1,721,022 research outputs found
Urban Design as a platform for accessibility, environmental management, and cultural background for cities: bridging the gap between Tangibles and Intangible values in contemporary cities
Full text linkThe growing body of knowledge on the research (and practice) of
urban design and planning has lately revolutionized the way we
think and engage as scholars on collaborative planning approaches
and engagement with local communities affected by our decisionmaking
processes. This is in part because cities nowadays are
exponentially exposed to several challenges related to environmental
pressures, socio-economic disparities between global south
and global north (Castaldo et al., 2025) and cultural preservation
(Salama, 2025). On the other hand, the current landscape of
research on the quality of life in urban areas is majorly affected by
the socio-spatial implications of COVID-19 measures (Salama,
2023) in accessibility, amenities, grey-green-blue infrastructures,
housing and residential services, among others.
This issue of urban design and planning builds on these multifaceted
urbanism challenges to examine and advance ways
through innovative practices such as the use of artificial intelligence
(AI) in developing tools and methods to respond to noise
pollution problems (El-Bardisy, 2025). The issue features articles
that commit to addressing questions related to context and shapes
of American and European cases (Abusaada et al., 2025), as well
as accessibility and residential complexities in the African context
(Mugah et al., 2025)
Understanding Collaborative Governance of Biodiversity-inclusive urban planning: Methodological approach and benchmarking results for urban nature plans in 10 European cities
No full textThe Biodiversity strategy 2030 [1] has come as no surprise to put European Union on the path to recovery for the benefit of people, climate and the planet. For this purpose, the European commission advanced several mechanisms helping cities and larger urban areas unlocking funding for biodiversity; nonetheless a stronger need for an established governance framework that includes people and public participation across all levels and all sectors is needed [1]. Along these lines, this research was initiated as a way to understand the possible quality criteria against which several European cities could be evaluated while establishing their Urban Nature plans through two research questions. Stemming from multiple database collections for the cities’ sampling methodology [2] such as the green capital award, Urban Biodiversity Hub, Climate Neutral Cities Mission, the green City Accord (Nature/biodiversity priority area) and lastly the top ranking cities in European Local Climate Plans Initiative in the last 10 years [3], a sample of 10 cities was selected. Then, following the Targets 12 and 14 that aims to increase biodiversity in urban planning processes, an analytical framework of 30 criteria mainly focusing on collaborative governance and public participation is established through several iterations with a group of experts from Knowledge center for Biodiversity*, The Nature of Cities, Directorate General of Research TD, ICLEI, DGENV and HafenCity University. The preliminary results investigate the so-called 6 lighthouse European cities having an existing Urban Nature plan for at least the last 3 years towards advancing the so called EU Biodiversity strategy dashboard [4]. It emerges that public participation and collaborative governance aspects are rarely considered as an integrated part from the established urban greening plans, nonetheless, several guidance calls on adopting a more co-created approaches when setting up the urban nature plans
Post-occupancy evaluation for tactical urbanism interventions through placemaking model: two case studies from the “Piazze Aperte” program in Milan
No full textThis research examines whether tactical urbanism is capable of generating successful public places based on key placemaking principles. Drawing from established evaluation models, a new model is designed and adapted to the tactical urbanism interventions. The proposed model consists of six principal qualities and 22 variables that are evaluated through a mixed-methods approach. To test its effectiveness, two of the public spaces of the “Piazze Aperte” program in Milan were analyzed, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of their post-occupancy in providing an inclusive, social, and functional place. The analysis is built on several tools including visual observations, in-depth interviews, and GIS spatial analysis mapping. The findings include the identification of best practices for tactical urbanism as well as limitations and areas for improvement. Lastly, a reflection on the post-occupancy status of the case studies towards the inclusion of community and stakeholders in future planning processes of the “Piazze Aperte” program
Collaborative Governance and Planning for Urban Biodiversity Nexus: An Explorative Study
