Unveiling Urban Sprawl in the Mediterranean Region: Towards a Latent Urban Transformation?

Abstract

The relationship between form and function in European Mediterranean cities has been widely addressed from various perspectives. A number of studies indicate that, until the 1980s, compactness was a key trait of several cities of the Northern Mediterranean. However, after the ‘compact growth’ period, these cities experienced patterns of urbanization that differed from their traditional trends. Since the 1990s, sprawl, coupled with population decline in the inner cities, has become the main pattern of urban development. This article explores the key features of exurban development in the Mediterranean region in order to provide material for a discussion based on the differences and similarities in the characteristics of sprawl processes originating in the US and Northern Europe. It concludes that any debate on policy responses to sprawl must be specifically formulated according to the scope, administrative level, housing and planning system, territorial and socioeconomic characteristics of the urban system under examination. It is our belief that sprawl requires site‐specific analyses and policy strategies for the region being studied if the process is to be effectively controlled.

Toward a New Cycle: Short-Term Population Dynamics, Gentrification, and Re-Urbanization of Milan (Italy)

“…In these regards, public and private investments toward rehabilitation programs and initiatives were demonstrated to attract specific population segments and/or economic groups (as specifically observed in 'Navigli' district for students, in Tortona district for architects and fashion design, and in Corso Como/Garibaldi for offices/advanced services and entertainment). At the same time, factors underlying urban recovery were rather differentiated in semi-central areas thanks to their diverging social characteristics [17,[46][47][48]. Trends toward re-urbanization in Milan seem to be related to specific patterns of residential mobility of defined population segments (e.g., immigrants, native singles, and divorced people), consolidating social segregation within the historical city [49].…”

“…In this framework, demographic processes had a powerful transformative effect on inner cities, diversifying urban landscapes and producing relevant changes in housing markets and economic structures [10][11][12]. Empirical evidence for re-urbanization has recently been documented in Europe [13][14][15][16], with inner cities re-attracting populations and suburbs experiencing demographic stability or moderate decline [17][18][19]. Together with the long-term demographic transitions and short-term effects of the 2007 economic recession, different factors were demonstrated to contribute to re-urbanization, depending on local conditions [20][21][22] that have determined spatial heterogeneity in population growth rates [23].…”

Lost in translation, found in entropy: An exploratory data analysis of latent growth factors in a Mediterranean city (1960–2010)

“…At the same time, cities developed with the surrounding environment a complex network of bidirectional relationships that take place on multiple levels, including trade relations, commuting, the exchange of information, and collaboration between business, groups and individuals (Salvati, 2013). These networks organize themselves on the basis of gravitational fields, sensitive to the size of the spatial assets and their relative distance (Jacobs-Crisioni, Rietveld, & Koomen, 2014;Parr, 2014;Salvati & Gargiulo Morelli, 2014;among others). Starting from the seminal study by Christaller (1933), the central place theory identified a hierarchy of urban levels developing a model for their spatial distribution (Losch, 1940), the size of their market areas and the type of activities involved (Couch et al, 2007).…”

Mediterranean cities under fire. A critical approach to the wildland–urban interface

“…The evolving meaning of words illustrates a mental shift in progress. Old definitions of the WUI appear to be outdated in view of the present dangers (Salvati & Gargiulo Morelli, 2014;Stewart, Radeloff, Hammer, & Hawbaker, 2007;Theobald & Romme, 2007). "Interface" is traditionally understood to be a demarcation line/front necessary for protecting built-up areas.…”

“…More recent uses of the word take into account the fact that "urban" and "rural" lands do not abut anymore, but intermingle. Many experts indicate that growing urban areas naturally produce extended "fuzzy" surfaces whose "fuzziness" only expresses unachieved spatial dynamics or land use conflicts (Badia, Serra, & Modugno, 2011;Leung, 2009;Salvati & Gargiulo Morelli, 2014;Tavares, Pato, & Magalhaes, 2012).…”