2015 Definite Space – Fuzzy Responsibility, Prague, 13-16th July
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Publication Open Access A case for reconsidering the inclusive urban design debate(AESOP, 2015) Ilie, Elisabeta G.Mainstream theory and practice of inclusive urban design focus predominantly on the free access and use of the built environment. This becomes problematic when set against the homonymous theory which argues for places for all, under what appears to be a holistic, yet vague definition of ‘inclusivity’. Moreover, a design focus on physical accessibility leaves unaddressed questions on users who are to benefit from inclusive design practices, to what extent and how that is to be achieved. The present paper argues that in order to legitimately discuss issues of inclusivity in an urban design context, the discipline needs to consider not only urban design process and outcome, but also mechanisms behind exclusion/ inclusion processes and how these are embedded in everyday urban practices, artefacts and spaces. This can only be attained by re-considering and re-phrasing the very concept of inclusive urban design. Building on a critique of the purpose and the function of the discipline, the paper challenges in-place notions of inclusive urban design and explores its limitations against taken-for-granted notions of everyday urban reality. This is done by drawing on sociological theories of socio-cultural production of space/place and of the body in space, with the aim to outline a more comprehensive and, potentially, more effective understanding of inclusive urban design.Publication Open Access A comparative study of the European and Japanese definitions of shrinking cities as applied to Japan(AESOP, 2015) Uemura, TetsujiPopulation decline and industrial decline are obvious phenomena not only in Europe but also in Japan. Issues related to population and industrial decline have been actively discussed, and academic knowledge and analysis based on international comparative studies are expected to develop countermeasures to the most critical situations. The definition of shrinking city that is applied, however, is not necessarily the same, and such a fundamental element of the discussion has not been fully examined so far. This study, therefore, aims at comparing the different definitions of “shrinking cities” used in Japan and Europe and developing the best way to provide a reliable basis for future discussion on shrinking cities’ topics. The results of this comparative study suggest that COST Action’s definition allows an analysis of Japanese cities to include the so-called “depopulated area issue” because the Japanese population in municipalities is rather bigger than the population in European municipalities, and Japanese cities may have lower figures for population density distribution and artificial land use within their territory. In conclusion, Japanese sampled cities based on the Japanese definition are not necessarily suitable for the basis of a comparison study. This is because some Japanese “cities” do not satisfy objective criteria such as population size because the “city” has never been downgraded having once been upgraded to “city”. Rather, the European definition of “city” better reflects the elements of the city, so that Japan should also follow the European definition of “city” for future discussions on shrinking cities.Publication Open Access A mixed methods approach to measuring neighbourhood social capital: a case study in south east Queensland, Australia(AESOP, 2015) Osborne, Caroline; Baldwin, Claudia; Thomsen, DanaThis paper investigates how a mixed-methods approach to measuring social capital urban planning contexts to enhance best practice outcomes. Literature in the d capital, health, participation, resilience and sustainable development suggest capital at the neighbourhood scale can increase community cohesion, trust, recip capacity, civic participation and resilience. Exploring how bonding, bridging capital is expressed in a middle class coastal community on the Sunshine Coa Queensland, Australia, a mixed methods approach to measuring social capital benefits of qualitative methods in particular provided an in-depth and understanding of social capital at the neighbourhood unit of analysis. Further fluid construct, where growth in one dimension of social capital, such as bon contribute to growth in bridging social capital, and vice versa. The authors social capital is often invoked in an urban planning context to identify sociothe social capital construct and its comprehensive measurement holds far greater planners and developers when applied to urban planning best practice in neighbourhood.Publication Open Access A Preliminary Study on Re-examining Housing Demand from a Homeownership Perspective in Taiwan(AESOP, 2015) Huang, Ping-Geng; Chao, Tzu-YuanSince the last decade, the peculiar phenomenon of .high housing price, high vacan homeownership rate. has occurred due to the changes of housing market and socio-economic conditions in Taiwan. On one hand, the housing supply keep increasing while on the other hand, the housing demand from middle-income families remain unsatisfied due to the ever-increasing housing price. The unbalance between supply and demand in housing markets result in the queries about how homeownership affects the housing market and how we could adjust housing policies. This study re-examined the correlation between housing demand and homeownership, and analyzed its influence on housing market from institutional and economic aspect. Findings show that housing policies in Taiwan have a fundamental stand for