Shrinking cities are emerging as a critical phenomena in urban planning. The depopulation happens in many contemporary societies in developed countries, much more visible in post-industrialist cities like in the paradigmatic example of Detroit. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the insights of a generally underrepresented issue, in which there is not a substantial written literature on it. The aim of this study is to provide some light about what shrinking in an urban context means and, furthermore, what are the features a shrinking city hold. In order to do that, the book will be constituted through a data collection approach, gathering information and showcasing three different shrinkage processes in three different contexts: western world, post-socialist context, and rural environments. With this approach it’s intended to provide a wider perspective about shrinkage issue and how to address it, not expected to be a sacred text but a guide to open the debate and to help understand the process of depopulation in a city. Finally, the ultimate scope of the book is to present the tools to respond the issue of shrinkage, whether it has only negative aspects or also holds positive ones, and beyond this, about what to do in shrinking environments. In order to do that, it’s essential to treat the city as a whole, as a multidisciplinar entity, not only from a physical perspective –like housing or environmental issues (degradation, oversized infrastructures, maintenance, etc.)– but also the spatial one –social relations and economic activity (expectations, identity, livability, ageing, etc.)– without leaving aside the political sphere in which are embedded the public actions and the governance issue. I hope this book will contribute to the existing knowledge about shrinking cities, the evolution of places and spaces, and to facilitate its understanding from the general public and city planners.
Le Shrinking cities stanno emergendo come un fenomeno critico nella pianificazione urbana. Lo spopolamento avviene in molte società contemporanee nei paesi sviluppati e in modo ancora più visibile nelle città post-industriali, come nel paradigmatico esempio di Detroit. Il proposito di questa tesi è quello di esplorare le caratteristiche di una questione generalmente sottorappresentata, in cui non vi è una sostanziale letteratura scritta. Lo scopo di questo studio è quello di far luce su cosa significa shrinking in un contesto urbano, e quali sono le caratteristiche che una shrinking city possiede. Per fare ciò, la ricerca sarà affrontata attraverso un metodo di collezione dei dati, raccogliendo informazioni e presentando tre diversi processi di contrazione in tre contesti differenti: nel mondo occidentale, nel contesto post-socialista e in ambiti rurali. Con questo approccio si intende fornire una prospettiva più ampia sul problema dello shrinkage e come affrontarlo, non prevedendo di essere un testo sacro, ma una guida per aprire il dibattito e per aiutare a capire il processo di spopolamento in una città. Infine, l’obiettivo ultimo del libro è quello di presentare degli strumenti per rispondere alla questione dello shrinkage: se essa ha aspetti unicamente negativi oppure se ne detiene anche di positivi, e oltre questo, su cosa fare in contesti di contrazione urbana. Affinché ciò sia fattibile, è essenziale trattare la città come un tutto, complessivamente, come una entità multidisciplinare, non solo dal punto di vista fisico –come le questioni abitative o ambientali (degrado, infrastrutture sovradimensionate, manutenzione, etc.)– ma anche dal punto di vista spaziale –relazioni sociali e attività economica (aspettative, identità, vivibilità, invecchiamento, etc.)– senza dimenticare l'ambito politico nel quale sono incluse azioni pubbliche e governance. Mi auguro che questo libro possa contribuire alla conoscenza esistente sulle shrinking cities, sull'evoluzione di luoghi e spazi, e che possa facilitarne la propria comprensione sia da parte di un pubblico non esperto che dai pianificatori urbani.
Shrinking cities, shrinking ideas ? What to do with unused environments and declining populations
FUENTES, ALEIX
2014/2015
Abstract
Shrinking cities are emerging as a critical phenomena in urban planning. The depopulation happens in many contemporary societies in developed countries, much more visible in post-industrialist cities like in the paradigmatic example of Detroit. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the insights of a generally underrepresented issue, in which there is not a substantial written literature on it. The aim of this study is to provide some light about what shrinking in an urban context means and, furthermore, what are the features a shrinking city hold. In order to do that, the book will be constituted through a data collection approach, gathering information and showcasing three different shrinkage processes in three different contexts: western world, post-socialist context, and rural environments. With this approach it’s intended to provide a wider perspective about shrinkage issue and how to address it, not expected to be a sacred text but a guide to open the debate and to help understand the process of depopulation in a city. Finally, the ultimate scope of the book is to present the tools to respond the issue of shrinkage, whether it has only negative aspects or also holds positive ones, and beyond this, about what to do in shrinking environments. In order to do that, it’s essential to treat the city as a whole, as a multidisciplinar entity, not only from a physical perspective –like housing or environmental issues (degradation, oversized infrastructures, maintenance, etc.)– but also the spatial one –social relations and economic activity (expectations, identity, livability, ageing, etc.)– without leaving aside the political sphere in which are embedded the public actions and the governance issue. I hope this book will contribute to the existing knowledge about shrinking cities, the evolution of places and spaces, and to facilitate its understanding from the general public and city planners.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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2015_12_Fuentes.pdf
Open Access dal 27/11/2016
Descrizione: Thesis text
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/116347