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Challenging peripherality through access to the internet? Socio-spatial practices of the connected rurban
No full textBook of proceedings: Annual AESOP Congress, Spaces of Dialog for Places of Dignity, Lisbon, 11-14th July, 2017Specially in the last two decades, the widespread of the internet has had profound impacts on how space is organised and experienced, reinforcing the importance of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in its production. While enough attention is being paid to our cities, limited studies on the impact of internet on the countryside reflect a neglect of specific demands and needs of the rural population, with the risk that the rural continues to play catch-up with the urban (Craig and Greenhill, 2005). The prevalence of an urban approach is further explained by the blurring of urban-rural boundaries brought by an extended urbanisation (Brenner and Schmid, 2012; Monte-Mór, 2005). The foundations of extended urbanisation discussion were laid by Henri Lefebvre in the 1970s,when he anticipated a complete urbanisation of the society that would lead to the “homogenization of space and the disappearance of diversity” (Lefebvre, 1989, p. 23), and culminated with the assertion that, if successful, the planetarisation of the urban would render the deconstruction of capitalism unviable (Lefebvre,1989). As such, it would render the categories that conform bounded territories and their oppositions, such as city countryside, inadequate to describe the pervasive encroachment of capitalism.Published versio
Urban green space and their impacts on physical activity levels of older people: exploring appropriate methodologies
No full textBook of proceedings: Annual AESOP Congress, Spaces of Dialog for Places of Dignity, Lisbon, 11-14th July, 2017Extended life expectancy and the decrease in the birth rate have led to a global concern of population ageing (Garin et al., 2014) and is resulting in increasing pressures on public health expenditure. Evidence has shown that physical inactivity among older adults is associated with higher mortality, morbidity and an increased burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide (Adams et al., 2014; Arango et al., 2013; Woodcock et al., 2011). Although regular physical activity (PA) brings health benefits, there are high levels of physical inactivity within the general population. Worldwide, 31.1% adults are physical inactive (Hallal et al., 2012), in terms of older adults (aged 60 years and above) the proportion meeting physical activity guidelines ranged from 2.4 to 83.0% in a review of fifty-three studies (Sun et al., 2013). In Europe, it was found that 60–70% of older adults fail to meet physical activity guidelines (Eurobarometer, 2010). Low levels of physical activity of older adults is clearly a very substantial public health challenge. There is a growing body of research that examines the relationship between the built environment and physical activity (Handy et al., 2002; Nagel et al., 2008; Rech et al., 2012). It is widely recognized that physical activity is affected by a wide variety of built environment-related attributes, including street connectivity, residential density, land-use mix (Clifton et al., 2009; Lawrence D. Frank et al., 2005) as well as sidewalks, trails, recreational facilities, parks (Ferdinand et al., 2012), traffic density and speed, crime and safety and so on. (Ferdinand et al., 2012; Prezza et al., 2001). Besides, Physical activity can be categorized into four domains, including transportation, recreation, household and occupation, and each of these are influenced by different aspects of the built environment. For example, PA in the household and occupation domains appears to be less related to the relationships with the built environment (Van Cauwenberg et al., 2011), but transport and recreation offer key opportunities for interventions to promote health. This is critical for older adults who are more likely to suffer from a decrease in physical functions, and thus they are more vulnerable to be impacted by built environment barriers towards PA (Forsyth et al., 2009; Rantakokko et al., 2009). However, there is limited research focused on this specific demographic group (Van Cauwenberg et al., 2011; Cunningham and Michael, 2004). Therefore, it is imperative to enhance our understanding on the relationship between the built environment and physical activity, to identify opportunities to improve the physical activity levels of older adults, as a strategy to help reduce in social and health care.Published versio
The urban risk assessment: a methodological proposal
