European Spatial Research and Policy Volume 23 (2016) Issue 1
http://hdl.handle.net/11089/18840
2024-03-28T08:48:34ZFuture in Wood? Timber Construction in Boosting Local Development
http://hdl.handle.net/11089/18847
Future in Wood? Timber Construction in Boosting Local Development
Hynynen, Ari
Large scale timber construction has been on the upswing for some time in many European countries. Besides the building cluster, also regions and cities have taken advantage of the ongoing timber boom in their economic and spatial development. In this article the focus is on the South Ostrobothnia region and the city of Seinäjoki in Western Finland, where the potential of the business is quite weakly exploited regardless of favourable preconditions. By studying the key actors of the innovation network we are able to better understand the premises of the local development platform that should aim at boosting timber construction.
2016-07-07T00:00:00ZUrban Design and the Changing Context of Urban Regeneration in the Netherlands
http://hdl.handle.net/11089/18846
Urban Design and the Changing Context of Urban Regeneration in the Netherlands
Stouten, Paul
Urban design schemes accompanied by avant-garde design of space have been an outcome of economic growth of cities and countries in many periods of time. At the beginning of the 21st century, Nieuw Crooswijk in Rotterdam was the largest area involved in nationally launched policies. Many times the conflicts surrounding the plan were in the news, particularly concerning the aim to attract higher incomes. Gentrification, with displacement of present and original residents forms a central issue and the discussions in Nieuw Crooswijk fit within the more general urban landscape and language of urban regeneration in Europe.
2016-07-07T00:00:00ZModel for Assessment of Public Space Quality in Town Centers
http://hdl.handle.net/11089/18845
Model for Assessment of Public Space Quality in Town Centers
Wojnarowska, Anna
Public space is an important element of urban structure, playing various spatial, social and economic roles in towns/cities. Its quality influences the quality of life of the inhabitants and the attractiveness of the town as a whole. Public space located in town center is the most representative of its identity and image, and also serves multiple functions and activities. The quality of urban space depends on different factors, which have been discussed in professional literature for the last few decades. The author of this paper developed a model for assessment of the quality of public space in town centers based on studies of methods already used in Poland and abroad, and the analysis of trends and ideas which should be taken into consideration while constructing a set of criteria for assessment methods. The main goal of this paper is to present the methodology of research on the quality of public space in town centers using this model. An important element of the model is the proposed method of delimiting the research area – the town center – based on identification of key public space of a town. The model comprises three methods, which can provide valuable information on the quality of public space, and also serve as a basis for constructing ratings of towns in each of these methods and the model as a whole. The research conducted using this model in chosen medium-sized towns of the Łódź region showed that the results of ratings obtained using particular methods and the whole model coincide with subjective opinions on public space in town centers given by its users and professionals evaluating it.
2016-07-07T00:00:00ZCompact and Resource Efficient Cities? Synergies and Trade-offs in European Cities
http://hdl.handle.net/11089/18844
Compact and Resource Efficient Cities? Synergies and Trade-offs in European Cities
Fertner, Christian; Große, Juliane
Cities are the main consumers of energy and resources but at the same time are considered as centres for innovation which can provide solutions to unsustainable development. An important concept regarding energy and resource efficiency on the scale of the city and city-region is the compact city. Compact cities and compact urban development are thought to decrease energy and resource demand per capita and increase efficiency. At the same time trade-offs and potential rebound effects of increased resource efficiency question certain achievements of a compact urban structure. This paper reviews aspects of resource and energy efficiency in compact city development in a European context. We conclude that, if the idea of the compact city should have any effect on resource and energy efficiency, accompanying measures have to be implemented, such as e.g. efficient public transport systems to offer alternative travel modes. Also the allocation of efficiency gains due to compact urban development has to be taken into account in order to avoid direct and indirect rebound effects.
2016-07-07T00:00:00Z