Urban Commons Lab

In an article in The Straits Times, Prof. Emeritus Jeff Hou commented on the forthcoming closure of the Edible Garden City farm in Queenstown and the need to view community farms as more than just sites of food production.

Community farm Edible Garden City to leave Queenstown in June, pondering next steps Edible Garden City, a community farm in Queenstown, Singapore, will close in June due to land repurposing. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

“It’s an interesting reversal of how urban spaces typically are appropriated.” Quoted in this New York Times article, Professor Emeritus Jeff Hou commented on the ongoing guerrilla battle over padlocks and tourist trash on the Brooklyn Bridge.

"Traditionally, guerrilla urbanists are deconstructionists of a sort, attacking public infrastructure with skateboards, spray-paint or even pop-up playgrounds to make spaces more complex and messy, said Jeff Hou."

Guerrilla Battle Over Padlocks and Tourist Trash on the Brooklyn Bridge (Gift Article) Love Locks left behind were one thing. But when actual garbage (like tampons and condoms) started appearing, a righteous quest to remove it was born.

"[Community engagement] is not just about collecting relevant information and data about the public space; space activation efforts should ideally serve as opportunities for capacity building for those who participate in the process." Interview with Jeff Hou published on URA's website. https://www.ura.gov.sg/Corporate/Resources/Ideas-and-Trends/Tapping-on-communities-to-create-better-public-spaces

Perforating the City is a new initiative to examine three specific types of spatial/social practices in terms of their capacity for facilitating relationships and understanding as well as the distinct challenges they face. The practices include engaging, commoning, and gardening. Stay tuned for outcomes from the workshops.

Perforating the City? | My Site 1 With growing polarization and stratification in society, how can specific forms of spatial and social practices create opportunities for interactions and understanding between individuals and communities in disparate corners of the city? How do these practices overcome differences and prejudice and....