L. Qu
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21 records found
1
Uneven Digital Visibility of Urban Places
Evidence From TikTok Hotspots
Social media platforms increasingly shape how urban places gain visibility and attention in the digital age. In this article, we examine patterns of “place visibility” on TikTok in Amsterdam. We propose and operationalise a TikTok Place Visibility Score, defined as a composite indicator based on user engagement metrics, to measure the relative visibility of places on the platform. We then explore how TikTok mediates and redistributes visibility within existing urban hierarchies. Drawing on 3,767 TikTok posts associated with #amsterdam and hotspot‐related keywords, we apply geo‐parsing, spatial mapping, visualisation, and network analysis to analyse how visibility is distributed across the city. Our results show that several neighbourhoods just outside the historic urban core—rather than only central locations—exhibit high digital visibility on TikTok. These areas function as digitally prominent activity spaces despite their non‐central position in the urban hierarchy, while central neighbourhoods maintain a strong online presence. The findings suggest that social media algorithms and user interactions affect digital visibility and may reconfigure how attention is redistributed across urban space. We argue that digital visibility patterns shape how places are circulated and prioritised in the digital public sphere, with implications for how people use and engage with urban space. More broadly, the article highlights the importance of attending to platform mechanisms and visibility dynamics when studying urban space in the digital transition era.
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Social media platforms increasingly shape how urban places gain visibility and attention in the digital age. In this article, we examine patterns of “place visibility” on TikTok in Amsterdam. We propose and operationalise a TikTok Place Visibility Score, defined as a composite indicator based on user engagement metrics, to measure the relative visibility of places on the platform. We then explore how TikTok mediates and redistributes visibility within existing urban hierarchies. Drawing on 3,767 TikTok posts associated with #amsterdam and hotspot‐related keywords, we apply geo‐parsing, spatial mapping, visualisation, and network analysis to analyse how visibility is distributed across the city. Our results show that several neighbourhoods just outside the historic urban core—rather than only central locations—exhibit high digital visibility on TikTok. These areas function as digitally prominent activity spaces despite their non‐central position in the urban hierarchy, while central neighbourhoods maintain a strong online presence. The findings suggest that social media algorithms and user interactions affect digital visibility and may reconfigure how attention is redistributed across urban space. We argue that digital visibility patterns shape how places are circulated and prioritised in the digital public sphere, with implications for how people use and engage with urban space. More broadly, the article highlights the importance of attending to platform mechanisms and visibility dynamics when studying urban space in the digital transition era.
This study examines a crucial yet underexplored topic: the dialectical relationship between governance and its outcomes in urban (re)development. As contemporary urban governance networks become increasingly dynamic, understanding this relationship is essential for advancing theoretical models beyond static, linear frameworks and informing adaptive, context-sensitive governance strategies. We integrate Assemblage Thinking with dialectical perspectives to develop a conceptual model that reconciles the long-standing debate over whether networks should be understood as “structure” (stable power/resource relations) or “process” (contingent interactions). By operationalizing key Assemblage principles, we embed governance–outcome dialectics within the “structure–process” continuum, extending the application of Assemblage Thinking in urban studies beyond descriptive uses. The Assemblage–dialectical model posits that methodological choices, including variable selection, temporal dimensions, and reasoning modes, significantly influence governance–outcome interpretations. A systematic review of empirical studies on urban (re)development practices, which echo the dialectical diagnosis of the governance–outcome relationship, largely validates this model. It demonstrates that studies using isolated variables, cross-sectional analysis, and causal reasoning tend to reinforce structure- or process-oriented interpretations. While these studies do not explicitly reject the structure–process entanglement, they often prioritize structure or process as the primary determinant of governance outcomes. However, contrary to initial expectations, studies combining causal and relational reasoning, rather than relying solely on relational reasoning, along with holistic and longitudinal perspectives, are more consistently aligned with an Assemblage-based interpretation. These insights provide scholars and practitioners with a more comprehensive understanding of governance configurations and their evolving interactions with outcomes, ultimately enhancing the capacity to design effective and adaptive urban governance strategies.
