Future(s) Perfect: uchronian mapping as a research and visualisation tool in the fringes of the Olympic Park

Ferreri, Mara; Firth, Rhiannon; Lang, Andreas

Abstract

This article explores and discusses the development of a mapping tool inspired by Charles Renouvier’s philosophical novel Uchronie (l’utopie dans l’histoire) (1876). The article explains the research and design process of creating a uchronian map of a formerly empty site in Fish Island in East London and describes a participatory workshop titled ‘Hackney Wick and Fish Island: Future Perfect(s)’ (25 April 2015) that used uchronian mapping to explore past and future development imaginaries of two sites in the neighbourhood. Given a uchronian mapping template, a protocol and a dossier of planning and other documents, participants were encouraged to develop their own uchronian map of each site, and in doing so test and question the process of visualizing ‘what was supposed to happen’, ‘what actually happened’ and ‘what could have happened’. The article concludes with a reflection on uchronian mapping as a tool for researching, analysing and making visible urban alternatives.

Citation

Ferreri, M., Firth, R., & Lang, A. (2016). Future(s) Perfect: uchronian mapping as a research and visualisation tool in the fringes of the Olympic Park. Livingmaps review,

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 5, 2016
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Deposit Date: Feb 5, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: May 8, 2017
• Journal: Livingmaps review.
• Publisher: Livingmaps Review
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Issue: 1
• Publisher URL: http://livingmaps.review/journal/index.php/LMR/article/view/21