This blog is a highlight of Manuel castell's chapter from the book The Rise of the Network Society. Here I would like to stress upon the social theory and spatial manifestations of spaces of flows and spaces of places in our Indian cities. The book dates back to the 1990s where Manuel Castells argues that the cities will no longer be a nation-state or geographical boundaries with people as a mediator of history and culture, but would emerge as a networked society with newer organizations and institutions having a strategic role in shaping consumption practices and social consciousness.
"The development of electronic communication and information systems allows for an increasing disassociation between spatial proximity and the performance of everyday life's functions: work, shopping, entertainment, healthcare, education, public services, governance, and the like". - Castells
As we all are facing the impacts of the COVID -19 pandemic on our lives, career, and cities, we have moved towards experiencing work from home strategies with no or less interaction with the outside spaces. The mention of work from home dates back to the 19 century by Castells as flexible and worldwide flows of information technology, data, food, fashion, economy, from a single location may it be an office or home. These working flexible spaces have resulted in enterprising hubs with the emergence of a dominant class based on information technology networks polarising to the newer concept of 'Global cities'. The combination of such spatial polarisation and global integration has created a new strategic role for our Indian cities. As in India, the lockdown phase continues to challenge the commute and major infrastructural developments like setting up a worldwide server and data flow, the question arises is our system efficient enough to support the work from home and will it set the trend catching up to developed nations systems of working? Although it is too late for such questions to arise where we have surpassed a year working from home and equipping ourselves to the global working trends. But the concern here is this the future? What happens to our cities with long-lived histories and people which the Castell calls 'locals' as a mediator of place-based cultures and urban identity?
I would make an attempt to address such complex urban flexibilities and organizations superseding the historical specificity of each locale.
Here in this blog, I would like to introduce the terms 'spaces of flows' and 'spaces of places'.
Spaces of flows and spatial configuration: “Space is a material product including people – who engage in historically determined social relationships that provide space with a form, a function, and a social meaning.” (Castells, 1996). Due to the emergence of information technology as a working and lifestyle platform, the 'space of flows' here defines as a placeless exchange of data processing and flow of information, economy and has blurred the meaningful relationship between architecture and society. These spaces of flows emerge into three stages:
1. Flows of information and technology across the globe as seen in our most cities setting up Jio fiber network all over the city that would connect to the rest of the world in a single infrastructural link.
2. Concentration of hubs and formation of organizations like Mindscpace and IT parks.
3. The emergence of a class based on information technology networks as seen in Global city townships, Cybercity. Such Global cities provide the most direct illustration of the placeless spatial orientation of the space of flows in nodes and hubs.
Spaces of place - an urban identity and relevance: A place is a locale whose form, activity, and meaning are self-contained within the physical boundaries. Cultures and lived histories, in a truly plural sense, interact in the space, giving meaning to it, linking up with the "city of collective memory". In today's era, the spatial manifestation of the Spaces of flows takes place around the world, and across cultures, uprooting the experience, history, and place-based culture as leading to the generalization of 'ahistorical', 'acultural' architecture. Architecture escapes from the history and culture of each society and becomes captured into the new imaginary, wonderland world of unlimited possibilities that underlies the logic transmitted by multimedia. Our newly emerging cities are a direct illustration of these places with the dominant class structure and organization.
A Theoretical framework developed by TU Delft Faculty of Architecture under the topic spatial planning urbanism that has integrated Social-Global theories to design for today's concern: Starting with the social theory of Lefebvre in looking at cities with reference to a time-space component of place-making to a timeless conception of place.
Lastly, I would argue that if the space of flows is truly the dominant spatial construct of the network society today, architecture and design are likely to be redefined in their form, function, process, and value in the corning years. How sensitive, inclusive, and lively are they will always remain the question. Do comment for any observations, opinions on the same. The next blog continues to illustrate information technology-driven impacts on public spaces and the changing nature of the public realm that impacts our lives, sociability, and our cities.
Important links for further understanding:
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