Encounters with a future past: navigating the shifting urban atmospheres of place

There has been recent concern about the destabilizing influence of individuals’ everyday encounters with managed atmospheres. This paper draws on autoethnographic data, information relating to the physical fabric, and narratives from stakeholders involved with the design and management of the Eastside area of Birmingham, UK, to demonstrate how urban atmospheres are also shaped by shifting temporal dynamics, the area’s historical, cultural and regulatory context, and the prior experiences individuals bring to spaces undergoing regeneration. The paper concludes by suggesting that this analysis has much to offer to designers, educators and stakeholders involved with improving the design and management of place.