Doxiadis’ Ekistics Imperative and the Paradox of Ecumenopolis

Mark Major; Raya M. Atour; Heba O. Tannous; Louna H. Albatarani; Deepthi John

doi:10.53910/26531313-E2022821648

Authors

Mark Major Qatar University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3203-8794
Raya Atour Qatar University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3741-0260
Heba O. Tannous Qatar University
Louna H. Albatarani
Deepthi John University College London Alumni

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53910/26531313-E2022821648

Keywords:

morphology, space syntax, transportation, urbanism, urban studies

Abstract

Constantinos A. Doxiadis was a leading architectural and urban theorist during the 20^th century. At the dawn of the Information Age, he renewed the call for a science of human settlements, which he termed ekistics. Current debate inevitably revolves around his legacy in the field. Our paper briefly reviews Doxiadis’ thinking about settlements and science, focusing on the state of ekistic thinking today based on the case study of Metropolitan Athens and the Attica Region in Greece using space syntax. We also evaluate the inherent potentials and pitfalls of his ecumenopolis (a world city) concept, arguing that it remains too abstract and impractical of an idea for today’s world. Nonetheless, Doxiadis’ intellectual legacy is profound. We conclude that architects, urban designers, and town planners should continue to develop Doxiadis’ ideas about dynapolis (dynamic city) and entopia (in place) in addressing placemaking in cities for people today and tomorrow.

Author Biographies

Mark Major, Qatar University

Dr. Mark David Major, AICP, CNU-A, is the author of The Syntax of City Space: American Urban Grids. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning at Qatar University.

Raya Atour, Qatar University

Raya M. Atour is a graduate student completing her Master of Urban Planning and Design (MUPD) Thesis in the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, College of Engineering at Qatar University in Doha, Qatar. She is the author of “Juxtaposition as a Cornerstone for Approaching Diversity in the Built Environment” in Architectural Research in Finland (v6i1, 2022), published by Aalto University.

Heba O. Tannous, Qatar University

Heba O. Tannous is an Architect and Research Associate working with Dr. Major since 2018 in the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, College of Engineering at Qatar University in Doha, Qatar. She is a graduate of Qatar University and Eastern Mediterranean University in Cyprus. Heba is the principal author or co-author of dozens of articles about the urban and built environment with Dr. Major.

Louna H. Albatarani

Louna H. Albatarani is an undergraduate student in the Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) Program in the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, College of Engineering at Qatar University in Doha, Qatar. She is the undergraduate researcher on the GENIUS LOCI (QUCG-CENG-22/23-472) research grant with Dr. Major and Ms. Tannous.

Deepthi John, University College London Alumni

Deepthi John is an Architect with Parsons International (Qatari Diar) in Lusail City, Qatar. She is the principal author or co-author of several papers, including one investigating the impact of the spatial network on mega-event planning in cities such as Athens, Barcelona, Atlanta, and Doha. Deepthi is a graduate of University College London and a former Project Consultant with ARRUS International WLL in Doha, Qatar.