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Bypassing the Obvious: Implementing Cutting Edge Ideas for Futuring Urban Landscapes
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2021
Pages:
1-14
Received:
17 December 2020
Accepted:
24 December 2020
Published:
12 January 2021
Abstract: Vulnerable regions in particular especially face increased risks in periods of disruptive change. This mechanism is fed by a strongly felt uncertainty about the future, consisting of unprecedented events and is strengthened by an unshakeable faith in past approaches, reinforcing the problems. It is a common response to deal with these risks using traditional planning approaches. In other words, the problem here is that the current ‘regime’ (the set of policy responses) is embedded in the existing landscape of standards, habits, norms and approaches that lead to repetition of former solutions, which are often the obvious ones. This incrementality of the regime is in nature withstanding creative transformations. Unsafe planning is required to overcome a locked-in situation, especially in dynamic circumstances. The Toukomst Groningen project tries to escape this mechanism. In this article the crucial elements to achieve this are investigated and whether this is successful. In the Groningen region incremental planning has led to an increased vulnerability of population, nature and the land. People no longer trust their governments. In this article an alternative approach is investigated giving space to the most peripheric ideas in society, sublimating these into an overall ‘mindblowmap’ and implementing this long-term vision by executing a travelling circus, engaging the local residents in the realisation in order to rebuild local trust.
Abstract: Vulnerable regions in particular especially face increased risks in periods of disruptive change. This mechanism is fed by a strongly felt uncertainty about the future, consisting of unprecedented events and is strengthened by an unshakeable faith in past approaches, reinforcing the problems. It is a common response to deal with these risks using t...
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Towards Redundancy in Urban Landscapes: Enhancing Adaptive Capacity Through Design
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2021
Pages:
15-25
Received:
19 December 2020
Accepted:
31 December 2020
Published:
12 January 2021
Abstract: While many are convinced striving for resilient cities is worth pursuing, the majority of the research in this field focuses on risks and vulnerabilities or on social resilience. The attention for the spatial necessities to create cities that are able to accommodate the impacts of climate change is rare. The core objective of this paper is to learn from resilient urban precedents so design beyond disaster can be practiced. This article focuses therefore on the inclusion of spatial redundancy in urbanism. It uses the example of Western Sydney, where in the future approximately 800,000 new inhabitants will live, to illustrate how certain space can be kept free of developments, in other words remains available for future (changed, unexpected) use. This future use could well be temporary, in the case of climate impacts, such as floods or fires. A total of eight urban neighborhoods have been analyzed as precedents of ecological urbanism and densities. The design principles derived from these precedents are subsequently deconstructed and reconstructed to design the Master Plan and plans at urban design level. Out of this design process, five design principles emerge as determinants of redundancy: use space temporarily so it can be used differently when needed, full integration of the rural and urban landscape (water) systems; developing fluid densities in the city so these can be densified when required in the future; see landscape as an amenity being the space that residents can use when they need; and create accessible communal urban spaces and can be used for shared purposes.
Abstract: While many are convinced striving for resilient cities is worth pursuing, the majority of the research in this field focuses on risks and vulnerabilities or on social resilience. The attention for the spatial necessities to create cities that are able to accommodate the impacts of climate change is rare. The core objective of this paper is to learn...
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Interrogating Access to Public Space for Peace, Security and Development of African Cities
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2021
Pages:
26-40
Received:
29 December 2020
Accepted:
8 January 2021
Published:
9 February 2021
Abstract: Literature suggests links between urbanisation patterns that favour public spaces, development, peace and security. Even though urbanisation statistics in many cities of Africa are the fastest globally, the patterns exhibited highlight the inability of such cities to cope with the challenges of rapid urbanization. Consequently, attendant problems of environmental degradation, inequalities, increasing restiveness and escalating spate of internally displaced persons (IDPs) invasion, occasioned by violent clashes in surrounding rural areas challenge these cities. These effects are most visible in the public spaces of many cities of Africa. As such there is the need for all-inclusive and safe public spaces for all citizens most especially the internally displaced. Inclusive, accessible and safe public spaces contribute diverse benefits to cities. So much so, that the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number eleven (11) of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable targets mainly public spaces. However, the idea of a homogenous, universally accessible, all-inclusive space has been argued to be utopian. This study, therefore, interrogates the relationship between access to public space, development, peace and security. Specific objectives include; an analysis of the trend in public space accessibility in Makurdi for 32 years, a comparative analysis of accessibility in public spaces between years where there were increased presence of IDPs and an examination of how IDPs engage with public space. Public spaces used for recreation were documented and observed. Respondents resident in Makurdi and using parks within the study period were disaggregated into 2 age cohorts (<60 and > 60 years) and administered with questionnaires. Focus group discussions and interviews with IDPs were carried out. Student’s t test and thematic analysis were used to make inferences. Findings indicate that places used for recreation by residents of Makurdi are more hybrid spaces like street corners and restaurants rather than traditional parks and gardens. Over the study period accessibility of public spaces has increased but there was no significant variation in accessibility between years where there were increased presences of IDPs in Makurdi. Engagement of IDPs with public space is poor on all indicators. The study recommended provision of places for recreation closer to the IDP camps as well as introduction of activates for all age categories and gender.
