Figures in the room - Robot City

Abstract

An oppressor-oppressed nature exists between adults and children. Children are not considered as individuals in the planning of cities but are rather treated as universal, homogenous beings. Their rights as competent social actors are confiscated until they are deemed competent according to adult standards. Unable to represent themselves, they are given sterile child spaces by adults, who are too conditioned to be able to appropriately represent them. Paranoia for child safety results in confined, rather than alert and surveyed spaces with carefully treated edges. Current child spaces are made to condition children with the rules that will result in their ability to be adequate and well functioning adults. They are treated as pre-adults, rather than as children - beings already adequate as themselves and not tending towards adequacy. The dissertation will deal with the dissolving of boundaries and control brought on by confined child spaces in the form of an inner-city primary school. The Museum Precinct part of the city presents itself as rich adult-biased and educational environment in which to house children.