No full textResearch on urban biodiversity has been advancing exponentially in the last ten years, especially in relationship to topics correlated with citizen engagement and public participation. This research analyses a literature review executed on the topics of “Urban Biodiversity” and “co-creation and co-governance”. The results are elaborated by looking at the clustering of topics from network mapping exercises. The networks clearly put into perspective a few other key, related concepts such as the role of urban living labs in spatialising the exchanges where collaborative governance effectively takes place. In addition, ad hoc guidelines are given to highlight the importance of collaborative governance in advancing citizen engagement and readiness in local actions related to sup-porting, provisioning and protecting urban biodiversity while integrating important cultural services in urban areas
Desirable futures: Human-nature relationships in urban planning and design
Full text linkThis article explores conceptualizations of future relationships between humans and nature in urban planning, introducing the special issue 3 . It initiates by examining how the future of human- nature relationships can be seen as a consequence of resilience, or lack thereof, to global challenges. The special issue explores distinct visions of what nature may mean in desirable futures, and its relations to humans. Preferable futures portray harmonious interactions between nature and humans, recognizing nature’s intrinsic and relational values, as well as acknowledging its agency in the context of urban planning. Additionally, the evolving role of technology in shaping these desirable futures is a growing area of exploration, potentially challenging established definitions of nature and paving the way for the construction of new natures in prospective scenarios. Another facet of exploration is the spatial dimension of human-nature relationships. Articles investigate various contexts where these relationships may unfold, spanning from within cities to envisioning revised approaches at the urban-rural interface for a radical transformation of our connection to the natural world, including the consideration of distinct entities, such as mountains or non-urban territories, as potential focal points for evolving human-nature relationships. The special issue helps deepen our understanding of the intricate interplay between humans and nature in urban planning, exploring diverse visions of the future and the spatial dynamics where these relationships may manifest. By integrating these elements, the aim is to contribute to a more comprehensive and forward-thinking approach in urban planning that embraces sustainable and harmonious futures for both humans and the natural world
La Biodiversità urbana tra partecipazione pubblica e Governance condivisa: il caso italiano
No full textNegli ultimi dieci anni si è assistito a una accesa discussione
sul ruolo della biodiversità nella pianificazione urbana,
soprattutto, in relazione a come la biodiversità urbana si interseca
con la partecipazione pubblica e il coinvolgimento
dei cittadini attraverso processi di co-creazione. Questo capitolo
propone una literature review sulla biodiversità urbana
come possibilità di innovazione nell’attivazione di modelli
di governance condivisa sul territorio italiano. Attraverso la
lettura bibliografica, l’analisi mira ad approfondire le implicazioni
che la biodiversità urbana può avere nei processi di
co-creazione nel contesto italiano. Nello specifico, vengono
portati tre esempi di progetti europei come casi studio che
hanno condotto questo tipo di attività con i cittadini. I risultati
provengono dall’analisi sistematica della letteratura inerente
alla pianificazione del verde urbano e alla co-creazione
supportata da interviste di approfondimento svolte durante
l’evento “BiodiversiTalk#3” del 12 dicembre 2023 presso il
Politecnico di Milano
Urban Design and the Role of Placemaking in Mainstreaming Nature-Based Solutions. Learning From the Biblioteca Degli Alberi Case Study in Milan
Full text linkNature-based solutions' (NBS) relevance for tackling environmental challenges has been on the frontiers of urban regeneration mechanisms since the beginning of the 2010s. There is an increasing interest in applying NBS in urban planning and design to build support and engagement for sustainable urban development. However, NBS's operational use as deliberate design interventions is not widely reflected in the scientific discourse, more evidence is needed on how functional and viable aspects of urban nature can be conceptualized in urban design. This calls to explore the ways urban design can advance their understanding as part of place-specific, designed urban spaces. Through an ex-post analysis, the authors examined the design and implementation process of an exemplary NBS project, the Biblioteca degli Alberi park in Milan, part of one of the largest, recent urban regeneration projects in Europe. In a synthetic analysis, design drivers, enablers, and deficiencies are discussed, which affect the park's performance both from human-centered and nature-based perspectives. The park's case demonstrates design actions and considerations affecting all stages of the life-cycle of an NBS, from the creative design phase to the development, use, and management phases, and how urban design can create conditions for amplifying the multifunctional potential of urban ecosystems. The results highlight the importance of integrating an urban ecology perspective in the entirety of the design process when implementing NBS, consequently for a successful re-scoping of urban design and planning practices to infuse human-centeredness with “nature-basedness.