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This study examines a crucial yet underexplored topic: the dialectical relationship between governance and its outcomes in urban (re)development. As contemporary urban governance networks become increasingly dynamic, understanding this relationship is essential for advancing theoretical models beyond static, linear frameworks and informing adaptive, context-sensitive governance strategies. We integrate Assemblage Thinking with dialectical perspectives to develop a conceptual model that reconciles the long-standing debate over whether networks should be understood as “structure” (stable power/resource relations) or “process” (contingent interactions). By operationalizing key Assemblage principles, we embed governance–outcome dialectics within the “structure–process” continuum, extending the application of Assemblage Thinking in urban studies beyond descriptive uses. The Assemblage–dialectical model posits that methodological choices, including variable selection, temporal dimensions, and reasoning modes, significantly influence governance–outcome interpretations. A systematic review of empirical studies on urban (re)development practices, which echo the dialectical diagnosis of the governance–outcome relationship, largely validates this model. It demonstrates that studies using isolated variables, cross-sectional analysis, and causal reasoning tend to reinforce structure- or process-oriented interpretations. While these studies do not explicitly reject the structure–process entanglement, they often prioritize structure or process as the primary determinant of governance outcomes. However, contrary to initial expectations, studies combining causal and relational reasoning, rather than relying solely on relational reasoning, along with holistic and longitudinal perspectives, are more consistently aligned with an Assemblage-based interpretation. These insights provide scholars and practitioners with a more comprehensive understanding of governance configurations and their evolving interactions with outcomes, ultimately enhancing the capacity to design effective and adaptive urban governance strategies.
Urban Regeneration Through Circularity
Exploring the Potential of Circular Development in the Urban Villages of Chengdu, China
Research on circular development in China’s urban planning remains limited, particularly regarding marginalized groups’ actions. This study addresses the gap by examining circular practices within informal food systems in Chengdu’s urban villages. It highlights residents’ bottom-up initiatives in food production and consumption and their interactions with the broader urban context. Using street interviews and Research through Design, it develops community-based visions to improve these actions and the needed planning tools for implementation. It also explores how circular development could support urban regeneration by recognizing overlooked resources and practices. Semi-structured expert interviews reveal barriers in China’s planning system to accommodate such visions. Findings indicate that local circular actions—driven by local labor and knowledge and efforts to tackle polluted land and idle spaces—offer valuable opportunities for circular development. However, deficiencies in planning tools for spatial planning, waste treatment, land contamination regulation, and vulnerability recognition create barriers to upscaling these initiatives. This study calls for integrating circular development into China’s spatial planning by strengthening top-down tools and fostering grassroots initiatives to promote sustainable resource flows, ecosystem health, and social equity. It also offers broader insights into promoting circular development by recognizing and integrating informal, bottom-up practices in cities undergoing informal settlement regeneration.
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Research on circular development in China’s urban planning remains limited, particularly regarding marginalized groups’ actions. This study addresses the gap by examining circular practices within informal food systems in Chengdu’s urban villages. It highlights residents’ bottom-up initiatives in food production and consumption and their interactions with the broader urban context. Using street interviews and Research through Design, it develops community-based visions to improve these actions and the needed planning tools for implementation. It also explores how circular development could support urban regeneration by recognizing overlooked resources and practices. Semi-structured expert interviews reveal barriers in China’s planning system to accommodate such visions. Findings indicate that local circular actions—driven by local labor and knowledge and efforts to tackle polluted land and idle spaces—offer valuable opportunities for circular development. However, deficiencies in planning tools for spatial planning, waste treatment, land contamination regulation, and vulnerability recognition create barriers to upscaling these initiatives. This study calls for integrating circular development into China’s spatial planning by strengthening top-down tools and fostering grassroots initiatives to promote sustainable resource flows, ecosystem health, and social equity. It also offers broader insights into promoting circular development by recognizing and integrating informal, bottom-up practices in cities undergoing informal settlement regeneration.
Report
(2023)
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Verena Balz, Thomas Verbeek, Lei Qu, Rebecca Baugh, Marcin Dąbrowski, Leneisja Jungsberg, Martin Ferry, Neli Georgieva, Uwe Serdült, More authors...
This deliverable is the result of Task 1.1 Theoretical and conceptual framework within the DUST Work package 1 Theory and methods. The document presents a comprehensive framework for research in and across the individual work packages of the DUST project. Guided by the concept of ‘active subsidiarity,’ the DUST project aims at an increased understanding of the participation of the politically least-engaged communities in the deliberative governance of place-based approaches to just sustainability transitions. Key concepts underlying this core objective stem from the fields of public policy, the democracy studies, and spatial planning and design. In conjunction they establish the DUST project’s interdisciplinary focus area within the wider field of citizen participation. More detailed objectives of the project are addressed in different dimensions of the DUST research. In its analytical dimension research will identify factors that enhance or hinder participation. In its evaluative dimension research will result in an index for assessing participation. In its instrumental dimension, research will test instruments for enhancing participation in democratic life at scale. In its communicative dimension research will increase our understanding of how narratives help or hinder participation and how affective two-way communication can support the emergence and dissemination of unheard story lines. The document presents theories and concepts that underpin and guide research in these dimensions.
