Abstracts Sociology

Developing Sustainable Urban Areas: Recommendations on urban form and development approach based on theory and top-down & bottom-up planning examples Overhoeks and Buiksloterham:

by KYG Steen

In recent years the concept of mixed-use has emerged as a popular planning tool for urban planners to develop sustainable urban areas. With reason, because a clear positive relationship between function mix and urban sustainability in social, environmental and economic sense can be established from research. In practice however, we see that the physical interpretation of the concept of mixed-use and the urban area development process employed for mixed-use areas, although pursued enthusiastically in projects all over the world, varies greatly from project to project. The effect is that some (re) developed areas are not achieving the full sustainability benefits they aimed at with implementing mixed-use. A problem in practice is indicated that there is uncertainty in the field of urban area development on how to develop sustainable mixed-use urban areas, both in terms of product (what to develop) and process (how to develop it). This is subscribed by, although extensive research is done on both topics, a lack of formulated physical specifics in literature on the sustainable urban form of mixed-use, as well as lack of a clear answer on what development approach is best for developing mixed-use areas from the perspective of sustainabilty of the end-result. To enhance the success of this kind of developments, this paper will formulate a clear answer on the main research question ‘how can long term urban sustainability be achieved in urban area developments’ by determining the product (urban form) and process (development approach)- aspects that are important in the context of achieving sustainable mixed-use urban areas. This will be done by synthesizing the existing, dispersed knowledge on sustainable urbanism and urban area development along a well-substantiated perspective of ‘optimal’ sustainability and by studying two development approaches in practice. From this, a cohesive framework of aligned recommendations on urban form and development approach focused on achieving sustainable mixed-use areas will be made, providing actors in the urban area development process with the possibility to actively steer on these aspects and ensure better sustainable performances of the development result. Based on the findings from theory and empiry, the urban form that offers most potential for achieving long term urban sustainability in urban area developments can be defined as mixed-use neighbourhoods with specific physical features that foster walkability, vibrancy, diversity, freedom for the end-user to shape his own environment, and a sense of identity. Each of these features are substantiated by multiple researches. The concept of mixed-use development is appointed by practice as well as theory as the urban form that offers most potential of achieving long term urban sustainability. Long term urban sustainability is in this research defined as holistic long term economical, environmental and social viability of urban areas. Thorough reflection on the topic by contemporary theories on sustainable urbanism as well as long term… Advisors/Committee Members: Chen, Y., Hausleitner, B..