Between Utopian Image and Heterotopic Reality. Thinking/Imagining Participatory Planning (and also Hospitality) Starting from Reality

Abstract

Utopia is a place that does not exist; utopia is a non-existent model society in a non-existent model space. Utopia is an image. According to the definition given by Michel Foucault, hétéropies, unlike utopias, are places that actually exist. Heterotopies are at the same time non-physical and real and physical spaces. In the modern Western world, characterised by multiculturalism and by an increasing number of coerced migrations, is it possible to create tangible utopias (that is heterotopies) places where the foreigner can be welcomed thanks to the reclamation of abandoned areas? One tool for facilitating such a process could be participatory planning based with a visual/image basis.

Keywords

• utopia
• heterotopia
• participatory planning
• images
• immigration