Molotch and Ponzini on BBC – “Thinking Allowed”

On March 13, 2019 Harvey Molotch and Davide Ponzini took part to the BBC live radio show  “Thinking Allowed” that was dedicated to the topic of Spectacular Cities, based on their new book.

From the program’s webpage:

The world’s tallest building is in Dubai and the 2022 World Cup in soccer will be played in fabulous Qatar facilities. But what role do the sensational cities of the Arabian Peninsula play in urban development across the Earth? Laurie Taylor talks to Harvey Molotch, Professor of Sociology at New York University and to Davide Ponzini , Associate Professor of Urban Planning at Politecnico di Milano, Italy. Also, Natalie Koch, Associate Professor of Geography at Syracuse University, asks why autocrats in resource rich nations build spectacular new capital cities.

Podcast available here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00035p8

SEMINAR SERIES “Cultural Mega-events and Urban Heritage: Threats and Opportunities for European Cities”

Place and Dates

Politecnico di Milano, Leanardo Campus in Milan

Wednesdays at 4.30pm from the 20th of March until April 17th 2019

 

In recent years, mega-events have begun to lose their appeal in Western cities and are increasingly encountering resistance. In response, their programming is changing the way they relate to the city, to reduce costs and better facilitate the management of the event’s legacy. This has included re-using existing infrastructures and intervening in historic places rather than creating large platforms on the outskirts. In Europe, this can expose cities and their cultural heritage to new risks, particularly in the most fragile territorial and cultural contexts. At the same time, the presence of major events can also serve as an opportunity for the enhancement of heritage and for the development of the city.

 

The seminar series “Cultural Mega-events and Urban Heritage” invites international experts to explore this controversial topic for the first time through examples of mega-cultural events (such as the European Capital of Culture of Wroclaw 2016, Pafos 2017 and Matera 2019).

20 March 2019, 16:30, room GAMMA

Sampo Ruoppila (University of Turku): “Effects of Turku 2011 European Capital of Culture: a long-term perspective”

 

27 March 2019, 16:30, room S1.4

Enrico Tommarchi (University of Hull): “Mega-events and heritage: learning, legacies and the urban space in the case of Hull UK City of Culture 2017”

 

3 April 2019, 16:30, room GAMMA

Evanthia Dova (Neapolis University Pafos): “Fast Events and Slow Heritage: The case of Pafos 2017 European Capital of Culture”

 

10 April, 16:30, room GAMMA

Mariavaleria Mininni (Università della Basilicata): “Matera-Basilicata 2019: Events, heritage and ongoing analysis of their urban effects”

 

17 April 2019,16:30, room GAMMA

Jacek Purchla (International Cultural Center): “The Politics of Heritage and the Urban Economy of Mega-events: Kraków 2000 and Wroclaw 2016 two Polish European Capitals of Culture contrasted”

 

Full program available here

 

All seminars took place at Politecnico di Milano, Leonardo Campus in Milan and were supported by the DAStU Department, the JPICH HOMEE project, and the Dipartimento di Eccellenza program.

 

Contacts and information:

nicole.detogni@polimi.it  zachary.jones@polimi.it

CONTRADICTIONS IN CONTEMPORARY URBANISATION: CITIES OF THE ARABIAN PENINSULA (LSE)

Place and Date

London School of Economics, Clement House, 6.02, LSE, 99 Aldwych, London

March 11, 2019 – 18:30

 

Speakers
Harvey Molotch (New York University)

Davide Ponzini (Politecnico di Milano)

 

Discussants

Fran Tonkiss (London School of Economics)

 

Chair

Steffen Hertog (London School of Economics)

 

Book launch hosted by LSE Cities and LSE Middle East Centre

 

Podcast available here: https://lsecities.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Contradictions-in-Contemporary-Urbanisation.mp3