Cartographic Methods: The Power of Visual Analytical Tools in Understanding the Hidden Politics of the Built Environment

This dissertation builds upon the methodology of mapping controversies in architecture as developed by Albena Yaneva, adapting it to the particularities of adaptive reuse projects. The foundational ideas behind this research method originate from Actor Network Theory (ANT), that has been employed as a core methodological approach to the process of mapping, drawing on the work of Bruno Latour and Tommaso Venturini. The methodology is iteratively developed through its ongoing application to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry case study, using the live controversy surrounding its adaptive reuse proposals as both context and catalyst for its creation. Mapping controversies, developed as a practical tool of ANT, encourages researchers to visualise and understand phenomena through a diverse network of actors, from as many different perspectives as possible and most importantly, through the relationships that form between those involved. In the context of adaptive reuse development, where layers of collective memory and shared struggle overlap with political frameworks and sensitive architectural tectonics, this methodology has the potential to shed light and detangle the complex networks of political, economic and social aspirations, empowering architects to advocate for more inclusive, equitable and context sensitive proposals. Thus, the aim of this new methodology is to equip architects with a critical toolkit in recognizing and addressing potential manipulation and cohesion within their practice, fostering greater political consciousness and reflexivity. This paper approaches the topic of dynamics of power in the built environment through the theoretical lens of representative work in the field, with a particular focus on the work of Henri Lefebvre, Kim Dovey, Jeremy Till and Isabelle Stengers, that create the conceptual foundation for analysing how spatial configurations both reflect and reinforce social hierarchies, serving as arenas for ongoing political struggle over collective meaning, cultural value and participatory action.