advocating homeownership during every developing period, causing the unbalance of housing tenure of choice. From economic perspective, it is concluded that high homeownership rate in Taiwan is affected by anticipation of high house price increment as well as the low taxation of owner-occupied housing, and form a self-reinforcing cycle along with housing price and vacancy. It is expected that further study would use a tenure choice model to estimate the change of the factors to housing demand so as to provide evidence for the theoretical argument.Publication Open Access A study on the action mechanism of conservation laws and policies for historic towns and villages in China(AESOP, 2015) Ge, Tianyang; Hou, WenjunIn the past 30 years, the conservation of historical and cultural towns and villages in China has greatly developed. On the one hand, this paper reviewed the development, laws and policies system, and action mechanism of the conservation of historical and cultural towns and villages. First, the development of the conservation can be divided into three stages: the beginning stage, the national level conservation stage, and the legal system construction stage. Second, in policy respect, a policy system basing on two laws one ordinance was introduced, including 2 national laws, one national ordinance, several ministerial rules and regulations and over 100 local policies. Third, in conservation mechanism respect, a system of policies was introduced, including historical and cultural towns and vi application and approving, conservation planning, administration and financial support. On the other hand, shortages in the conservation were indicated. First, there is lack of ministerial and local policies focus on towns and villages. Second, there are too many administrative government departments and the conservation efficiency is low. Third, there is lack of sustainable development guidance, such as economy, society, population and culture. And these are the fields to be improved.Publication Open Access A Study on the Optimized Evaluation Criteria for a Disaster-Prevention Urban Area in Yongkang District, Tainan City(AESOP, 2015) Yu, Yunchi; Chao, TzuyuanSince the 921 earthquake struck Taiwan in 1999, Disaster-Prevention Urban (DPUR) become one of the major considerations in disaster-prevention policy. T DPUR projects by the Ministry of the Interior in 2013 aims to introduce an integ for urban areas with higher disaster risks. However, the need for clear and ite criteria for DPUR area selection is crucial. Controversial debates regardi designating the renewal area might result in high-risk area being undervalued low-risk area could be overvalued and stigmatized. Therefore, this research is proper evaluation criteria for DPUR areas in order to balance the possible negat on the renewal area. This research will be based on the second phase of the DPUR Research Project District, Tainan City, which was brought up by the Ministry of the Interior. buildings risk map, blocks with higher ratio of high-risk buildings per block w the potential DPUR areas. Secondly, cost-benefit analysis will be contacted for different ratio of the high-risk buildings. If benefit exceeds cost then it mak further invest in reducing the risk of disasters. Renewal cost will consider buildings, construction cost and land expropriation cost, etc. Renewal benefit potential disaster loss. This research is expecting to establish a better eva facilitate the designation of DPUR area that could consider both the moral conce feasibility.Publication Open Access Accessibility to culture and heritage: designing for all(AESOP, 2015) Deffner, Alex; Psatha, Eva; Bogiantzidis, Nicolaos; Mantas, Neoklis; Vlachaki, Elena; Ntaflouka, PolyxeniThis paper is based on the Guide that was elaborated in the context of the European INTERREG IVC programme CHARTS (Culture and Heritage Added Value to Regional Policies for Tourism Sustainability) project by the Laboratory for Tourism Planning, Research and Policy (University of Thessaly). The Guide examines the Accessibility to Heritage for all people by defining three moments: a) physical accessibility: the visitor to / receiver of a cultural good uses his/her body structure and functions in order to move inside the product in its original material manifestation or experience sensorially its tangible or intangible reproductions, b) perceptual accessibility: the moment of understanding culture/heritage and it has to do with the perceptiveness of the receiver and is closely linked to the receiver’s educational background, way of living and habitual mode of intellectual operation and finally c) appropriational accessibility: the apex of accessibility is the combination of the two previously acquired moments and it happens when the visitor/receiver may consider culture/heritage as part of himself/herself (familiarization) and use the adopted experience to intertwine his/her own story (narrational production). The Guide supports the idea of a sustainable management of culture, heritage, tourism and it is inspired by the principles of Universal Design: all people should enjoy in the same way same benefits and high quality services offered. The Guide tries to clarify the misunderstandings connected to the notion of accessibility, proposes policies for achieving accessibility to all cultural activity and gives planning principles for the strategic management of accessibility to heritage.Publication Open Access Accountability and relational governance: the case of brainport Eindhoven, the Netherlands(AESOP, 2015) Huang, Wei-JuIt has been argued that the new form of relational governance