#Aula de economia urbana além da crise - em direção a um novo paradigma urbano

BEYOND THE CRISISBEYOND THE CRISISTowards a New Urban Towards a New Urban

Paradigm Paradigm

Laura Burkhalter & Manuel Laura Burkhalter & Manuel CastellsCastells

CONTENTSCONTENTS Part 1: The Current Context of Crisis, its Part 1: The Current Context of Crisis, its

Roots and its Opportunities for ChangeRoots and its Opportunities for Change

Part 2: A Rescue Plan for the Polycentric Part 2: A Rescue Plan for the Polycentric City: New Transportation & Landuse PoliciesCity: New Transportation & Landuse Policies

Part 3: Soft Proposals: Reuse, Community, Part 3: Soft Proposals: Reuse, Community, Communal Space and Everyday LifeCommunal Space and Everyday Life

Part 4: The City of Hope: How to Make it Part 4: The City of Hope: How to Make it Happen Happen

PART 1PART 1

THE CURRENT CONTEXT OF CRISIS, ITS THE CURRENT CONTEXT OF CRISIS, ITS ROOTS AND ITS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ROOTS AND ITS OPPORTUNITIES FOR

CHANGECHANGE


CHANGE CHANGE

We live in the midst of a We live in the midst of a structural crisisstructural crisis that affects that affects everything and everybody. It is not the end of the world, everything and everybody. It is not the end of the world, but it is the end of one particular world, the world built in but it is the end of one particular world, the world built in the last two decades on a card house of speculative global the last two decades on a card house of speculative global finance. finance. The current crisis is not just economicThe current crisis is not just economic. It is a . It is a social,environmental, spiritual and spatial crisis that has social,environmental, spiritual and spatial crisis that has resulted in an economic collapse, and may usher in resulted in an economic collapse, and may usher in anumber of ominous developmentsanumber of ominous developments


CHANGE CHANGE

The urban dimension of the crisis is not The urban dimension of the crisis is not peripheral, but central to the model of social peripheral, but central to the model of social and economic organization. and economic organization.

TheThe trigger of the crisis was the trigger of the crisis was the crumbling of the housing mortgage crumbling of the housing mortgage market as a result of the high risk market as a result of the high risk lending practices, the so-called lending practices, the so-called subprime loans. subprime loans.

Urban Transformation and Urban Transformation and the Taming of the Economic the Taming of the Economic

CrisisCrisis

Urban policies have always been Urban policies have always been connected to the management of the connected to the management of the transition from one economic model transition from one economic model to another. to another.


CrisisCrisis

. Under the current conditions of confusion and . Under the current conditions of confusion and potential chaos, we believe in potential chaos, we believe in the power of ideas the power of ideas as levers of transformationas levers of transformation. Thus, we want to . Thus, we want to contribute to the growing debate on which kind of contribute to the growing debate on which kind of city may better respond to the economic, city may better respond to the economic, environmental, social and functional challenges of environmental, social and functional challenges of the new world we are entering,reluctantly for the new world we are entering,reluctantly for most people and institutions, as a result of the most people and institutions, as a result of the bankruptcy of the economic and spatial modelon bankruptcy of the economic and spatial modelon which our lives have been based. which our lives have been based.


CrisisCrisis

Change happens because the old Change happens because the old system cannot function any longer. system cannot function any longer. However, change does not However, change does not necessarily mean improvement. necessarily mean improvement.


CrisisCrisis

A shrunk (reduzido) model of capital A shrunk (reduzido) model of capital accumulation in the urban accumulation in the urban environment may result in retrenched environment may result in retrenched urban fortresses surrounded by urban fortresses surrounded by marginalized settlements rather than marginalized settlements rather than in a redeployment of our ability to live in a redeployment of our ability to live together. together.


CrisisCrisis

. And so, we want to propose a number of . And so, we want to propose a number of initiatives that could change the course of initiatives that could change the course of urbanization towards a sustainable city with urbanization towards a sustainable city with abetter quality of life. We do not indulge in utopia. abetter quality of life. We do not indulge in utopia. The problems we are facing are too serious to play The problems we are facing are too serious to play with dreams, in spite of the energizing value of with dreams, in spite of the energizing value of dreams. We are identifying some of the decisive dreams. We are identifying some of the decisive flaws of our urban living, and suggesting a number flaws of our urban living, and suggesting a number of practical initiatives to induce the transformation of practical initiatives to induce the transformation of our built environment. of our built environment.


