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THE DIFFERENCES OF URBAN

DEVELOPMENT TERMS RELATED WİTH

THE URBAN REGENERATION – IN

HISTORICAL ORDER

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yasemin Alkışer Bregger

Ufuk Küçükyazıcı

Görkem Ertuğrul

ITU Group

Third International Workshop: RENEWING / REVITALIZING: Creating liveable cities.

AF Belgrade, June 6-11, 2016

TASK 2: READING REFERENCES

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1. INTRODUCTION

The urban development is a comprehensive concept and it involves various terms

with different definitions; such as urban regeneration, urban revitalization, urban

renewal, urban redevelopment. Despite the similarities among the different urban

regeneration terms, the definitions vary according to the intervention scale,

political decisions and the characteristics of the places.

2. EXPLANATION OF MAIN TERMS

In this report, the different terms related with the urban regeneration are

explained in the historical order according to the explanations of Roberts and

Sykes (2000) Urban Regeneration a Handbook, Pelin Pınar Özden (2008) Urban

Renewal and Robert Cowan (2005) The Dictionary of Urbanism and Peter

Bosselman (2008) Urban Transformation Understanding City Design and Form.

2.1. Urban Clearance (1850’s)

The term, urban clearance is mainly used after 1850’s in Europe related with the

housing policies, urban clearance means the improvements in slum

neighborhoods; demolishing the existing urban structure and creating completely

new urban characteristics (Özden, 2008). After the industrialization in 19 th

century, migration to Paris increased and the living conditions of slum areas were

becoming less appropriate. The problem was realized after the health problems

occurred within the society. In Paris the existing urban structure was demolished

and wide roads, narrow streets and huge squares were developed with the

Haussmann Plan (Paccoud, 2015).

http://thefunambulist.net/2014/04/23/history-chronological-cartography-of-the-1871-paris-commune/

Figure 1: Haussmann Plan Figure 2: Haussmann Plan

2.2. Reconstruction (1950’s)

After the Second World War, in most of the European cities the existing urban

structure was severely damaged due to the bombardments. Therefore it was

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necessary to rebuild the cities. Also, most of the cities historical values and there

were different attitudes for recreating the historical areas; to recreate the same

urban structure before the destruction, to recreate completely new urban

structure. The second attitude is acknowledged as reconstruction because

reconstruction means to demolish the existing urban structure and create a new

urban structure (Beswick, Tsenkova, 2001). “The Basic Plan of Rotterdam” is

determined in order to explain the process of reconstruction. In the beginning of

20th century the influences of modern architecture movements were significant in

Rotterdam with the buildings of modernist architects J.J.P. Oud and Van der

Vlugt. However, the existing urban structure of Rotterdam was destroyed with the

bombardments and it was necessary to design a comprehensive rebuilding plan.

The municipality assigned Witteveen for developing the reconstruction. The main

approach was determined as creating new urban structure for Rotterdam with

new city center, new functions, wide roads; although in most of the European

cities main approach was recreating the existing urban structure before the

bombardments. (Mccarthy, 2010).

http://www.wederopbouwrotterdam.nl/en/tijdlijn/basic-plan-van-traa/

Figure 3: Basic Plan Rotterdam

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2.3. Revitalization (1960’s)

Revitalization means to revive the older parts of the cities by providing new

functions to old buildings with small interventions (Cowan,2005). The approaches

of revitalization have similarities with the urban conservation methods, as the

main concern is to protect the existing urban structure while providing

development. The Plan for historical Centre of Bologna is a significant urban

conservation example which was determined in1969. Bravo (2009) indicates that

the plan includes restorations studies of built environment for functional

morphological socio-economical improvements.

http://www.fredmussat.fr/e-proceedings2_dec09/mirror_of_modernity_bravo.htm

Figure 4: Plan Historical Centre of Bologna

2.4. Renewal (1970’s)

Even though the term renewal had been used since 1940’s, renewal became the

common term for urban developments in 1960’s (Cowan, 2005). Renewal

processes involve recreation the urban fabric based on morphological and

functional improvements after demolishing the existing buildings (Özden, 2008).

Therefore renewal had been interpreted as a negative urban intervention and in

1980’s the term urban renaissance had acknowledged instead of urban renewal.