No full textBook of proceedings: Annual AESOP Congress, Spaces of Dialog for Places of Dignity, Lisbon, 11-14th July, 2017The risks for cities and natural environment coming from the climate change seems to give back substance to the considerations on urban sustainability, a word rich in promises, but poor in applicative content. The Global Risks Report 2016 considers all the possible potential impacts on global scale, measured in a Cartesian system. In the diagram, the x-axis defines the probability of occurrence, and the yaxis shows the impact degree on economies, population and environment. The highest position, caused by a high probability and a devastating impact on world scale represents a failure of adaptation and mitigation policies. Then the migration caused by wars and environment disasters follows, and the third position is assigned to water scarcity (both attributable to the climate change consequences). Today the challenge of climate change represents one of the most complex scientific and political questions of the 21th century. International institutions like IPCC, OCSE, FAO, UNDP, just to mention a few, identify climate externalities like extreme rainfalls, heat and drought waves as scenarios of high environmental impact for the next 100 years. The worst-case scenarios in economic and human life terms will occur above all in the cities (Betsill, Bulkeley, 2005; Biesbroek, Swart, van der Knaap, 2009; Van der Veen, Spaans, Putters, Janssen-Jansen 2010). The climate change topic enters local political agendas, pushed by the urgency perceived on an international level, though finding difficulties in application.Published versio
The construction of public space in high intensity gated community: a case study of Zhongyuan two-bends community in Shanghai
No full textBook of proceedings: Annual AESOP Congress, Spaces of Dialog for Places of Dignity, Lisbon, 11-14th July, 2017China started housing reform in 1992, abolished the welfare housing sharing in 1998, and ushered in real estate boom since then. China started housing reform in 1992, abolished the welfare housing sharing in 1998, and ushered in real estate boom since then. China’s newly started residence area is 166.37 million square meters in 1998, 244.01 million square meters with residence complete achieving 2,139,702 in 2000, and 551.85 million square meters with residence complete achieving 3,682,523 in 2005. Under the state- owned urban land system and the land leasing system, large-scale demolition and construction became a common phenomenon. Taking Shanghai as an example, the quantity of residence expropriation is 386,430 with the area of 14.68 million square meters between 1995 and 1999, 359,545 with the area of 18.68 million square meters between 2000 and 2004, 317,176 with the area of 37.56 million square meters between 2005 and 2009, 138,708 with the area of 9.19 million square meters between 2010 and 2014. This large-scale space production model caused spatial differentiation, which is one of the most important reason for gated community. From 1999 to 2004, 83% communities in Shanghai became gated communities (SONG Mi, 2015). Gated communities ensure the management and operation, while become isolations separated from the urban context. Meanwhile, with the development of technology, and the increase of land prices and housing prices, the residence development intensity showed an increasing trend.Published versio
How can public-private partnership (PPP) approach contribute to a dynamic but controlled urban development: the case of PPP in Slovenia
No full textBook of proceedings: Annual AESOP Congress, Spaces of Dialog for Places of Dignity, Lisbon, 11-14th July, 2017Slovenian planning legislation states that the main objective of spatial planning is to enable coherent spatial development by the consideration and coordination of different development needs and interests and assuring public benefits, especially in the areas of environmental protection, the conservation of nature and cultural heritage, etc. Coordinated planning approaches aim to contribute to a balanced and sustainable spatial development, which is also one of the biggest challenges of contemporary urbanism. The problem in facing this challenge is in the actual realization of urban projects which is often hindered due to the financial obstacles. Lack of financial resources in both public as well as private sector contributes to an increasing necessity for collaboration between public and private investors. Not rarely only the involvement of a private partner into a project which is in a public interest makes the investment possible. If the process goes smoothly, this way the city’s development needs as well as the desires of private investors are met - shared investment in the urban projects may contribute to the fulfillment of economic objectives of the private investor and spatial planning objectives of the planning authority at the same time. The PPP tool has been introduced into Slovenian spatial development practice rather recently. Most often the improvement of the quality of the living environment through brownfield redevelopment, built-structure renovation, energy efficiency improvements etc. are achieved by the implementation of PPP, which also contributes to a more controlled creation of urban space and increases the flexibility of the traditionally rather ossified planning process in Slovenia. The paper presents the most common forms of PPPs used in all eleven Slovenian urban municipalities. The ongoing research attempts to define different types of urban projects that are suitable for implementation in a form of PPP, and other different instruments that municipalities have at their disposal to facilitate the use of PPP within a specific current context of post-socialist neo-liberal system in Slovenia. Through the examination of concrete PPPs different approaches to activate land or buildings in public ownership with private capital are recognized, risks, benefits and potential problems revealed and possible solutions to overcome the obstacles identified. Different examples show the relationship between public and private partners in terms of investments, responsibilities and benefits during the realization of an urban PPP project which greatly reflect the fact that PPP as a tool has not got a long tradition yet.Published versio