This Deliverable 1.1 complements Deliverable 1.2, which concerns the methodological framework of the project. It is important to note that both documents are living documents, designed to evolve throughout the course of the project. Knowledge presented here will be further developed in the Tasks 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1 which prepare research in individual work packages. A final iteration of the documents will form part of D1.3 Synthesis research report. ...
This Deliverable 1.1 complements Deliverable 1.2, which concerns the methodological framework of the project. It is important to note that both documents are living documents, designed to evolve throughout the course of the project. Knowledge presented here will be further developed in the Tasks 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1 which prepare research in individual work packages. A final iteration of the documents will form part of D1.3 Synthesis research report. ...
This deliverable is the result of Task 1.1 Theoretical and conceptual framework within the DUST Work package 1 Theory and methods. The document presents a comprehensive framework for research in and across the individual work packages of the DUST project. Guided by the concept of ‘active subsidiarity,’ the DUST project aims at an increased understanding of the participation of the politically least-engaged communities in the deliberative governance of place-based approaches to just sustainability transitions. Key concepts underlying this core objective stem from the fields of public policy, the democracy studies, and spatial planning and design. In conjunction they establish the DUST project’s interdisciplinary focus area within the wider field of citizen participation. More detailed objectives of the project are addressed in different dimensions of the DUST research. In its analytical dimension research will identify factors that enhance or hinder participation. In its evaluative dimension research will result in an index for assessing participation. In its instrumental dimension, research will test instruments for enhancing participation in democratic life at scale. In its communicative dimension research will increase our understanding of how narratives help or hinder participation and how affective two-way communication can support the emergence and dissemination of unheard story lines. The document presents theories and concepts that underpin and guide research in these dimensions.
This Deliverable 1.1 complements Deliverable 1.2, which concerns the methodological framework of the project. It is important to note that both documents are living documents, designed to evolve throughout the course of the project. Knowledge presented here will be further developed in the Tasks 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1 which prepare research in individual work packages. A final iteration of the documents will form part of D1.3 Synthesis research report.
This Deliverable 1.1 complements Deliverable 1.2, which concerns the methodological framework of the project. It is important to note that both documents are living documents, designed to evolve throughout the course of the project. Knowledge presented here will be further developed in the Tasks 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1 which prepare research in individual work packages. A final iteration of the documents will form part of D1.3 Synthesis research report.
Journal article
(2023)
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Caroline Newton, Cinco Yu, Rodrigo Cardoso, Simbarashe Chereni, Verena Balz, Darinka Czischke, Gregory Bracken, Juliana E. Gonçalves, Lukas Höller, Marcin Dąbrowski, Lei Qu, Remon Rooij, Roberto Rocco
Based on the understanding of the built environment as result of competing claims on space that must be resolved via recognition, fair distribution of burdens and benefits of our human association, respect and care for the planet and just procedures to decide on those claims, Spatial Planning and Strategy is a chair in the Department of Urbanism within the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment of the Delft University of Technology, committed to helping create sustainability, resilience and spatial justice through the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, the Paris Climate Agreement and the European New Deal, among other frameworks. This commitment is reflected in activities, events, and courses. We are concerned with knowledge about the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of strategic and urban planning tools – visions, strategies, plans and programmes.
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Based on the understanding of the built environment as result of competing claims on space that must be resolved via recognition, fair distribution of burdens and benefits of our human association, respect and care for the planet and just procedures to decide on those claims, Spatial Planning and Strategy is a chair in the Department of Urbanism within the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment of the Delft University of Technology, committed to helping create sustainability, resilience and spatial justice through the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, the Paris Climate Agreement and the European New Deal, among other frameworks. This commitment is reflected in activities, events, and courses. We are concerned with knowledge about the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of strategic and urban planning tools – visions, strategies, plans and programmes.
