One of the key themes of this research document examines the changes in architecture and the urban environment in relation to an event-oriented society. The urban entertainment culture of the 21st century has spawned a host of event worlds. The marketing of cities and regions with spectacular presentations of history and culture and the redevelopment of city centers to create event spaces are an eloquent expression of this development. In ever fewer cases is this process of urban re-organisation the product of town planning schemes devised by the public authorities. The commercializations of cities is being accompanied by a loss of public space, increasing controls and a growing exclusion of the poor and destitute. The commercializations of culture is celebrating its triumphal march in the concept of the “event city”. / Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Architecture / unrestricted