Integrated Socio-Spatial Analysis of Soviet Era Modernist Urbanization and Its Consequences in Lithuanian Cities: Methodological Outline

Abstract

The massive modernist urbanization of the Soviet era in Lithuania had brought new urban lifestyle models, caused the expansion of builtup areas and affected previously organically developing urban structures. Hence, its analysis and understanding are essential for further sustainable urban development. The research presents an outline of methodology for complex analysis and evaluation of modernization of Lithuanian cities during the Soviet era and its influence on Lithuanian past and present urban development as a socio-spatial phenomenon. Keywords -Content analysis, integrated socio-spatial analysis, Lithuania, modernist urbanization of Soviet era, multi-modal network model, network analysis, sociotop map.Jolita Sinkienė (Kaunas, 1974). Associated professor at

Serious Game and Serious Play Concepts in the Content Analysis of Urban Spaces

“…The content analysis method was selected as a tool for the analysis of the phenomena of functioning and uses of public spaces before and during the Soviet period and nowadays in the study of modernization of large Lithuanian cities -Kaunas, Vilnius, and Klaipėda [11]. In the course of the study a significant volume of visual material was accumulated, including historical and contemporary photographs, postcards, images from newspapers, books and other media reflecting public urban spaces of different types in three historical periods: inter-war, Soviet, and contemporary (Table I).…”

“…Thus, we have initially decided to apply the hands-on approach characteristic to design thinking method [10]. Considering that in this qualitative analysis the main attention is devoted to the case of Kaunas [11], we have decided to print the accumulated images of Kaunas and to get the additional insights by grouping them, comparing and clipping on boards or maps in the brainstorming activities. The images of Vilnius and Klaipėda were overviewed in the digital form.…”

“…This article is a case study that presents the activities, that can be referred to as serious play and serious game, which were developed within the frame of the study of modernization of the large Lithuanian cities as a tool to view and represent modernist and modernized urban spaces through the documented activities of the particular space users in the course of time [11]. The article has the following aims:…”

Potential for Transformation of Urban Open Public Spaces in Modernist Multi-Apartment Districts in Lithuania

“…the "soul" of the city [3], [4], yet there is still a lack of attention to its "body", i.e. its physical form, structure, space distribution and its use represented by the built environment within a city [5]. The two realms have a direct interrelation and have impact on each other as well as on the third realm -the surrounding natural environment [6,[149][150][151][152][153][154][155][156][157][158][159][160][161][162][163][164][165][166].…”

Public Spaces of Kaunas from the Inter-War Period to Contemporary: Content Analysis

“…The study of modernization of Lithuanian cities during the Soviet period and its influence on contemporary urbanism was started in 2017 [16]. The content analysis was intended as one of the methods of the study allowing to identify the social phenomena in public spaces, their links and changes throughout the period under analysis based on the example of Kaunas and using a volume of accumulated historical and contemporary professional and amateur photographs, postcards, images from newspapers, books and other media that constitute the visual evidence of activities, functions, and users in public spaces of different types.…”