Inclusive Urban Transformation
Embracing the Values of Urban Villages in the PRD Region
The presence of urban villages inside the city is a common phenomenon in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. This chapter investigates the reference cases of Guangzhou and Shenzhen, to provide insights into the issues of inclusiveness in the rapid urbanisation process in this region, in the context of industrial upgrading and migration. This is done by exploring potentials and values of urban villages through mapping analysis, which serves as the basis for inspirational design proposals on alternative redevelopment models for urban villages, in contrast to the ongoing tabula rasa approaches. This chapter introduces a Delft approach of using ‘mapping’ as a tool to build a visual narrative on spatial relations and governance models in urban villages in the PRD region. The results indicate the values of urban villages as arrival cities to migrants, in terms of cultivating micro-economy and strengthening social resilience. To enhance such values, incremental developments that contribute to a more integrated spatial structure, providing space for small businesses and social interactions in urban villages, are considered strategic. In this sense, a more adaptive planning framework that makes room for co-creational urban regeneration processes is needed, in which these incremental developments can be facilitated.
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The presence of urban villages inside the city is a common phenomenon in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. This chapter investigates the reference cases of Guangzhou and Shenzhen, to provide insights into the issues of inclusiveness in the rapid urbanisation process in this region, in the context of industrial upgrading and migration. This is done by exploring potentials and values of urban villages through mapping analysis, which serves as the basis for inspirational design proposals on alternative redevelopment models for urban villages, in contrast to the ongoing tabula rasa approaches. This chapter introduces a Delft approach of using ‘mapping’ as a tool to build a visual narrative on spatial relations and governance models in urban villages in the PRD region. The results indicate the values of urban villages as arrival cities to migrants, in terms of cultivating micro-economy and strengthening social resilience. To enhance such values, incremental developments that contribute to a more integrated spatial structure, providing space for small businesses and social interactions in urban villages, are considered strategic. In this sense, a more adaptive planning framework that makes room for co-creational urban regeneration processes is needed, in which these incremental developments can be facilitated.
Report
(2023)
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Marcin Dąbrowski, Verena Balz, Lei Qu, Trivik Verma, Leneisja Jungsberg, Martin Ferry, Neli Georgieva, Uwe Serdült, Fernando Mendez, More authors...
This report (Deliverable 1.2) provides the DUST research project with a methodological
framework. It builds on the earlier methodology developed during preparation of the project
proposal, updating, expanding, and refining it in line with the development of the DUST
theoretical and framework (Deliverable 1.1) and the early insights from the research process. The purpose of this report is, first, to present the methodological approach of the DUST project to external audiences. Second, this deliverable aims to provide the DUST project team and the
stakeholders and experts involved with methodological guidance on each of the components of the projects and on the ways in which the different methods and research tasks interrelate to produce the expected results. This report is a ‘living document’, subject to updates as the project unfolds and research methods to be used in the specific tasks are further detailed and finetuned. The report outlines the overall methodological approach in the DUST project, including the workflow across its work packages. It also explains the strategy behind selecting the case study areas and briefly presents each of the regions studied. It then covers the research methods used in three phases of the project, namely, in the case study research, in the participatory experimentation following it, and in the exploration of affective communication with the communities engaged in the project. The report closes with a discussion on the synergies between the methods used and the measures taken to ensure validity of findings as well as an overview of the ways in which methodological innovation is delivered. ...
framework. It builds on the earlier methodology developed during preparation of the project
proposal, updating, expanding, and refining it in line with the development of the DUST
theoretical and framework (Deliverable 1.1) and the early insights from the research process. The purpose of this report is, first, to present the methodological approach of the DUST project to external audiences. Second, this deliverable aims to provide the DUST project team and the
stakeholders and experts involved with methodological guidance on each of the components of the projects and on the ways in which the different methods and research tasks interrelate to produce the expected results. This report is a ‘living document’, subject to updates as the project unfolds and research methods to be used in the specific tasks are further detailed and finetuned. The report outlines the overall methodological approach in the DUST project, including the workflow across its work packages. It also explains the strategy behind selecting the case study areas and briefly presents each of the regions studied. It then covers the research methods used in three phases of the project, namely, in the case study research, in the participatory experimentation following it, and in the exploration of affective communication with the communities engaged in the project. The report closes with a discussion on the synergies between the methods used and the measures taken to ensure validity of findings as well as an overview of the ways in which methodological innovation is delivered. ...
