01C Writing
- Describe the general theoretical framework evolved from Salvador Rueda about Social Interaction and Cohesion (use, infrastructure, demographics). Consider going to the website BCNecologia but only for background – you will not find specific information to this there.
Rueda’s understanding and subsequent development of a social interaction framework evolved out of the ideas that many factors such as urban complexity or metabolism all contribute and relate to each other in the context of the city. Within these processes, Rueda identified social interaction and cohesion as a measuring tool and utilized geospatial analytic tools to measure several urbanistic qualities. Three primary categories were measured, being social space, housing, and services along with jobs as the primary category as well as demographics and infrastructure each respectively.
- Describe two to three urban qualitieswithin the primary social interaction categories and find how they are measured in the circle diagrams. Identify an associated ecological phenomena such as air, water and heat/light.
Within Rueda’s definition of cities and social cohesion understanding, several subcategories emerged as ways to measure and server as indicators for social interaction. For example, within the category of public space, public and private are divided and listed as individual indicators. In terms of public subcategories, they included variables such as tree species and height as well as seating availability and kid friendliness. These subcategories provide a valuable connection between urbanistic qualities and planning methods and ecological thought. In the example of public space, the inferred benefit of trees and other plants can be assumed as they relate directly towards tangible implications such as being carbon sinks or increasing shade in otherwise hot areas of the city.
- Describe one example of a pattern that emerged in Barcelona relating a comparison between a Superilla and a comparative space such as Gracia or Enric de Granados.
Both Superilles and Enric de Granados serve as supports of social interaction, but also mobility and connection as it relates to the larger city. Both can be viewed as human centric developments that focus on the walkability and use by pedestrians. Both serve as refuges from the classical street section and provide other amenities. Another comparison relating street buffers and bike lanes to multiple transportation uses and ease of access directly tie back into social interaction.