex, multifarious, interdisciplinary and holistic research field, this class is focused on sociological approaches connected to the “Human Centered Design” ideas.

So, we refer to the aspects concerning design research and procedures, such as gender. Social and local identity, biological and cultural characteristics, interaction between nature people, and local civilization, within globalization. Even more we discuss about social institutions, such as family and work- environment with references about multiculturalism and interculturalism, their reflection in space, the relations between urban and natural environment, the construction of identity, life -style, surveillance and space control, nomadic groups, familiarity and territoriality.