The developments of London Docklands are determined as an example for

explanation of urban renewal. The studies for London Docklands developments

started in 1980’s by the organization LDDC (London Docklands Development

Corporation) in order to provide economical improvements, new job opportunities,

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and more dwelling opportunities. The developments of Docklands consisted of

renewal of several districts related with each other (Green, Garside, 2013). The

main focus was to revive the neighborhoods economically by creating new

industries, new housing units and recreational opportunities (LDDC).

http://www.lddc-history.org.uk/transport/1tran3.jpg

Figure 5: London Docklands Plan

2.5. Redevelopment (1980’s)

Redevelopment is the demolition and recreation of urban structure of the slum

areas which have no chance either economical or morphological improvements

(Özden, 2008). The definitions of renewal and redevelopment have similarities;

however redevelopment involves small scale interventions compared to renewal.

In order to explain the characteristics of redevelopment, Byker Housing

interventions in Newcastle are determined. The redevelopment of Byker district

started in 1970’s with the clearance of slum areas of the district and Ralph

Erskine was assigned to design the redevelopments. His design approach

includes public participation which give inhabitants opportunity to involve in the

decision making process (Pendlebury, 2006).

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Collymore,P.(1994) http://20thcenturynewcastlearchitecture.wikifoundry.com/page/Byker+Wall

Figure 6: Byker Districts Figure 7: Byker Wall

2.6. Regeneration (1990’s)

Regeneration is defined as creating new urban structure in poor quality

neighborhoods with comprehensive urban interventions for physical and social

improvements (Cowan,2005). Waterfront Toronto developments are big-scale

regeneration example which has started in 1999 in order to design the

developments for economic, social and environmental improvements (Lehrer,

Laidley, 2008). The process of Waterfront Toronto interventions determined in six

main parts, the main aim is to provide more job opportunities, comprehensive

transportation network, clean environment and new waterfront urban structure.

http://www.waterfrontoronto.ca/

Figure 8: Waterfront Toronto

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2.7. Urban transformation (2000’s)

Urban transformation involves regional and international decisions for

improvements in the existing urban structure for urban growth by considering

livability and vitality (Bosselman, 2008). The context of the Loop City is

determined for explanation of urban transformation approaches. The Loop City

which designed by Bjarke Ingels Group in 2010 and contains the development

strategies for Copenhagen integrated with the developments of Dannish and

Swedish cities; Copenhagen, Helsingor, Helsinborg, Lund and Malmö. The main

approach is to develop comprehensive improvements with the social,

environmental, ecological, economical concerns by providing densification on the

peripheral areas city center of Copenhagen (BIG,2010).

Figure 9: The Loop City Plan

3. CONCLUSION: EVALUATING THE CURRENT APPROACHES

Nowadays, all urban regeneration terms have been used, in this report the

differences of the terms explained with examples. The examples show that

through time more comprehensive improvement developed for the urban growth,

especially social, ecological and economic developments are integrated for

redeveloping urban structure.

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Kosancicev Venac is a historical neighborhood located on the banks of river Sava;

therefore revitalization studies for Kosancicev Venac should involve urban

conservation approaches while considering waterfront developments. On the

other hand, social, urban, economic and environmental improvements should be

developed combining each other; as Kosancicev Venac has historical,

environmental values while accommodating residential, commercial, recreational

functions.

References

Bravo, L. (2009), Area Conservation As Socialist Standard-bearer: A Plan for the Historical

Centre of Bologna in 1969, DOCOMOMO, Edinburgh

Cowan, R. (2005), The Dictionary of Urbanism

Collymore,P.(1994), The Architecture of Ralph Erskine, Academy Editions, London, pg.150

Garside P. L., Green D. R. (1992), Reviewing Developments in London's Docks and Docklands, The London Journal, 17:2, 99-102,

DOI:10.1179/ldn.1992.17.2.99

LDDC, London Docklands Development Corporation 1981-1998, An Overview, retrieved

from http://www.lddc-history.org.uk/other/lddcpresentshort.pdf

Lehrer, U. and Laidley, J. (2008), Old Mega-Projects Newly Packaged? Waterfront

Redevelopment in Toronto. International Journal of Urban and Regional

Research, 32: 786–803. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2427.2008.00830.x

Mccarthy, J. (2010), The Redevelopment of Rotterdam since 1945,

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/026654399364247

Özden, P. (2008), Urban Renewal, İstanbul, İmge

Paccoud, A. (2015), Planning Law, Power and Practice: Haussmann in Paris (1853-1870)

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02665433.2015.1089414

Pendlebury, J. (2006), Social Housing as Cultural Landscape: A Case Study of Byker, New

Castle upon Tyne, UNESCO, Newcastle-upon-Tyne