The specialist session proposed here is designed – on the basis of women’s texts of various genres and provenances, dating from the 18th century to the present day – to document the contribution made by women to urban-planning discourse, i.e. their share in the production of urban space. The aim of this investigation is to trace a possible ‘other’ theory of urban planning that explicitly draws on social commitment and reforming concerns as its sources, and which focuses on society.
Suggested major topics:
• Theories of space. Production and use of space: public and private space; concrete and abstract space, etc.
• Theory formation: text genres as strategies, critique of the city, new paradigms, biographies and spheres of influence, etc.
• Concepts of residence and urban planning: new models, apartment and kitchen as a micromodel of the city, detached houses and suburban districts in green areas as tools for segregation, etc.
• Monograph presentations of female theorists

10th International Conference on Urban History organized by the European Association of Urban History (EAUH), 1st-4th September 2010, Ghent. Specialist session S23