A new perspective on urban analysis drawn through a re-reading of Collage City by Colin Rowe and Fred Koetter

Abstract

While there are many established approaches that look at the city through qualitative methods, there is a need for a multi-level approach that acknowledges the pluralistic and complex nature of the urban environment. The Collage City theory of Colin Rowe and Fred Koetter offers an understanding that is based in collage, and as a result, does not only emphasise an objective reality but also includes subjectivity in the investigation of the urban. Importantly, this is a subjectivity that is based in a creative technique rather than an exploration of meaning or subjective experience. The aim of the thesis is to test collage as a complementary method to the objective, to generate an additional approach to current theories and methodologies. An object-oriented ontology is applied through its theories on objects, art, and metaphor, as a way to ground Collage City theory. This research develops four elements of Collage City theory: (I) the bricoleur and (II) the objets trouvés, (III) the vest pocket fragment, and (IV) the notion of historical precedent through the City as Museum metaphor. The city of Canberra is used as a case study for the project, forming the testing ground for the Collage City Analysis framework.

Date of Award	2023
Original language	English
Supervisor	Milica MUMINOVIC (Supervisor) & Ann CLEARY (Supervisor)