Exhibition “Imagining Public Space with/for Her”

Presented within the framework of international initiatives developed by City Space Architecture, the exhibition aimed to trigger a crucial debate about public space analysed from a gender perspective. It provided both ideal and physical space to world-wide projects that emphasize the urgency of re-thinking the city and its public spaces with and for women. The intention was to open a specific discussion deeply intertwined with the broader and widely debated challenge of accessibility and inclusiveness of public spaces.

The exhibition unfolded across two distinct venues: the indoor space of City Space Architecture headquarters and in the outdoor space of the biodiversity public garden. The indoor exhibition, presented in the form of explanatory panels, featured nine key projects developed by women focusing on gender perspectives in public space. These projects hailed from Italy, Egypt, United Kingdom, Cyprus, Belgium, Kenya, Argentina, and Spain. Encompassing research projects, case studies on cities, exhibitions, reports, and educational activities, the showcase underscored how ensuring the equal participation of women in the design and utilization of public spaces is indispensable for constructing more accessible and inclusive cities for all.

The exhibition in the outdoor space of the biodiversity public garden was brought to life through a series of posters formatted as definitions and quotations, presented as powerful statements (in Italian) to local residents and users. This way, passers-by were invited to be curious and reflect on those statements as they entered and “inhabited” the garden.

In May 2023, the city of Bologna invited City Space Architecture to showcase the exhibition “Imagining Public Space with/for Her” at an international conference aimed at discussing the outcomes of the first year of the implementation of the Gender Equality Plan, to take place on 11-13 July in Bologna.

The exhibition was held at Palazzo Malvezzi, a Renaissance-style palace located along Via Zamboni in the historic centre, serving as one of the headquarters of the city of Bologna. The event occurred from 7-13 July 2023. The posters, formerly exhibited at the biodiversity public garden, were assembled into an installation designed to serve as a collection of thoughts and ideas on the redefinition of a gender perspective for public space. Subsequently, the installation was relocated to the biodiversity public garden, where it is currently on display.