Planning without plans? Nomocracy or teleocracy for social-spatial ordering

Alexander, Ernest R.; Mazza, Luigi; Moroni, Stefano

doi:10.1016/j.progress.2011.12.001

Cited by 57 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Of course, the tailoring of conditions for development can limit the adaptive capacity of an area in the long term as the virtual and actual potentials of situations yet to come are difficult to identify. However, in line with Alexander (2012), we argue that spatially and locally qualified conditions can still have general-relational character. For example, in an area with a growing local economy due to some attractive historical landmarks for tourists, conditions can be tailored in order to utilise the economic and place-making potentials of these landmarks.…”

Section: Conditions For Guiding Spatiofunctional Transformationssupporting

confidence: 80%

“…Instead it can be considered as a valuable addition to the existing repertoire of planning approaches, especially for planning interventions in dynamic urban areas and with a longer time frame. In line with our argument that planning problems require a situational understanding, the planning approach or mix of approaches that fits best also varies over time and space (Alexander 2012;De Roo 2012). Situations can, for example, be differentiated on the volatility of their context, the urgency to act or the level of diversity in the ambitions, interests and commitment of actors involved.…”

Section: Towards An Adaptive Approach For Guiding Urban Transformationssupporting

confidence: 53%

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Embracing Uncertainty Without Abandoning Planning

Rauws

2017

disP - The Planning Review

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Section: Conditions For Guiding Spatiofunctional Transformationssupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Towards An Adaptive Approach For Guiding Urban Transformationssupporting

confidence: 53%

Embracing Uncertainty Without Abandoning Planning

Rauws

2017

disP - The Planning Review

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“…Even as a technical tool, spatial planning maintains the basic features of ancient and modern zoning, although, the second half of the twentieth century saw the introduction of new procedures and operational techniques. It is not possible to locate symmetry between changes in the idea of citizenship and the transformation of place-based government processes [40]. This is because citizenship has a theoretical and political foundation, while the territorial government essentially has a political and practical foundation.…”

Section: The Concept Of Space and Its Urban Governmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reconsidering the Geddesian Concepts of Community and Space through the Paradigm of Smart Cities

2016

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Abstract:The 100th anniversary of Geddes' book "Cities in Evolution" has just passed, and the authors of this paper present a contribution towards understanding "how" Geddes might address the paradigm of the "smart city". Geddesian concepts have greatly revolutionized the design and building of modern cities around the world. As a botanist and a scientist, Geddes incorporated the concept of the appearance of gardens when designing towns. His success in pioneering the planning of his city of residence in Scotland inspired further involvement in designing towns and the renovation of old structures and buildings. His concepts regarding the planning and development of towns and cities have created a foundation of interest in research, professionalism, and educational development. This study analyses the concepts of space, communities, and smart cities, and repositions Geddesian ideas in contemporary learning strategies in relation to the wider political spectrum associated with the paradigm of smart cities. The authors explore the relevance of his thoughts and perspectives in the current design environment geared towards the creation of smart cities. The study also evaluates the challenges of developing smart cities in relation to Patrick Geddes's ideas.

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“…Finally, crucial regulation dilemmas must not be underestimated. According to the culture of political liberalism, rule of law should be impersonal and decontextualised (Moroni 2007;Alexander et al 2012). In practice it is difficult to escape the problem of the laws and procedures being used at one's own discretion -the essential point is how to guarantee conditions for the transparency and accountability of the political and administrative system (Booth 2007).…”

Section: Crucial Issues In Urban Planningmentioning

confidence: 99%

What ever is happening to urban planning and urban design? Musings on the current gap between theory and practice

Palermo

2014

City Territ Archit

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Over the last decades, the gap between disciplinary dreams and real outcomes has been growing in the field of urban planning and urban design. Great difficulties are evident in problematic contexts as the Italian case, but in other countries as well, where planning and design traditions have certainly been reliable and influential (e.g. the Netherlands and the UK). However, there is an astonishing lack of critical reflections within the disciplinary field. The aim of this paper is to focus on a set of critical issues , and to suggest new directions in the current practice. This means to deal with three challenges of great importance: how to overcome the traditional divide between planning and design theory and practice; to select suitable and mutually consistent paradigms within each disciplinary field; and to outline a place-based approach to actual problems in regulation, visioning and urban designing. ForewordIn a recent work that constitutes an interesting exception in a context which is on the whole lacking in terms of thought-provoking contributions, Bent Fylvbjerg notes that the literature in the discipline pays very little attention to "uncomfortable knowledge" (Flyvbjerg 2013). In a variety of contexts, a large number of experiences demonstrate that planning mistakes tend to proliferate, and the difference between hopes, plans and effective outcomes is ever wider. However, these empirical observations do not appear to give rise to a real desire for critical thinking and, where necessary, changes to the stances and behaviour adopted within the discipline. To the contrary, the discourse strategies most common used tend to deny that the situation is worrying. Difficulties are minimised, or are glossed over with rhetorical distractions. The author notes that this behaviour may lead to ethical problems for the professional category. In fact, the planner risks being seen to shirk several clear public and social responsibilities. Why is this tendency so widespread? The main reason, according to Fylvbjerg, appears to be the desire to present the public with a positive image of the discipline. Excessive doubt and criticism could compromise the trust the public places in urban planning, and hence the potential role of the professionals involved. Moreover, Fylvbjerg asks: how can knowledge and its practical application progress if space for true critical thinking is not provided for?Perhaps this is one of the factors that may contribute to explain the decline of urban planning in this phase. However, even in the field of urban design it is not easy to maintain that critical thinking is currently thriving and widely supported. The paradox remarked upon by Rem Koolhaas (Koolhaas, 1995) almost twenty years ago is as relevant as it ever was. Real processes express a growing demand for good urbanism. From Koolhaas' s viewpoint, this notion cannot be divorced from the quality and efficacy of urban design. However, on the whole the results appear to be less than satisfactory. The capacity to direct and control sp...

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Planning without plans? Nomocracy or teleocracy for social-spatial ordering

Cited by 57 publications

References 59 publications

Embracing Uncertainty Without Abandoning Planning

Embracing Uncertainty Without Abandoning Planning

Reconsidering the Geddesian Concepts of Community and Space through the Paradigm of Smart Cities

What ever is happening to urban planning and urban design? Musings on the current gap between theory and practice

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