Constructing Peace through Public Space: What Publics? Whose Commons?

Cyprus Aesop International Symposium

Constructing Peace through Public Space: What Publics? Whose Commons?

Nicosia, Cyprus May 30 – 31, 2024

Supporters: AESOP, Goethe Institut and the Home for Cooperation

Organizers – Scientific Committee:

Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) – Public Space and Urban Cultures (PSUC):

Socrates Stratis, Sebnem Hoskara, Nadia Charalambous,

Sabine Knierbein, Evangelia Athanassiou (AESOP PSUC members)

The symposium aims to examine the relationships between the publics and peace-building processes in contested cities, with the intention of answering the following questions:

• How do we create spaces for conciliation to transform conflicts constructively?
• How does the active agency of the urban environment support or cancel out conciliation processes?
• Should public space be taken for granted, or should it be part of creating common ground in deeply divided societies?
• What is the role of civil societies and bottom-up initiatives?
• How do commoning practices support the diversity of publics in peacebuilding and related planning processes?
• Can urban challenges of common concern regarding social-ecological transformations (climate and other crises) trigger such commoning practices, and how?

The Cyprus symposium comprises two-day activities that bring together scholars, activists, and spatial practitioners who deal with peacebuilding and conflict transformation in the urban environment. The format of the symposium encourages encounters and discussions among the participants and the audience.

The symposium summons diverse participants who will share their work based on the above-mentioned questions. The questions organize the five roundtables, which aim to foster constructive discussion and exchange among the participants.

Each day starts with a keynote talk and continues with roundtable interventions and discussion. The keynote speakers are Fatina Abreek-Zubiedat, Assistant Professor (Senior Lecturer) at the Azrieli School of Architecture, Tel-Aviv University, and Nufar Avni. Lecturer at the Department of Geography and the Institute of Urban and Regional Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

There is also a walk at the end of the first day, offered by AHDR and Home for Cooperation. It will expose the participants to the Nicosia contested context. (bring your passports and make sure you are eligible to cross the checkpoints)

Critical Urban Play is the contribution of LUCY (Laboratory of Urbanism, University of Cyprus), and AA&U. It comprises of board games that support commoning urban practices in contested spaces. The games are designed by AA&U and students at the Department of Architecture, University of Cyprus. Volunteers will be animating the games during the informal parts of the symposium, at the Home for Cooperation.

The games are part of ‘serious games’ that offer playful ways to address difficult issues as regards ethno-national conflicts. What if is their mobilizing force to give shape to game boards, imaginary environments and rules with the players envisioning the Commons, the common values to share and to support in spaces of conflict. The Critical Urban Games refer to Cyprus and Palestine searching for new alliances and modes of dissensus. Yet, they could refer to any contested space.

The symposium is open to the public, free of charge.

Anybody, older than 12 years old can play the games.

For participation in the Critical Urban Play, you can send an email to lucy@ucy.ac.cy until May 20. First come first served. The participants should write their name and the time slot they are interested in.

Thursday, May 30, 15:30-18:00

Friday,     May 31, 15:00-18:00