CrisisCrisis Because of the tentative character of Because of the tentative character of

our elaboration, we have chosen to our elaboration, we have chosen to open a series of windows on a open a series of windows on a possible new urban world, rather possible new urban world, rather than articulating a systematic urban than articulating a systematic urban vision. vision.


CrisisCrisis This stems fromour conviction that This stems fromour conviction that

transformation does not follow an transformation does not follow an orderly rationale but rather it results orderly rationale but rather it results from multiple mutations in various from multiple mutations in various dimensions of the urban system that, dimensions of the urban system that, in their convergence, end up in their convergence, end up modifying the overall dynamics of modifying the overall dynamics of urban space. urban space.


CrisisCrisis While specific spatial and social While specific spatial and social

contexts call for specific policy contexts call for specific policy proposals, we believe that the proposals, we believe that the underlying principles of our urban underlying principles of our urban intervention apply, with the proper intervention apply, with the proper adaptation, to most of the forms of adaptation, to most of the forms of human settlements on our urbanized, human settlements on our urbanized, endangered planet. endangered planet.


CrisisCrisis Looking at urban forms and Looking at urban forms and

processes from the people’s processes from the people’s perspective, there are some basic perspective, there are some basic needs and desires that cities should needs and desires that cities should provide: [..?..] We must add from provide: [..?..] We must add from the the point of viewpoint of view of humankind and its of humankind and its future, the environmental future, the environmental sustainability of the metropolis, and sustainability of the metropolis, and of the earth’s eco-system at large. of the earth’s eco-system at large.

some basic needs and desires some basic needs and desires that cities should providethat cities should provide

a decent, affordable shelter; [moradia decente a decent, affordable shelter; [moradia decente acessível]acessível]

a healthy environment; adequate urban a healthy environment; adequate urban infrastructure; infrastructure;

a communication/transportation system that a communication/transportation system that ensures mobility and connectivity;ensures mobility and connectivity;

personal safety and psychological peace of mind; personal safety and psychological peace of mind; access to health and education;access to health and education; ..

some basic needs and desires some basic needs and desires that cities should providethat cities should provide

a spatial form that facilitates sociability, anchored in public a spatial form that facilitates sociability, anchored in public spaces throughout the metropolitan area; spaces throughout the metropolitan area;

the capacity to satisfy a share of the basic needs without the capacity to satisfy a share of the basic needs without depending on commercial consumption, for instance, depending on commercial consumption, for instance, growing their own food within the territory of the growing their own food within the territory of the metropolitan area (urban farming); metropolitan area (urban farming);

the ability to express peoples’ culture at large, placing art the ability to express peoples’ culture at large, placing art and cultureat the heart of social practice;and cultureat the heart of social practice;

the integration between the built environment and the the integration between the built environment and the natural environment.natural environment.

Need jobs, and income, and a sound Need jobs, and income, and a sound local economic development policy.local economic development policy.

Of course,, we contend that while the Of course,, we contend that while the current system is broken, both economically current system is broken, both economically and spatially, the process of urban and spatially, the process of urban transformation we are suggesting may transformation we are suggesting may support support a new model of economic growtha new model of economic growth based on true value, higher human based on true value, higher human creativity and creativity and a regulatory systema regulatory system that that would maximize economic yields, including would maximize economic yields, including employment, while minimizing waste and employment, while minimizing waste and speculation. [AQUE ENTRA A POLÍTICA speculation. [AQUE ENTRA A POLÍTICA ESTRUTURAL] ESTRUTURAL]

Two Different ProblemsTwo Different Problems

the failure of 20th century planningthe failure of 20th century planning

the global economic and the global economic and environmental crisisenvironmental crisis

The Failure of 20th Century The Failure of 20th Century Planning ApproachPlanning Approach

This approach assumes a This approach assumes a clean slateclean slate [ARDÓSIA LIMPA/TERRA ARRASADA] as a [ARDÓSIA LIMPA/TERRA ARRASADA] as a starting point and may serve as a starting point and may serve as a template template for creating new patterns of for creating new patterns of spatial development in parts of the world spatial development in parts of the world engaged in engaged in building brand new building brand new metropolitan regionsmetropolitan regions adjacent to current adjacent to current cities or in rare cases, cities or in rare cases, in the middle of in the middle of nothingnothing..

the global economic and the global economic and environmental crisisenvironmental crisis

We will focus onspecific We will focus onspecific urban functionsurban functions to illustrate the kind of to illustrate the kind of new urban new urban strategiesstrategies that could deal with the current that could deal with the current economic crisis, alleviate the global economic crisis, alleviate the global environmental crisis, and induce environmental crisis, and induce new new forms of urban lifeforms of urban life that would be that would be people-people-centeredcentered rather than rather than profit-centeredprofit-centered. .

