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Defining: Bourgeoıse, Flaneur and Walter Benjamin's "Passages" project, Camillo Sitte and Otto Wagner

BOURGEOISIE,
FLANEUR AND WALTER BENJAMIN'S ''PASSAGES'' PROJECT,
CAMILLO SITTE AND OTTO WAGNER

1- BOURGEOISIE

The bourgeoisie, or middle class, includes business owners, merchants, and wealthy individuals who emerged during the Late Middle Ages. Initially positioned between peasantry and aristocracy, they are distinguished from the proletariat by their wealth, political influence, education, and control over cultural, social, and financial capital. (Wikipedia contributors, 2024)

La sortie du bourgeois, painted by Jean Béraud (1889)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourgeoisie

The bourgeoisie, which represents the middle class in modern capitalist economies, rose to prominence during the Industrial Revolution by controlling capital and production. Their influence was critical in determining urban development, resulting in initiatives such as wide boulevards, luxury residential areas, department stores, and public parks. These advances modernized urban life but also deepening social differences, frequently relocating the working class to the city fringes. While these developments improved city life, opponents such as Karl Marx claimed that the bourgeoisie reproduced inequities through economic and geographical systems. Their contributions to modernization underscored the importance of inclusive and equitable urban design in addressing these discrepancies.

2- FLANEUR  AND  WALTER BENJAMIN'S ''PASSAGES'' PROJECT

(Photo by AKG-IMAGES/IMAGNO)

The flâneur, a 19th-century Parisian character, is an urban traveler who observes city life. Walter Benjamin elaborated on this concept in his "Passages" project, which examined Parisian arcades as icons of modernity. Benjamin's flâneur is a detached observer navigating consumer society and urban development. His work combines architecture, commerce, and social dynamics to investigate alienation and spectacle in modern cities. The flâneur's perspective has affected urban studies by providing insights into public areas and their cultural relevance. Benjamin stresses the importance of historical and social context in developing urban landscapes, making his work applicable to modern urban planning.

Gustave Caillebotte. Paris Street, Rainy Day, 1877. Art Institute of Chicago.

3- CAMILLO SITTE AND OTTO WAGNER

Camillo Sitte and Otto Wagner were key figures in shaping urban planning during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Sitte emphasized the importance of artistic and historical continuity, advocating for organic urban layouts inspired by medieval cities. His work, The Art of Building Cities, critiqued the grid systems of modern urban planning for being overly rigid and neglecting human experience. Sitte believed in creating harmonious public spaces that integrated culture and aesthetics.

In contrast, Otto Wagner embraced modernism, prioritizing functionality and innovation. A leader of the Vienna Secession movement, Wagner's designs blended aesthetics with practicality. His projects, such as the Vienna Stadtbahn, demonstrated how infrastructure could reflect contemporary needs while maintaining visual appeal. In his book, Modern Architecture, Wagner called for cities to adapt to modern technology and lifestyles.

Sitte and Wagner, despite their differing philosophies, profoundly influenced urban planning. Sitte’s focus on tradition and human-scale designs contrasts with Wagner’s forward-looking approach to modernization. Together, they represent a crucial debate in urban planning: the tension between preserving historical identity and embracing innovation. 
Their contributions continue to inform discussions on how cities balance heritage with the demands of a rapidly changing world.

Otto Koloman Wagner (1841-1918)                                      Camillo Sitte (1843-1903)


References

  1. Wikipedia contributors. (2024, December 18). Bourgeoisie. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourgeoisie
  2.  "bourgeoisie Facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about bourgeoisie". encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  3.  "Bourgeoisie". The Columbia Encyclopedia (Fifth ed.). 1994. p. ?.
  4. Wikipedia contributors. (2024a, October 24). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fl%C3%A2neur
  5.  Paris: Capital of Modernity 14.
  6.  "flaneur". Etymonline.
  7. Monk, R. (2015, October 19). Walter Benjamin, the first pop philosopher. New Statesman. https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2015/10/walter-benjamin-first-pop-philosopher
  8. View of Camillo Sitte and Otto Wagner: Contrasting Theoretical Positions towards Modern Cities. (n.d.). https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/NAJUA-Arch/article/view/105381/83684
  9. Wikipedia contributors. (2024b, December 11). Otto Wagner. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Wagner
  10. Camillo sitte. (n.d.). https://www.geschichtewiki.wien.gv.at/Camillo_Sitte
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