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Public spaces and neoliberal policies: The Greek case
Full text linkDimelli, D. (2024). Public spaces and neoliberal policies: The Greek case. plaNext – Next Generation Planning, 14, 19–36. https://doi.org/10.24306/plnxt/97The process of neoliberalizing public spaces involves implementing policies aimed at increasing capital flow to offset reductions in local budgets. In Greece, although public spaces are decisive elements of the urban tissue, the tools, strategies, and mechanisms for their development are mainly based on public funding and the role of the private sector is still weak. The current paper analyzes the policies for public spaces since 1950 until today and the role of public and private sectors in their development. It focuses on specific periods as the Olympic Games, the economic crisis and today, to investigate the policies followed for public spaces development. The research area is the capital of Greece, and the examined case studies include both small- and large-scale areas to cover different types of public spaces. Research focuses on the changes in the legislative framework to promote the role of private sector and evaluates its role and collaboration with the public sector. The analysis of the case studies shows that constrained expertise, centralized decision-making procedures, and inadequate coordination of synergies among management entities, have resulted in notable deficiencies in the partnerships between the public and private sectors in supporting projects for the regeneration of public areas.publishedVersio
Urban compounding: Housing what is and what could be
Full text linkGame changer? Planning for just and sustainable urban regions, Paris, 8-12th July 2024This study examines the organic transformation of the South African version of the Victorian/ Edwardian bungalow from a free-standing house into a courtyard form of building – seen as a bungalow ‘compound’ - as part of wider city-making processes, in a context of rapid urbanisation and continental migration. Based on architectural practice-led research, the study claims that the knowledges embedded in the adapted bungalow properties can significantly contribute to context appropriate planning of lower cost accommodation and emerging mix use. As a result, while associated with connotations of illegality and ‘slum life’, the study coins the bungalow compound as an ‘aspirational house’ in the transforming African city, an undercover game changer developing plot-by-plot on an emerging spectrum of housing what is and what could be.published versio
Rethinking the waste of planetary urbanization for urban challenges: Potential, Strategies and Governance in Terrain Vague projects
Full text linkGame changer? Planning for just and sustainable urban regions, Paris, 8-12th July 2024Planetary Urbanisation puts pressure on undeveloped spaces in cities. Although perceived as wastelands, such spaces are of unacknowledged socioenvironmental value. Conceptualised as Terrain Vague, they have potential to address social and ecological urban challenges. This paper demonstrates how the Terrain Vague can be activated through alternative repurposing strategies and governance. We present three case studies indicative of diverse strategies adopted from different European contexts: Porto Healthy Corridor, a nature-based solution part of URBINAT research project; R-Urban (2013-2017), a community garden in Colombes, near Paris, managed as Urban Commons; Cody Dock, a community-led regeneration and river revitalisation project in London. The analysis shows how rethinking the waste of planetary urbanization can support the circular economy, biodiversity, urban ecology, community development and climate sustainability.
Keywords: wastelands, strategies of repurposing, socioenvironmental value, urban commons, urban ecologypublished versio
Assessing regional potentials for green hydrogen infrastructure planning in Germany
Full text linkGame changer? Planning for just and sustainable urban regions, Paris, 8-12th July 2024Green hydrogen offers significant advantages in terms of sector coupling and electrification of energy systems. To ensure a reliable hydrogen supply chain in regions, there is a growing need for hydrogen infrastructure planning. Strategies need to take into account spatial characteristics of supply and demand as well as existing regional potentials. The aim of this study is to develop a holistic approach to assess regional potentials in the context of green hydrogen infrastructure planning by considering both technical and socio-economic factors. A principal component analysis was carried out in NUTS-3 regions throughout Germany. We identified four indices representing regional hydrogen and location potential. A cluster analysis was used to identify region-specific needs and requirements. This will benefit the planning process for developing regional hydrogen strategies.
Keywords: Green Hydrogen; Regional Planning; Planning Methods; Energy Infrastructure; Assessment Conceptpublished versio
Temporality in planning thought – a new turn? Short report on the round table at the AESOP Annual Congress on 10 July 2024 in Paris
No full textThe Planning Review, 60, 2024This short report summarises the round table discussion held at the AESOP Annual Congress on 10 July 2024 in Paris, focusing on the theme “Temporality in planning thought.” The event gathered planning scholars and practitioners to reflect on whether a “temporal turn” is emerging in planning theory. Chaired by Thorsten Wiechmann, the round table featured contributions from Simin Davoudi, Raine Mäntysalo, Miriam Jensen, Gérard Hutter, and Andy Inch, each offering different perspectives on why temporality matters in planning—politically, conceptually, and practically. Key themes included time as power, strategic variability, temporal conflicts, and the emotional dimensions of future imaginaries. The discussion did not aim to define a fixed research agenda but emphasised the need for continued dialogue and project-based networking to better integrate temporal thinking in planning research and education.publishedVersio
Research on Strategies for Enhancing Urban Spatial Resilience in Shanghai Based on the Connotations and Characteristics of "Resilient Cities"
No full textGame changer? Planning for just and sustainable urban regions, Paris, 8-12th July 2024This paper explores the enhancement strategies for urban spatial resilience in Shanghai by defining, interpreting, and identifying the characteristics of "urban spatial resilience." Firstly, it analyses the relationship between resilient cities and urban spatial resilience. Secondly, it examines the systemic composition, organisational methods, and representation of resilient cities, revealing three essential contents-hierarchical structures, resilience mechanisms, and resilience representations-and four fundamental characteristics (13 attributes): capacity, structure, mechanism, and representation. Thirdly, it reviews the urban spatial planning, spatial expansion changes, and urban compactness variations in Shanghai since 1985. Finally, the paper identifies current issues in Shanghai's urban spatial development and proposes strategies to enhance its urban spatial resilience.