Research of travel behavior influence factors of the aged and suggestions of the senile apartment siting
No full textBook of proceedings: Annual AESOP Congress, Spaces of Dialog for Places of Dignity, Lisbon, 11-14th July, 2017This article aims to discuss the siting of the senile apartment from the perspective of travel behavior of the aged. The aged spend much more time on the indoor activities in the apartment than the travel behavior. However, travel behavior, an important component of human life, can energize the aged and motivate their socialization. Currently the siting of the senile apartment from the view of travel behavior remains to be studied. To select the proper siting of the apartment based on the physical and psychological characteristics of the aged as well as their transportation will energize them and promote them to participate in more social activities. Their social identification will thus be lifted. Their ability of independent living can be largely preserved and their life quality in the apartments be improved. This article is summarized into four parts. First of all，it proposes that the proper outing is significant for the health of the aged in the apartments by analyzing the outgoing characteristics of the aged from the physical, psychological, and social attribute perspectives. Second, the types of outgoing of the aged are analyzed. According to the outgoing purpose, the travel behavior of the aged can be categorized into four types: shopping, medical, leisure, and cultural pursuits. The outgoing types have different promotion on the aged and require different siting. Then it proposes the influence factors for the outgoing of the aged include the internal factors such as age, gender, financials, and the external factors such as distance and scale. Different outgoing purposes are influenced by different factors. The travel for shopping, for example, is influenced by the internal factor of financials and the external factor of scale. The travel for medical care is influenced by the age and the scale. The travel for leisure is influenced by the age and the distance. The travel for cultural pursuits is influenced by the age, scale, and distance. In the end, this article exhibits that the site selection of the senile apartment should be based on the reachability of the travel behavior for the aged. This article builds an evaluation system for the indices based on the influence factors. Some suggestions for the siting are proposed: 1) small business should be enough near the siting; 2) general hospitals should be easily reached; 3) nearby leisure and entertainment venues, and 4) cultural facilities should be considered. This article discusses the four types of outing and proposes the corresponding site selection strategies. However, problems still exist. Firstly, individual difference will lead to different effects. Secondly, a perfect siting for the apartment of the aged that satisfy all the requirements does not exist. Moreover, more factors including the scale of the apartment, the ground rent, and the planning, should be considered. Thereby, the most proper siting scheme should be planned in terms of the evaluation system of the indices. Proper siting will help the aged to merge into the society, identify with themselves, and enjoy their twilights years in the apartmentsPublished versio
Games as dialogue tools for spatial learning : an experience in education
No full textBook of proceedings: Annual AESOP Congress, Spaces of Dialog for Places of Dignity, Lisbon, 11-14th July, 2017The course 'The game and the city' was offered during three consecutive semesters as an elective course to the undergraduate students of Architecture and Urbanism at the Federal University of Minas Gerais. The course was proposed as part of a research on the use of games as a participatory tool in the context of spatial production. Currently, there are a growing number of initiatives that use gamification as a resource to motivate people and increase civic engagement in matters of public interest. However, the use of this resource lacks a critical reflection in the same depth with which the participation is currently debated. Taking into account the extensive debate about participation produced so far, we start from the challenge posed by Jeremy Till regarding the need to move the architectural participation from a placatory participation towards a transformative participation (Till, 2005). In this context, this article reflects on the educational and formative aspects involved in participation, having as a horizon the intellectual emancipation with regard to spatial issues. The games produced in the context of the course will be considered as a space for dialogue that aims to foster the spatial learning and qualify the participants for a transformative spatial practice. The experience of the course 'The game and the city' will be taken to discuss the spatial learning in two instances: one concerning the formation of the architect and planner as a producer of games; And the other, related to the spatial learning involved in the act of playing and therefore, outside the school boundaries.Published versio
