The Evolution of Fairs, How Fairground Development Reflects Historical Planning Discourses

Abstract

Fairs and fairgrounds have long played important roles in Western European cities, from medieval markets and world exposition sites to post-war venues and modern convention centres. This paper contrasts traditional and modern planning discourses, showing how the development of fairgrounds has increasingly followed a modernist orientation. While this shift produced large and efficient venues, it weakened their direct relationship with surrounding urban environments. The paper also highlights a recent, partial reversal of this trend, linking it to broader changes in urban planning orientations and renewed interest in reconnecting fairgrounds with their urban context.