PART 2PART 2

A RESCUE PLAN A RESCUE PLAN [RESGATE] FOR THE [RESGATE] FOR THE POLYCENTRIC CITYPOLYCENTRIC CITY

NEW TRANSPORTATION & NEW TRANSPORTATION & LAND USE POLICIESLAND USE POLICIES

THE POLYCENTRIC THE POLYCENTRIC CITY CITY

NEW TRANSPORTATION & NEW TRANSPORTATION & LAND USE POLICIESLAND USE POLICIES

NEW NEW TRANSPORTATION & TRANSPORTATION & LAND USE POLICIESLAND USE POLICIES

Moving People, Saving Moving People, Saving Energy, Cleaning the AirEnergy, Cleaning the Air

The 21st Century The 21st Century Multimodal TransportationMultimodal Transportation

SystemSystem

The economic prosperity of a region The economic prosperity of a region is directly proportional to this is directly proportional to this matrix matrix of movement. of movement.

The 21st Century The 21st Century Multimodal Transportation Multimodal Transportation

SystemSystem

The quality and number of The quality and number of connections created by people to connections created by people to people and people to information is people and people to information is an essential factor of productivity. an essential factor of productivity.


SystemSystem

An idea based economy will never An idea based economy will never outdate the need for transporting outdate the need for transporting goods to the users. goods to the users.


System: Solutions and AnglesSystem: Solutions and Angles

i) The level of infrastructural i) The level of infrastructural possibilities;possibilities;

ii) The quality of the individual ii) The quality of the individual carriages;carriages;

iii) To address the overall need and iii) To address the overall need and distance of travel.distance of travel.

Infrastructural PossibilitiesInfrastructural Possibilities

Looking at cities across the globe, clearly the Looking at cities across the globe, clearly the most miserably ineffective ones are the ones that most miserably ineffective ones are the ones that rely on rely on a single mode of transportationa single mode of transportation, usually , usually the surface street catering to the automobile with the surface street catering to the automobile with the bus as its onlyalternative. [...] In contrast, the the bus as its onlyalternative. [...] In contrast, the cities that have at least cities that have at least two existing modalitiestwo existing modalities, , such as surface streets and a thorough subway or such as surface streets and a thorough subway or light rail systems already function exponentially light rail systems already function exponentially better than their mono-transportation better than their mono-transportation counterparts. counterparts.

. .

infrastructural possibilitiesinfrastructural possibilities

Cities with Cities with dual systemsdual systems are able to are able to absorb absorb higher urban densitieshigher urban densities without without collapse and they provide residents collapse and they provide residents with options that fit and include a with options that fit and include a more diverse range of social classes more diverse range of social classes and personal circumstances. and personal circumstances.

infrastructural possibilitiesinfrastructural possibilities

The The higher urban densityhigher urban density allows for allows for people to live closer to work and the people to live closer to work and the transportation options help people transportation options help people effectively effectively avoid unnecessary financial avoid unnecessary financial and personal hardship (dificuldade) and personal hardship (dificuldade) over their mobilityover their mobility. This is a key factor . This is a key factor in giving people and a city its competitive in giving people and a city its competitive edge and providing its region with edge and providing its region with economic prosperity. economic prosperity.

The Infrastructural The Infrastructural InterventionsInterventions

They are the creation of a They are the creation of a multi-modal transportation multi-modal transportation networknetwork. [This new network is to be superimposed over the . [This new network is to be superimposed over the existing infrastructure]existing infrastructure]

In other words, existing cuts through the city fabric (major In other words, existing cuts through the city fabric (major roads, freeways, etc) would now be utilized for roads, freeways, etc) would now be utilized for multiple multiple purposespurposes, rather than the current , rather than the current mono functionmono function, in a , in a multi-multi-tiered approachtiered approach

The Infrastructural The Infrastructural InterventionsInterventions

Bicycles (walking) and similar low Bicycles (walking) and similar low impact modes of individual transportimpact modes of individual transport

The multi-modal highway and The multi-modal highway and freeway solutionsfreeway solutions

The alternate modalities are to be The alternate modalities are to be superimposed over large thorough superimposed over large thorough streets and freeways [?!!] by creating streets and freeways [?!!] by creating an upper level street in a way to an upper level street in a way to maximize the benefits and minimize maximize the benefits and minimize the disadvantages of each mode. the disadvantages of each mode.

The multi-modal highway and The multi-modal highway and freeway solutionsfreeway solutions

The most pleasant modalities in The most pleasant modalities in terms of least noise and pollution terms of least noise and pollution and greatest esthetic value get the and greatest esthetic value get the most privileged position, the top. most privileged position, the top.