What is public space’s service value? some relevant research questions
No full textBook of proceedings: Annual AESOP Congress, Spaces of Dialog for Places of Dignity, Lisbon, 11-14th July, 2017In spite of its ‘youth’, Public Space theory is now facing recognition of its role in space production of contemporary urbanity. However, public spaces’ conventions (naming, codes, laws, rules, standards...) generally are not referred to by the needs they cover, neither by the services they provide, but as ‘qualities and attributes’ those spaces must possess. This practice leads to a notion of public space based on ‘exceptionality’ and on quality perception prevalence, rather than relational and organizational factors related to its production, use and meaning. So while awareness of Public Space has positive effects on available resources, mainstream concepts are narrowing representation of public space values. This is the knowledge deficit that PSSS research aims to tackle: to give conceptual primacy to needs public space must satisfy, requiring a critical analysis of space production processes (both of its hardware and its software) and leading us to a model focused on service, on the public value it involves and on the systemic way it is organized. For this purpose PSSS – Public Space’s Service System (an interdisciplinary research project led by IST - Lisbon University, with Oporto and Barcelona Universities’ urban research centres) aims to develop new concepts and tools to foster awareness of public space service value. We shall offer an integrated assessment methodology – through literature review, study of public space production and its interdisciplinary framework, case-study presentation and stakeholders’ interaction.Published versio
Sports mega-events and urban legacies: the 2014 FIFA world cup, Brazil
No full textBook of proceedings: Annual AESOP Congress, Spaces of Dialog for Places of Dignity, Lisbon, 11-14th July, 2017The idea of organising Sports Mega-Events had been defended by strategic urban planners as a way to attract considerable public and private resources to be invested in cities. In this respect, the city of Barcelona has been an outstanding example for the urban transformations as a result of the 1992 Olympic Games. The construction or renovation of ports, airports, public transportation and sports facilities, housing, hotels and tourism developments is regarded as the urban legacy of organising such mega-events. In October 2007, Brazil was chosen to organise the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Seemingly a natural vocation due to the country´s historic relationship with football, the competition to host this megaevent was related to the political project of its governors during a period of rapid economic growth and the emergence of the country on the world scenario. Between October 2007 and July 2014 a series of projects in infrastructure, mobility and stadia construction was carried out at a cost of ten billion dollars. The aim of this paper is to understand the main results of the World Cup interventions in Brazil, which were its main urban legacy and who were the winners and losers in this process.Published versio
Measuring building densities (FSI/GSI) for the Netherlands
No full textBook of proceedings: Annual AESOP Congress, Spaces of Dialog for Places of Dignity, Lisbon, 11-14th July, 2017Densities are a key feature in urban planning and design. Density influences amongst others energy consumption, mobility, livability, food production and economy. Building densities (that is Floor Space Index (FSI) or Floor Area Ratio(FAR)) relate the gross floor area to the surface of the accompanying base land area. The surface of the base land area can be defined on many scales, from plot to municipality. By now floor areas, parcels shapes and building footprints etc are available as open data for the whole of the Netherlands, so we can script the calculation of building densities for the whole of the Netherlands. We did this according to the recent Dutch standard: NEN 9300:2013 nl, Areas and densities in urban planning - Terms, definitions and methods of determination. The first results have been tested in a mobility study. The results can be applied as well for morphology studies and as reference projects for future urban design. Along with FSI we can easily calculate the Ground Space Index (GSI) which relates the footprint of a building to the surface of the accompanying base land area and an index for the mixed use of functions (MXI). This paper describes the datasets used in the script and the main steps that were scripted to calculate the building densities on several scales.Published versio