Urban visioning: between utopia, heterotopia and urban projects.

Earlier research showed highly diverse perspectives on the relationships between the concept of utopia and Foucault's heterotopia. Based on these findings we first develop a framework to understand the applicability of these conceptual aspects in contemporary urban redevelopment and planning, and more precisely on 'design by research'. Assuming that methods and practices of planning and subject visioning processes have an important impact on the making of cities, we analyze whether design by research and 'city-imaging' can offer a legitimate and high quality alternative. Secondly we connect aspects of utopia and heterotopia with developing visions on urban futures, in the context of large scale urban projects in Brussels. In which way imagination and (social) dreaming impact the development of a vision of an urban future? And in which they enhance a broadly supported and successful urban project. This analytical framework will be tested on several urban projects selected from the recently launched 'International Development Plan for Brussels', by the Brussels Government.

Presentation at the 10th conference Utopian Studies Society, 1-4 July 2009, Porto, Portugal. 'Far other worlds and seas'.