Abstract: Literature suggests links between urbanisation patterns that favour public spaces, development, peace and security. Even though urbanisation statistics in many cities of Africa are the fastest globally, the patterns exhibited highlight the inability of such cities to cope with the challenges of rapid urbanization. Consequently, attendant problems o...
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Public Housing in the Global Cities: Hong Kong and Singapore at the Crossroads
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2021
Pages:
41-46
Received:
11 September 2020
Accepted:
9 February 2021
Published:
20 February 2021
Abstract: Affordable Housing, the basic human necessity has now become a critical problem in global cities with direct impacts on people's well-being. While a well-functioning housing market may augment the economic efficiency and productivity of a city, it may trigger housing affordability issues leading crucial economic and political crises side by side if not handled properly. In global cities e.g. Singapore and Hong Kong where affordable housing for all has become one of the greatest concerns of the Government, this issue can be tackled capably by the provision of public housing. In Singapore, nearly 90% of the total population lives in public housing including public rental and subsidized ownership, whereas the figure tally only about 45% in Hong Kong. Hence this study is an effort to scrutinizing the key drivers of success in affordable public housing through following a qualitative case study based research methodological approach to present successful experience and insight from different socio-economic and geo-political context. As a major intervention, this research has clinched that, housing affordability should be backed up by demand-side policies aiming to help occupants and proprietors to grow financial capacity e.g. subsidized rental and subsidized ownership can be an integral part of the public housing system to improve housing affordability.
Abstract: Affordable Housing, the basic human necessity has now become a critical problem in global cities with direct impacts on people's well-being. While a well-functioning housing market may augment the economic efficiency and productivity of a city, it may trigger housing affordability issues leading crucial economic and political crises side by side if...
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Counter-urbanization, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Rural Development in Developing Countries: The Nigerian Example
Ibrahim Oladayo Ramon,
Oyebanji Toba James
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2021
Pages:
47-56
Received:
3 February 2021
Accepted:
4 March 2021
Published:
17 March 2021
Abstract: The sustainable development trajectory of rural areas hinges on the number and quality of human resources and endogenous capital. This requires a new and reformed rural development policy to comprehensively address deficiencies of the local development system, poor human resources, and the lack of legitimate local institutions, weakness of trust and entrepreneurship, as well as making all these issues as part of rural development policy. This paper aims to explore the potential of counter-urbanization as an opportunity for developing rural areas, linked with the entrepreneurship tendencies of the diverse peoples involved in counter-urbanization, the residents of rural areas and the potentials and rural capitals endowments of rural areas. In doing this, the paper also explores the age-long and modern functional relationships between urban and rural areas. In this continuum, urban and rural spaces, networks, socioeconomic activities, and identities were never truly separated, due to later urbanization and industrialization in developing countries. Using a review analysis approach, the paper relies on documentary instruments for data generation, as well as content analysis of generated data. The paper is of the view that whereas, the complex consequences of counter-urbanization, present challenges to policymakers who seek to alleviate poverty, improve rural areas conditions and reduce spatially income inequalities. It is however realized that the potentials of counter-urbanization and the closely related factors of entrepreneurship can greatly enhance rural development in developing countries, like Nigeria. What is required are that local development initiatives must use the resources they have (local knowledge, land, skills and traditions, primary production, natural environmental beauty and social networks), turning or configuring these resources into development resources to unlock their internal development capacity sustainably.
Abstract: The sustainable development trajectory of rural areas hinges on the number and quality of human resources and endogenous capital. This requires a new and reformed rural development policy to comprehensively address deficiencies of the local development system, poor human resources, and the lack of legitimate local institutions, weakness of trust an...
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