might lead to a substantial deficit of democratic accountability, but in previous studies less attention has been paid to what accountability is and how to systematically analyse it before announcing there are accountability deficits. In order to advance the knowledge of accountability and relational governance, this paper examines the notion of accountability and adopts a conceptual framework of public accountability established by Mark Bovens to conduct a case study of Eindhoven city-regional governance. Eindhoven city-region has been recognised as a successful story of high-tech development and its success is a result of a new form of relational governance—close collaboration between different levels of government and other parties, including high-tech firms and knowledge institutes. Major focus is put on the establishment and operation of the Brainport organizations, which perfectly represents the new form of relational governance in Eindhoven city-region. By mapping its networks of accountability and assessing its accountability arrangement, this paper finds that the degree of the Brainport organizations’ accountability toward the municipal councils differs from municipality to municipality. While the councils of municipal stakeholders of Brainport Development NV may use municipal regular planning and control cycle of annual memorandum, reports, and budget to influence the content and financial frameworks of Brainport organizations’ year plan to certain degree, the councils of non-stakeholder municipalities in Eindhoven city-region can hardly ever influence the decision making of the Brainport organizations. From either the democratic or the learning perspective, the institutional arrangement of the Brainport organizations insufficiently satisfy the criteria of accountability. This indicates large space for improvement. Further, the case study results remind us that comparing to the traditional governance mode the nature of relational governance is rather dynamic. It is a learning by doing process and is constantly shaped by the alteration of national policy as well as of the changing agreements between the municipalities. Thus, it deserves continuously monitoring and investigating the change of city-regional institutional setting and its influences on the accountability arrangement of the relational governance.Publication Open Access Achievements and challenges on inclusionary housing and land value captures instruments in Brazil to produce socially mixed neighbourhoods(AESOP, 2015) Freire Santoro, PaulaSince the 1980s in Brazil there’s a recognition of irregular settlements struggle for their urban integration in a way that transformed public action on these spaces, creating a new way to intervene in order to qualify the urban settlements and environment and city and housing rights, guaranteeing settlements tenure. In this context, emerged the instrument of Special Social Housing Zones (SSHZ), designed initially focused on the recognition of the struggle of the residents of informal settlements and their integration in the city in the 1980s. In 1990s, another strategy was chosen using the same instrument over sub used of empty areas: to overcome social territorial exclusion models through urban regulation. The hypothesis was that to intervene in urban regulations can produce the opposite effect zoning historically promoted: exclusion, segregation, gentrification. This paper shows some Brazilian experiences that tried to combine SSHZ with land value capture in Master Plans to combine resources captured in Urban Operation (public + private partnership), to spent in social housing projects to promote inclusion and avoid segregation. B circle: not always the resources are enough to support the housing deficit in the area, the exclusion happens inside the urban project by defining big areas as the perimeter to receive resources, and often, we can find more public budget funding housing and transport interventions that should be the aim of land value capture. Highlights that the slum upgrading is not used on these strong market contexts, and points to the hypothesis that it can be also a part of a strategy to overlook the gentrification process that can happen, considering the characteristics of the relocation process. But yes, Brazil is using land value capture traditional instruments to be combined with slum upgrading, although, it is more often used the more expensive option: public budget to fund slum upgrading, outside the market driven context of urban operations.Publication Open Access Actually, varying neoliberalism in a global zone: development phases in Sydney’s darling harbour(AESOP, 2015) Searle, GlenThis paper traces the successive phases of the redevelopment of the Darling Harbo as a central focus of the city’s transformation into a global city since the 1980 the paper is to identify the different versions of neoliberalism employed in each the institutional and politico-economic factors that have generated varying versi in the same zone. The paper takes the premise of Peck, Theodore and Brenner (2009 neoliberalism in practice is an imperfect vehicle that has to accommodate existing institutions and political structures as a starting point. The distinctive contri demonstrate how neoliberal outcomes in a given area draw selectively on such cont consequentially to show how the place-specific practices of neoliberalism can var time as different factors are drawn on at different times according to micro-poli changing development objectives. The paper analyses four stages of redevelopment Harbour area, using primary and secondary sources, to develop its