Hunch 15 Privacy is about the repercussions of increasing privatization for the design of architectural and urban space. Its authors reflect on the tightening grip of a global and local private sector on urban planning, on the growing social emphasis on ownership and security, as well as on individualism versus collectivism as democratic ideals. At the same time the contributions re-examine the interrelationship of private and public spheres.

Hunch 15 Privacy is about the repercussions of increasing privatization for the design of architectural and urban space. Its authors reflect on the tightening grip of a global and local private sector on urban planning, on the growing social emphasis on ownership and security, as well as on individualism versus collectivism as democratic ideals. At the same time the contributions re-examine the interrelationship of private and public spheres. Topics include the interplay of design and security, public-private partnerships in housing construction, emerging economic power structures and the construction of new cities, individualism in Western culture in relation to non- Western ideas about place and space, the relationship between individual human rights and the collective significance of urban space, the transformation of neglected space by means of individual participation, the discussion about authorship in collective architectural practice, and the private sector’s stance vis-à-vis life in the city.

With contributions by Lucia Allais, Lieven De Cauter, Edward Dimendberg, Kenneth Frampton, Powerhouse Company, raumlaborberlin, Alejandro Zaera-Polo et al.