Nature-Based Solutions Framework for Wildfire Risk Reduction: Evaluating Governance Recommendations in Girona Province, Spain
No full textNature-based solutions (NBS) can have a significant role in wildfire management, since NBS effectively address key climate impacts and simultaneously provide social benefits improving sustainable land management. However, the NBS framework has so far been underused in wildfire management, for different reasons such as more focus on fire suppression rather than prevention, and insufficient built-up of policy synergies among fire-related sectors. This research aims to contribute to the theme of NBS implementation in wildfire management, by drawing upon a case-study in the Province of Girona, on the use of prescribed/targeted grazing practice as wildfire prevention tool. This case-study takes local wildfire governance forward, showing positive spillovers for the future empowering role of stakeholders affected by wildfires in the decision-making process. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with local stakeholders, structuring these questionnaires according to the phases of the decision-making framework of NBS. Interview data were analysed through NBS phases to provide evidence of (i) the contribution to the local governance of a prescribed grazing project; (ii) aspects that can improve the effectiveness of such a project over time for wildfire governance implementation. The results from this study highlight significant supported governance aspects: shaping of polycentric governance from forestry to peri-urban scale; engaging stakeholders on shared values to be protected; integrating resources and local knowledge in wildfire management; establishing formal and informal agreements to reduce landscape vulnerability; disseminating information on financial resources to employ preventive measures. Such aspects have serious implications for risk prevention and sustainable planning to preserve natural resources
Make Public Spaces Great Again Using Social Innovation Reflections from the Context of Downtown San Diego as a Cultural District
Full text linkThis paper investigates the role of public spaces in spurring innovation and promoting entrepreneurial activities in Downtown San Diego urban context as a distinguished “cultural district”. The idea that in creative cities, flourishing human capital, when coupled with incremental quality of life, could be the driving vehicle to social innovation and economic prosperity. On that public spaces are a cross cutting phenomenon in a lifetime cycle, through which their success could be evaluated contextually based on their formation and implementation policies, and how they work-out to be social innovation catalysts. Hence, this paper studies contextually the Downtown San Diego Partnership (DSDP) and their role to activate and regenerate different public spaces in downtown area to foster economic development. Two successful exemplar cases are studied; to better understand the dynamics by which the cultural programming in urban parks through events occurrence in Downtown as vibrant cultural hub; as well as the focus on a co-working and incubator space as a successful case to explain the human capital attraction to the Downtown area. The conclusions draw on an evaluation matrix of analysis that investigates the Catchment area/Sphere of influence falling in San Diego Downtown area, and helps to reach the envisioned opportunities and the policy measures applied to foster social innovation in those public spaces, and evaluate the success or failure of the Downtown San Diego Partnership to boost the innovation ecosystem
Integrated Collaborative Governance Approaches towards Urban Transformation: Experiences from the CLEVER Cities Project
Full text linkWithin the framework of CLEVER Cities Horizon 2020, London, Milan, and Hamburg are putting in place nine Urban Living Labs in order to implement Nature-based Solutions that address urban challenges in socially disadvantaged neighborhoods. In this article, the means by which co-creation processes and pathways may lead to innovation in governance structures are considered. Through a comparative case study analysis, this research aims to identify integrated, collaborative governance frameworks that are complex and adaptive, as well as reflect the actual changes in governance in cities. Herein, ULLs are intended not just as a vehicle for place-based urban regeneration but also as a starting point for collaborative governance. In this article, it is considered how co-creation pathways may lead to innovation in current local governance structures and achieve transformational change. This paper analyzes the collaborative governance dynamic models at three points in time in the three cities. It is also considered how co-creation pathways may lead to innovation in current local governance structures and achieve transformational change
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