argument: the Authority scheme of the 1980s; the City West Development Corporation redevelopment area in the 1990s; the post-2000 redevelopment of remaining old port land by the Delivery Authority; and the current redevelopment of convention and entertainment private Lend Lease Corporation.Publication Open Access Adopt a neighbourhood: when planners meet schoolchildren(AESOP, 2015) Picone, Marco; Schilleci, Filippo; Lotta, FrancescaThroughout this paper we will present a project that revolves around the idea of the neighbourhood as an ‘identity container’ and aims at bridging the gap between traditional planning programmes and the new challenges linked both to the crisis of public spaces and to participatory planning. During the last two years, our University has been working in cooperation with the Municipality of Palermo and many primary and secondary schools of the city on a project called ‘La scuola adotta il quartiere’ (‘Schools Adopt Neighbourhoods’). Within the project, planning students from the University guided the schoolchildren (8- to 13-years old) to the discovery of their neighbourhood and its community. Planners also had a key role in helping their younger ‘colleagues’ in the proposal and development of collectively discussed renewal policies: for instance, some of them proposed an urban renewal intervention in the well-known and deprived ZEN neighbourhood, and this proposal was later approved by the Municipality. This process caused a mutual beneficial effect: on the one hand, schoolchildren became more conscious of the idea and nature of their neighbourhood and of the notion of ethical participation. On the other hand, planning students began to concretely explore the social role they are called to play in our contemporary society, and the ethical dilemmas that every participatory project involves.Publication Open Access Affordable or unaffordable? A Preliminary study of a reasonable social housing rental price range in Taipei City(AESOP, 2015) Hung, Tzu-Han; Chao, Tzu-YuanThe central government in Taiwan enacted the Housing Act in 2011, in which social housing was firstly well-defined in the housing policy history. In the Article 3, social housing built by the government or private sector with subsidies from the government that is primarily rented. Hence, each local government is required to develop the pricing model based on the housing demand. However, Taipei City for instance, the average rental price of social housing is unified by 30% off market price and apply to any income levels households. It is questionable of whether certain standard could really meet the affordability of the disadvantaged groups. The past researches were mostly concentrated on the quantity and the distribution of social housing provision. There are few studies discussing about the rent setting system, which is probing whether the pricing is actually affordable or not. Therefore, this paper intends to examine that the social housing in Taipei City was unaffordable no matter in the past or now by using rent-to-income ratio. Furthermore, this research will review the target group, rent setting and providing mechanism in different countries. Through the case studies, Taipei City can learn the practice of other countries, and improve the problem of unaffordable social housing. According to above, this paper would practice one rent setting system of the countries, which is considered by similar economic and society structure to Taipei City, as a preliminary study of reasonable social housing rental price.Publication Open Access An initial exploration of Disneyland Shanghai from a planning perspective(AESOP, 2015) Mao, Weifeng; Warren, RobertAfter more than ten years negotiation, Disneyland ultimately decided to locate in Shanghai. This article firstly makes an introduction of the background of Disneyland in Shanghai, and analyzes the balance of its investment and return, explores cultural difference, which will help culture exchange Disney culture was brought to Asia, and local culture in Asia, especially in China, affected western culture other than Disney culture. On the other hand, it’ll help Walt Disney World and government to plan a better Disneyland. Furthermore, it explores the strengths and weaknesses of five existing Disney worlds. It analyzes the influence on economic, cultural, planning and governance/management field, and costs and benefits. From the study of Disneyland worldwide, especially Disneyland Hong Kong, according to the background of Shanghai and China, several suggestions are proposed to Disneyland Shanghai, to present an initial exploration of the range of issues that can be raised about the influence of the Disney theme park on Shanghai. Finally, this article draws a conclusion---an agenda for further research and policy analysis from a planning perspective, including their operation mode, competition with other theme parks and its survival issue, and ticket price and ticket selling system. Last but not the least, it analyzes the potential influence on the price of land and house, as well as the stock market.Publication Open Access An inquiry into socio-spatial segregation: case of Syrian urban refugees in Turkish border city(AESOP, 2015) Tuzcu, NilMassive influx of displaced people into urban areas reshapes cities’ economic, social, political and spatial structures. This research creates a broader understanding of the displaced person phenomenon as one of the main drivers of the urban transformation through analyzing formation of urban marginality in the case of Syrian refugees in a Turkish border city, Gaziantep. This paper uses the findings from the