What happens when cities emerge not through centuries of organic development, but rapidly in response to industrial development? In this lecture, Maurice Herman examines “The Anti-City”: a metaphor for European industrial cities whose existence was primarily shaped by nearby factories and mines rather than by natural urban evolution.
Based on his acclaimed book “De Antistad” (nai010, 2016), Hermans challenges conventional urban theories through his findings on cities in demographic decline. In the decade since his original research, the European urban landscape has changed dramatically. While his earlier case studies predicted certain patterns of urban shrinkage, intra-European migration has created a new reality: Some former industrial centers are experiencing an unexpected revival, while many Eastern European cities are facing an accelerating population decline.
Through “The Anti-City Guide”, a socio-cultural travel guide, Hermans reveals the overlooked dynamics of arrival neighborhoods, urban shrinkage and communities shaped by migration. These spaces, often stigmatized and devalued, offer compelling alternatives to the growing “musealization” and over-tourism affecting many cities. Hermans invites us to see these anti-cities not as problems to be solved, but as laboratories for new urban possibilities and cultural renewal.
Maurice Hermans is an artist, researcher and writer from the former mining region of the Netherlands. Hermans’ work, including “De Antistad” (nai010, 2016) and “Patchwork IBA Parkstad” (nai010, 2022), explores narratives of shrinking cities and forgotten urban spaces and questions traditional perspectives on growth, decline and change. In 2010, Hermans received the special prize of the Demography Award for his research on shrinking cities.
No registration required: All researchers, students and interested members of the public are welcome! For further inquiries please contact: Job Zomerplaag (j.zomerplaag@maastrichtuniversity.nl) & Julia Wesely (julia.wesely@univie.ac.at)