Keywords: Resilient Cities, Spatial Resilience, Shanghai, Construction Principles, Enhancement Strategiespublished versio
Urban Forestry Plan: an overview through different contexts, governance and policies
No full textGame changer? Planning for just and sustainable urban regions, Paris, 8-12th July 2024Urban forestry plans became an essential integrated tool in urban planning to promote adaptation and mitigation policies and strategies in contemporary cities. This contribution presents a selection of plans developed in different countries, applying a structured critical interpretation to bring out and compare innovative elements and weaknesses to trigger a challenging comparison between American and European cities. This work frames the Forestami research project within the international urban forestry context to measure its impact and relevance and to address further activities. The research reveals a heterogeneous approach and results by countries due to different political and cultural contexts to define which are the critical elements that each plan should use to contribute to the sustainable development of the territory.published versio
Spaces of automobility : diverging trajectories within the Liège-Aachen diffuse city
No full textGame changer? Planning for just and sustainable urban regions, Paris, 8-12th July 2024The Liège-Aachen metropolitan axis sets itself apart from neighbouring cases of diffuse city by lying both at the centre of the continent and at the edge of two countries, languages, and planning cultures. The socio-technical system of automobility constitutes a defining catalyst not only for accentuating already present dispersed settlement structures, but also for producing, within a very short time span, characteristic urban forms linked to the car. This contribution aims to interrogate this very type of transborder diffuse city through the lens of automobility and a future post-car discourse. Specifically, it proposes, in the light of both Belgian and German past planning practices, to compare the spatial impact of current policy objectives and government plans in both regions to reduce future car use.
Keywords: diffuse city, urban morphology, automobility, post-car policies, transborderpublished versio
Optimizing Land Resource Allocation and Functional Configuration in High-Tech Industrial Parks: A Case Study of Chengdu Xinchuan High-tech Innovation Park
No full textGame changer? Planning for just and sustainable urban regions, Paris, 8-12th July 2024Amid China's ongoing initiatives to enhance industrial land efficiency and promote urban upgrading, high-tech innovation parks emerge as crucial policy zones driving urban economic development. These parks are increasingly integrated into the fabric of urban districts, reflecting their growing role as key components of city functions. This paper specifically examines Chengdu Xinchuan High-tech Innovation Park, exploring strategies for managing land resource allocation and efficient supply to support the park’s swift and transformative development. An analysis of the functional configurations from exemplary parks like Shenzhen Nanshan High-Tech Park, Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech North Park, and Chengdu Tianfu Software Park informs the proposed optimization for Chengdu Xinchuan. The initial planned distribution of 32% residential, 28% industrial, and 40% commercial functions is recalibrated to 32% residential, 43% industrial, and 25% commercial. This adjustment is aimed at creating a more balanced development conducive to both economic vitality and community sustainability. Drawing on the successes of these benchmark parks, the study outlines a tailored functional ratio scheme, providing actionable insights and strategic guidance for similar transformations in other urban high-tech industrial parks.
Keywords：Functional optimization, High-tech innovation parks, Benchmark analysis, Land functionpublished versio
Repurposing abandoned transport infrastructure towards social inclusion: The case of Baana, Helsinki
No full textGame changer? Planning for just and sustainable urban regions, Paris, 8-12th July 2024With globally increasing challenges for the role of public spaces and their contribution to inclusion and justice within urban settings, this article examines the repurposing of transport infrastructure to provide dedicated walking and cycling public spaces, specifically the case of Baana in Helsinki, Finland, a former freight railway conduit. Building on the concepts of mobility design and walking as a social experience, the article examines Baana’s role both as a non-motorised transit space, and one supporting fluid encounters among diverse users. The impact of Baana’s design is examined – in terms of utility, attractiveness, and symbolism – on pedestrians’ activities, experiences, and perceptions. Initial findings reveal Baana’s barriers and potentials and serve to develop further research on addressing differential pedestrian experiences, to inform future mobility design processes.
Keywords: Baana, fluid encounters, Helsinki, inclusion, mobility designpublished versio