fieldwork that I conducted in Gaziantep including in-depth interviews with both refugee and host communities, and a series of mapping exercises showing the spatial distribution of urban refugee in the city. The urban marginalization explored in the research reveals that the city itself as a social and physical entity is as important as policy interventions in the integration process of refugees.Publication Open Access An overview of the major causes behind the low efficiency of light rail systems in Russian cities: the case study of the perm urban train project(AESOP, 2015) Saveleva, Ekaterina; Maksimova, SvetlanaLike many other Russian cities, Perm - a city of slightly under one million inhabitants in the European part of Russia - suffers from sprawl, inadequate transportation system and consequent mobility problems. The population is scattered over the comparatively large area (Perm is the 6th largest Russian city in terms of area being only 13th in terms of population) and most of the remote areas of the city are not well integrated with the city centre. Being aware of the problem and seeking to improve the connectivity between different areas of the city local authorities have launched the project Perm Urban Train in 2004. The set up using the existing railway lines with an ambitious aspiration to become a skeleton of the city transport system. The goal, however, was not achieved so far. The paper years experience of Perm to develop its system of light rail trying to reveal the factors determined the project's modest performance and hampered its successful implementation. Based on the results of the analysis, optimisation steps and recommendations for further development of light rail system in Perm and other Russian cities are proposed.Publication Open Access ‘Becoming local’ in Amsterdam: the synergy between creativity and city branding in strengthening local identity(AESOP, 2015) Lalou, Georgia; Deffner, AlexCities are continuously changing due to economic conditions, demographic changes, urban planning policies etc. Newly emerging economies contribute to the consolidation of different outlooks in urban planning practices such as city branding, which has been widely connected with cultural policies. Nevertheless, this approach has been widely criticized since there have often been negative outcomes for the existing places and residents, as for example gentrification or loss of local identity. During the last years, a shift is observed towards the emphasis on the social aspect of city branding. Also, a new economy based on creative professionals appeared, enriching the theoretical approaches of the creative city and adding new dimensions in cultural policies. Strategies are now observed to be directed more to the preservation of the local identity and the collective memory of the city. Two case studies in Amsterdam show two different ways of ‘becoming local’ processes. The first refers to the ‘broedplaatsen’ initiative – the ‘Art Factories’ program. This creative policy led to the construction of meaningful places with multiple uses, housing the creative professionals of the city and hosting multiple activities. Besides, the abandoned places were part of the history of the city and this evolution resulted in the preservation and strengthening of local identity. The second case study concerns Amsterdam’s festivals, combining both global and local characteristics. Festivals are mostly situated in public spaces and offer an easy access for the visitor to the life of the city, thus a different way of ‘becoming local’.Publication Open Access Being and planning(AESOP, 2015) Sturup, Sophie; Low, NicholasHannah Arendt in The Human Condition wrote of the substitution, in modern times, of the ‘social’ for the ‘political’, thereby creating a situation of ‘worldlessness’ wherein the ground on which we could be held to account for our self-construction has disappeared. This ‘worldless’ world, in Peter Wagner’s words, is ‘a world in which social relations may have global extensions, but are so thin and ephemeral that contemporary modern human beings are held to realize their own lives in a social context that they cannot conceive as their own’ (Wagner 2012, 66). Planning is left trying to construct a collective reality in an ephemeral and indeterminate social context where the only ground for determinations of truth and right is individual opinion. In this paper we approach the question of ‘worldhood’ from the ontological and phenomenological perspective of Heidegger’s Being and Time. We attempt a preliminary exploration of the ‘Being’ of planning and the ‘Being’ of planner as Dasein (the one that is there, for whom the world occurs). Our task is to identify the ‘worldhood of the world’ of planning and planner, and relate Heidegger’s insights to the problem of ‘worldlessness’ facing the planner in today’s modernity. From Being and Time we take two aspects of Heidegger’s thought of helpful potential for planning in a worldless world, his concepts of authenticity and truth, noting that Heidegger always thinks in terms of both the positive and privative (or deficient) modes of qualities with which Dasein relates to Others and to the world.Publication Open Access Beyond resilience: The role of leadership in progressive planning(AESOP, 2015) Hambleton, RobinResilience has become an influential concept in planning theory and, to some extent, in planning practice. This paper, by drawing on research on the role of place-based leadership in promoting progressive planning and urban innovation in cities in fourteen countries, will suggest that resilience is a concept with serious limitations. On