Sophia Holst

Forms of Public Privacy is part of the larger FORMAT 2019 exhibtion ‘Changing Attitudes’ in Z33, Hasselt. As a critique on the current urban trend to overpragram and overdesign Belgium cities, and Western cities in general, a reasearch is done into five cases of abandoned and un-maintained spaces in Brussels. In the exhibition a series of sculptural models show architectural elements of the investigated spaces that provide a certain spatial intimacy and public privacy. These models, together with photographs of Axel de Marteau and a publication, argue for the value of these abandoned and un-programmed spaces within an urban setting. Their informal programs such as hangout spots, living spaces and meetings spaces form a vital part of the social spaces and commons of our cities.

This is the publication to that research.