Quality of vesselsQuality of vessels

i) Intelligent city cars,i) Intelligent city cars,

ii) smart motorcycles ii) smart motorcycles

Iii) Self charging electric bicycles.Iii) Self charging electric bicycles.

Landuse and the Need and Landuse and the Need and Distance of TravelDistance of Travel

PROBLEMA PROBLEMA Metropolitan transportation depends Metropolitan transportation depends

on the structure of transportation on the structure of transportation flows that ultimately depends on land flows that ultimately depends on land use patterns use patterns dictated by the interests dictated by the interests of real estate developers.of real estate developers.


SOLUÇÃO SOLUÇÃO To increase the multifunctionality of To increase the multifunctionality of

sub-metropolitan urban areas, so that sub-metropolitan urban areas, so that residences, services, commercial residences, services, commercial facilities, and jobs, are clustered, thus facilities, and jobs, are clustered, thus limiting travel between mono-limiting travel between mono-functional spatial units. functional spatial units.


SOLUÇÃOSOLUÇÃO The polycentric metropolis should establish a The polycentric metropolis should establish a

regulatory frameworkregulatory framework that would allow the mixed that would allow the mixed uses of space, would sharply curtail the exclusive uses of space, would sharply curtail the exclusive residential uses of certain areas, and would limit residential uses of certain areas, and would limit the concentration of services and retail shopping the concentration of services and retail shopping in freeway dependent mega-centers. In other in freeway dependent mega-centers. In other words, zoning should not be left to the local words, zoning should not be left to the local planning agencies but should be designed on a planning agencies but should be designed on a metropolitan scalemetropolitan scale, taking into account the , taking into account the transportation consequences of landuse patterns.transportation consequences of landuse patterns.

PART 3PART 3SOFT PROPOSALS:SOFT PROPOSALS:

REUSE, COMMUNITY, REUSE, COMMUNITY, COMMUNAL SPACE AND COMMUNAL SPACE AND

EVERYDAYEVERYDAY

REUSE, COMMUNITY, REUSE, COMMUNITY, COMMUNAL SPACE AND COMMUNAL SPACE AND

EVERYDAY LIFEEVERYDAY LIFE

Creative Re-use of Creative Re-use of Failed Economic-spatial Failed Economic-spatial

ModelsModels

Creative Re-use of Creative Re-use of Failed Economic-Failed Economic-

Spatial ModelsSpatial Models the re-use of existing built structures the re-use of existing built structures

that lose functionality under the that lose functionality under the conditions of an economy conditions of an economy characterized by the crisis of characterized by the crisis of financialand real estate corporations, financialand real estate corporations, and by a substantial reduction of and by a substantial reduction of consumption levels. consumption levels.


Spatial ModelsSpatial Models We propose that the government We propose that the government

should include in the financial should include in the financial bailout bailout packages packages (Planos de Resgates) (Planos de Resgates) handed to large corporations the handed to large corporations the right to manage this corporate office right to manage this corporate office space to rent it, at a subsidized rate, space to rent it, at a subsidized rate, for start up, entrepreneurial business for start up, entrepreneurial business firms in the knowledge services firms in the knowledge services sector. sector.


Spatial ModelsSpatial Models We propose to convert failed strip We propose to convert failed strip

malls into mixed use housing, malls into mixed use housing, commercial and communal services, commercial and communal services, and use their huge parking lots for a and use their huge parking lots for a gardened courtyard, including some gardened courtyard, including some areas of community farming. areas of community farming.

Urban Self-Urban Self-RelianceReliance

From Shopping Malls to From Shopping Malls to Urban FarmingUrban Farming

The Heart (s) of The Heart (s) of the Citythe City

Public SpacePublic Space

Housing for Living:Housing for Living:

From Unsustainable From Unsustainable Models to Community Models to Community Based Dwelling FormsBased Dwelling Forms

PART 4PART 4

CITY OF HOPECITY OF HOPEHOW TO MAKE IT HAPPENHOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

CITY OF HOPECITY OF HOPE HOW TO MAKE IT HOW TO MAKE IT

HAPPENHAPPEN

The City of Fear, the City The City of Fear, the City of Hopeof Hope

How to Make it How to Make it HappenHappen

Grassrooting the Grassrooting the MetropolisMetropolis

#Aula de economia urbana além da crise - em direção a um novo paradigma urbano

Education

urban question

global economic

metropolitan

urban farming

modal highway

built environment

current context

transportation