the plus side, the concept has proved itself to be valuable in enhancing understanding of the ability of an ecological system to absorb disturbances and recover from shocks and stresses. But the meaning of the word is now being stretched and applied in an inappropriate way to socio-political systems. The growing misuse of the term is eroding its usefulness in relation to pressing public policy debates. The evidence suggests that, as with the term sustainable development, powerful interests appear to be using the word resilience to promote a depoliticised, or managerial, view of city politics and planning. In much of the recent literature on resilience fundamental social conflicts are downplayed, power structures are neglected, and major challenges facing cities, particularly growing inequality in societies, are overlooked. Research for a new book, Leading the Inclusive City, suggests that paying attention to leadership, and particularly various forms of place-based leadership, can provide helpful insights on how to tackle social and environmental ills. The paper suggests that it may be possible to strengthen resilience theory and practice, certainly as it relates to urban and regional governance, by injecting ideas drawn from the study of place-based leadership.Publication Open Access Beyond the usual suspects: Uncovering the network of civic and private sector actors in Munich’s urban development(AESOP, 2015) Förster, Agnes; Engler, Carina; Fabich, Stephanie; Lechner, Sarah; Ramisch, Theresa; Schöpf, SusanneUrban development more and more depends on the cooperation of public authorities with civic and private sector actors. Public budgets are scarce, the tasks at hand and the related investment volume are immense. Planning as tabula rasa without concerned stakeholders is a rare exception. As a consequence, politicians, users, neighbours increasingly call for serious and effective involvement and participation. When setting up citizen participation processes one key question is: Who shall be addressed? To what issues and in what areas of the city? Beyond the usual suspects, we often find a fragmented landscape of various actors that – explicitly or implicitly – involve themselves in urban development. The paper presents the results of a research project investigating the fragmented landscape of actors in the city of Munich, Germany. Three research questions guide the empirical work: 1) What does the civic and private sector actors’ commitment to the urban development of the city look like? 2) What shared activities and shared spatial and thematic interests potentially bind these actors? 3) What is the correlation between the civic and private sector commitment and the activities of public authorities? The empirical research is based on a quantitative and qualitative content analysis of public communication. The collected data is analysed in respect to actors, spaces and issues. A quantitative network analysis reveals the linkages between the divers range of actors. The results are visualised in maps and diagrams and will be discussed in a focus-group workshop with key actors of the revealed network.Publication Open Access Bricolage urbanism for urban social cohesion(AESOP, 2015) Rodi, Alcestis P.It is expected that 83% of the European population will be living in urban areas by 2050. This prospect brings enormous pressure on European cities that are already facing serious challenges due to financial crisis, globalization, demographic change, increasing flows of migration, disparities among and within cities, inner city decay, urban sprawl, climate change etc. These challenges have a cumulative effect on deepening social exclusion, social polarization and increasing urban violence and spatial segmentation (Urban-Net, 2011; Dhéret, 2015). For the aforementioned reasons, social cohesion resurfaced in the public sphere and became a foremost need for the contemporary European society, centring on the rights of the individual. Europe has to deal with rapid and radical changes, which upset the mechanisms that have traditionally ensured the maintenance of social bonds. European cities are delegated to play a leading role and tackle the challenge of inclusive growth. They agglomerate all the complexities of social life on a concentrated territory, and they import/export factors of cohesion and fragmentation of their own system on a daily basis. Furthermore, the views of how social fragmentation and cohesion should be addressed vary significantly among groups and people, but also among different types of actors within cities (Urban- Net, 2011). The emergent call for socially cohesive cities is proved by the recent provision that approximately half of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the period 2014–2020 will be spent in cities, enabling them to design and implement cohesion policies and test new ideas in urban development (European Union, 2014). In the quest for urban social cohesion macro-structural and local reinforcing processes must interact and “people based” policies need to be complemented by “people and place” ones (Meegan and Mitchell, 2001). For socially cohesive urban futures Urban-Net report (2011) recommends re-orienting current modes (academic and practice) of urban design and planning towards “socio-spatial cohesion” and “environmental sustainability” at multiple scale levels. Developing a common European methodology through an urban social cohesion based approach, the report argues for a shift from the global-metropolitan to the “local” dimension with particular attention to participation and empowerment of inhabitants of neighbourhoods.