Space is Politics

In ‘Space is Politics’, architect and urban planner Hans Teerds shows that space is not merely a prerequisite for political activity – it is political in itself. The design of public spaces such as streets, squares, and parks influences who meets, who participates, and who is excluded. These spaces are not mere backdrops, but central places of democratic practice. Architecture is never neutral. It marks access, defines boundaries, and shapes the conditions of public life. Teerds calls for such spaces to be reclaimed from investors and experts in social dialogues, returning them to the political public sphere. A manifesto for those who understand architecture as a political task.