THE THEME: SATURATED CITIES
World population growth, which is expected to continue for a few more decades before peaking in the second half of this century, is accompanied by migration to cities. The cities and their areas of influence will therefore be under pressure to receive more people, until eventual stabilization. To what challenges will this phenomenon confront cities and what does this mean for Canadian cities?
These forecasts have significant meanings for regional economic growth. Changes in urban forms are also expected to adapt to population growth. Managing the mobility of individuals on a global scale will also become central to cities. What powers will different entities, including cities, have to deal with the phenomenon of this anticipated saturation?
The Sub-themes
Unorganized urban growth, which may tend towards a low-density land-use pattern resulting in an increase in urban sprawl or towards hyper-densification, presents several challenges in urban planning, resource consumption adaptation to...
Urban Form
Unorganized urban growth, which may tend towards a low-density land-use pattern resulting in an increase in urban sprawl or towards hyper-densification, presents several challenges in urban planning, resource consumption adaptation to climate change and, of course, urban form.
The spatial organization of a city can offer or deny opportunities for exchange to its inhabitants through access to services. Given these issues, what types of urban forms can be envisaged in order to reconcile a sustainable occupation of the territory with a density that respects the capacity of cities?
The city’s implicit connection to growth is most famously described by Harvey Molotch, who claimed that its sole political and economic purpose is growth (Moloch, 1976). While the growth of urban territories and their populations has...
0-Growth
The city’s implicit connection to growth is most famously described by Harvey Molotch, who claimed that its sole political and economic purpose is growth (Moloch, 1976). While the growth of urban territories and their populations has continued virtually uninterrupted for the modern era, demographic stabilisation in the global North has questioned whether this must continue. Keeping in mind the clear environmental dangers of continued growth, we ask if the city must continue to accept growth as its central economic policy. What rôle can the city play without growth? Is a sustainable and stable city imaginable within the capitalist ethos? Finally, how will competition between urban regions evolve under a zero-growth reality?
Today’s cities are adapting to situations of local and global competition for resources, investment, livability and talent. In this context, cities and their residents are redefining their authority, autonomy, boundaries and...
Cities Power
Today’s cities are adapting to situations of local and global competition for resources, investment, livability and talent. In this context, cities and their residents are redefining their authority, autonomy, boundaries and the nature of their economic output. The modern “city-state” is evolving, and the race to be the next “world class city” is motivating cities to transform their territories and showcase their new-found identity to the world. At the same time, instances of interdependence, collaboration and cooperation between cities are becoming increasingly frequent and important, as challenges such as global peak population overcharge urban infrastructure and services. With these thoughts in mind, what are the impacts of evolving city-states for local governance, mobility, citizenship for city-dwellers? How can city-building professionals respond to the changing territories of city-states? Finally, how can we can city-states work across national boundaries to develop relationships based on collaboration and cooperation, while continuing to strengthen their economies and identities?
The increase in the population of a city may not be the only indicator of its level of "saturation", other factors may be taken into consideration: the number of students, tourists, temporary workers or refugees. Who will...
Population on the Move
The increase in the population of a city may not be the only indicator of its level of "saturation", other factors may be taken into consideration: the number of students, tourists, temporary workers or refugees. Who will get what? Current events remind us that this thorny issue is unlikely to disappear. Questions of identity, legitimacy, and authenticity become crucial in many cities. Some see it as a source of enrichment and as a source of conflict, how can a city make the most of these various forms of population movements?
Unorganized urban growth, which may tend towards a low-density land-use pattern resulting in an increase in urban sprawl or towards hyper-densification, presents several challenges in urban planning, resource consumption adaptation to...
Urban Form
Unorganized urban growth, which may tend towards a low-density land-use pattern resulting in an increase in urban sprawl or towards hyper-densification, presents several challenges in urban planning, resource consumption adaptation to climate change and, of course, urban form.
The spatial organization of a city can offer or deny opportunities for exchange to its inhabitants through access to services. Given these issues, what types of urban forms can be envisaged in order to reconcile a sustainable occupation of the territory with a density that respects the capacity of cities?
The city’s implicit connection to growth is most famously described by Harvey Molotch, who claimed that its sole political and economic purpose is growth (Moloch, 1976). While the growth of urban territories and their populations has...
0-Growth
The city’s implicit connection to growth is most famously described by Harvey Molotch, who claimed that its sole political and economic purpose is growth (Moloch, 1976). While the growth of urban territories and their populations has continued virtually uninterrupted for the modern era, demographic stabilisation in the global North has questioned whether this must continue. Keeping in mind the clear environmental dangers of continued growth, we ask if the city must continue to accept growth as its central economic policy. What rôle can the city play without growth? Is a sustainable and stable city imaginable within the capitalist ethos? Finally, how will competition between urban regions evolve under a zero-growth reality?
Today’s cities are adapting to situations of local and global competition for resources, investment, livability and talent. In this context, cities and their residents are redefining their authority, autonomy, boundaries and...
Cities Power
Today’s cities are adapting to situations of local and global competition for resources, investment, livability and talent. In this context, cities and their residents are redefining their authority, autonomy, boundaries and the nature of their economic output. The modern “city-state” is evolving, and the race to be the next “world class city” is motivating cities to transform their territories and showcase their new-found identity to the world. At the same time, instances of interdependence, collaboration and cooperation between cities are becoming increasingly frequent and important, as challenges such as global peak population overcharge urban infrastructure and services. With these thoughts in mind, what are the impacts of evolving city-states for local governance, mobility, citizenship for city-dwellers? How can city-building professionals respond to the changing territories of city-states? Finally, how can we can city-states work across national boundaries to develop relationships based on collaboration and cooperation, while continuing to strengthen their economies and identities?
The increase in the population of a city may not be the only indicator of its level of "saturation", other factors may be taken into consideration: the number of students, tourists, temporary workers or refugees. Who will...
Population on the Move
The increase in the population of a city may not be the only indicator of its level of "saturation", other factors may be taken into consideration: the number of students, tourists, temporary workers or refugees. Who will get what? Current events remind us that this thorny issue is unlikely to disappear. Questions of identity, legitimacy, and authenticity become crucial in many cities. Some see it as a source of enrichment and as a source of conflict, how can a city make the most of these various forms of population movements?
