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We are proud to announce that our latest paper was accepted and presented at the 29th Annual AESOP 2015 Congress Definite Space – Fuzzy Responsibility held between 13-16 July 2015 in Prague at the Czech Technical University (CTU).
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Abstract: Unprecedented worldwide urbanisation, financial instability, climate change and emerging new lifestyles are challenging the capacity of cities to attract and retain people and activities. Particularly, as many masterplan-driven developments realised from the second half of last Century have been criticised for their inability to cope with changing needs and uncertainty of future outcomes and for their incongruity with native physical, socio-economic and environmental contexts, the need to reform conventional approaches to masterplanning is now pressing. As cities competitiveness and success depends on their capacity to meet these manifold challenges, a new generation of masterplans has emerged over the recent years to respond more clearly to the sustainability agenda.
However as we become increasingly aware that cities are inherently unstable and prone to unpredictable change over time, to complement the concern for sustainability, resilience as applied in the field of system-ecology needs now consideration.
The paper argues that re-evaluating masterplanning against the theoretical framework of resilience would help defining a reformed approach, referred to as “Masterplan for Change”, more openly aimed at giving strategic direction and spatial quality to places, while accommodating modification over time. However the role of resilience in guiding urban design and masterplanning is still marginal. Hence, the fundamental link between sustainability and resilience is clarified and a preliminary list of guiding principles of “Masterplan for Change”, emerged from combination between urban design sustainability and socio-ecological resilience principles, suggested.
The article is online on the AESOP 2015 website where you can download the Book of Proceeding of 29th Annual AESOP 2015 Congress Definite Space – Fuzzy Responsibility (very large file).
Alternatively you can view the paper from this link. Additionally, to view the PowerPoint presentation click here!
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Ref: Feliciotti, A., Romice, O. & Porta, S. 13 Jul 2015 Book of Proceeding : 29th Annual AESOP 2015 Congress Definite Space – Fuzzy Responsibility. Macoun, M. & Maier, K. (eds.). Ústav prostorového plánování, Thákurova 9, 166 34 Praha 6 :only electronic version , p. 3051 3065 p. TRACK 19 N.5