Social movements and their interaction with urban space

The article reviews the interaction between social movements and urban space, the influence of types and forms of mass activity on the formation of architectural and planning structure of the environment. The author examines the possible impact on urban space and changes in its planning structure through the adjustment of social movements (exemplified by the cities of the ancient world and the Middle Ages). Two directions of modern mass actions such as protest and positive ones are defined. The study notes the spatial peculiarities of Bolotnaya Square in Moscow, Tahrir Square in Cairo and their interaction with social protest movements. The paper identifies the phenomenon of virtual space influence on real social activity; as a result, it reveals the necessity to create platforms for demonstrating such an activity. The author concludes that it is important to develop specific guidelines for the architectural design of urban space that meet safety requirements of society and provide the possibility of social movements.