The Politics of Public Space: Volume Five

31 January 2024

By OCULUS

A photo of a black book cover with white text reading "The Politics of Public Space 1 2 3 4 5: A publication of transcripts that speak directly to the city and how we read it."

The Politics of Public Space: Volume Five is the fifth publication from Melbourne-based not-for-profit design firm OFFICE. The book is a publication of transcripts that speak directly to the city and how we read it.

The publication features new conversations with built environment practitioners on ideas that shape cities, alongside re-printed interviews from sold-out Volumes 1–4, including a contribution by OCULUS Associate Director Claire Martin.

The book is a record of interviews conducted by OFFICE over the past five years that attempt to identify the true complexities of our city and the many parties involved. It asks: how may we better engage with and understand our own city, particularly its public spaces? As a catalogue it helps reveal the true complexities of our cities, engaging with issues at stake in its form and occupation. And more significantly, to get students, practitioners, and the general public to question their understanding of the city.

The Politics of Public Space: Volume Five is available to purchase online, and will be launched at OFFICE in Melbourne on Friday 2nd February – free tickets available here.

A photo of an open book, the page layout is mostly white space with four small images near three corners of the spread.

Contributors: Mark Jacques, Libby Porter, Tania Davidge, Tom Andrews, Peter Chambers, Claire Martin, Myria Georgiou, Saskia Sassen, Jack Self, Brooke Holmes, Ian Strange, Alfredo Billembourg, Tony Birch, Brighid Sammon, Nicole Kalms, Andy Fergus, Kate Shaw, Philip Brophy, Sarah Lynn Rees, Kim Dovey, Nigel Bertram, Lynda Roberts, Crystal Legacy, Marcus Westbury, Elizabeth Taylor, Simona Castricum, Jock Gilbert, Sophia Pearce, Uncle Dave Wandin, Gary Foley, Alison Young, Polly Stanton, Kelsie Nabben, Wendy Steele, Lily Parsons, Olivia Daw, Genevieve Quinn, Lewis Orgar, Carroll Go-Sam.