Pockets of Heterotopia Part 2 Dissertation 2025 Talha Khan Jariwala University of East London London | UK This dissertation explores how public spaces in London have been reshaped by neoliberalism and globalization, becoming increasingly privatized, controlled, and exclusive. Drawing on the philosophy of Michel Foucault—particularly his ideas of biopolitics, surveillance, and heterotopia— the work investigates how power operates through the design, ownership, and policing of urban space.Through case studies of Canary Wharf, the Barbican Estate, and the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the research contrasts “pseudo- public” environments with spaces that continue to support inclusivity, spontaneity, and protest. These remaining “pockets of heterotopia” resist the dominant logic of consumption and surveillance, offering alternative ways for people to gather, express themselves, and belong in the city.The dissertation argues that these spaces are not nostalgic remnants but vital components of a democratic urban future. By revealing the hidden structures of control embedded in everyday architecture, the project highlights the urgent need to protect and reimagine truly public space.Original in both method and subject, the work combines philosophical theory with urban analysis to address a timely issue in architecture, politics, and public life. Pockets of Heterotopia Tutor(s) Anna Minton