This report (Deliverable 1.2) provides the DUST research project with a methodological
framework. It builds on the earlier methodology developed during preparation of the project
proposal, updating, expanding, and refining it in line with the development of the DUST
theoretical and framework (Deliverable 1.1) and the early insights from the research process. The purpose of this report is, first, to present the methodological approach of the DUST project to external audiences. Second, this deliverable aims to provide the DUST project team and the
stakeholders and experts involved with methodological guidance on each of the components of the projects and on the ways in which the different methods and research tasks interrelate to produce the expected results. This report is a ‘living document’, subject to updates as the project unfolds and research methods to be used in the specific tasks are further detailed and finetuned. The report outlines the overall methodological approach in the DUST project, including the workflow across its work packages. It also explains the strategy behind selecting the case study areas and briefly presents each of the regions studied. It then covers the research methods used in three phases of the project, namely, in the case study research, in the participatory experimentation following it, and in the exploration of affective communication with the communities engaged in the project. The report closes with a discussion on the synergies between the methods used and the measures taken to ensure validity of findings as well as an overview of the ways in which methodological innovation is delivered.
framework. It builds on the earlier methodology developed during preparation of the project
proposal, updating, expanding, and refining it in line with the development of the DUST
theoretical and framework (Deliverable 1.1) and the early insights from the research process. The purpose of this report is, first, to present the methodological approach of the DUST project to external audiences. Second, this deliverable aims to provide the DUST project team and the
stakeholders and experts involved with methodological guidance on each of the components of the projects and on the ways in which the different methods and research tasks interrelate to produce the expected results. This report is a ‘living document’, subject to updates as the project unfolds and research methods to be used in the specific tasks are further detailed and finetuned. The report outlines the overall methodological approach in the DUST project, including the workflow across its work packages. It also explains the strategy behind selecting the case study areas and briefly presents each of the regions studied. It then covers the research methods used in three phases of the project, namely, in the case study research, in the participatory experimentation following it, and in the exploration of affective communication with the communities engaged in the project. The report closes with a discussion on the synergies between the methods used and the measures taken to ensure validity of findings as well as an overview of the ways in which methodological innovation is delivered.
Vision and strategy making
Teaching spatial planning in design education on a situated learning environment
This chapter introduces the pedagogical approach of guiding vision and strategy making in university design studios. This is a unique way of teaching spatial planning in design education, bridging research, planning, and design. It will use one of the master’s courses at the Urbanism Department of TU Delft as an example: the regional design studio ‘Spatial Strategies for the Global Metropolis’. This approach is based on the tradition of planning schools with design education – using the design studio as a key method for teaching. This tradition has made spatial planning in design education different from other planning schools that focus on policies or social/environmental sciences. The approach being introduced is not only evidence-based/scientific but also explorative at the same time, prone to search for the more plausible and desirable future scenarios. It is in line with the role of regional design in practice, in the context of collaborative planning. To teach such practice-related skills, an authentic assignment from and the interaction with the ‘real world’ are needed, namely a situated learning environment, which mimics the actual situation and collaborative efforts of spatial planning. Spatial vision and development strategy are both tools of spatial planning in practice, meant to frame and steer the development towards a more sustainable future, with the involvement of stakeholders. In design education, they are also seen as design products students could and should work on to understand the roles of these tools in spatial planning and how to use them to develop regional design proposals.
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This chapter introduces the pedagogical approach of guiding vision and strategy making in university design studios. This is a unique way of teaching spatial planning in design education, bridging research, planning, and design. It will use one of the master’s courses at the Urbanism Department of TU Delft as an example: the regional design studio ‘Spatial Strategies for the Global Metropolis’. This approach is based on the tradition of planning schools with design education – using the design studio as a key method for teaching. This tradition has made spatial planning in design education different from other planning schools that focus on policies or social/environmental sciences. The approach being introduced is not only evidence-based/scientific but also explorative at the same time, prone to search for the more plausible and desirable future scenarios. It is in line with the role of regional design in practice, in the context of collaborative planning. To teach such practice-related skills, an authentic assignment from and the interaction with the ‘real world’ are needed, namely a situated learning environment, which mimics the actual situation and collaborative efforts of spatial planning. Spatial vision and development strategy are both tools of spatial planning in practice, meant to frame and steer the development towards a more sustainable future, with the involvement of stakeholders. In design education, they are also seen as design products students could and should work on to understand the roles of these tools in spatial planning and how to use them to develop regional design proposals.
Speculative Gameboarding for Megaregions
Using Morphological Themes for a Pedagogical Approach to Regional Design in the Greater Bay Area, China
Journal article
(2022)
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Henry Endemann, Gerhard Bruyns, Peter Hasdell, D.A. Sepulveda Carmona, L. Qu, Darren Nel
The unprecedented speed and scale of urbanization in China calls for advanced planning and design strategies. This paper aims to explore a new pedagogical approach that cultivates morphological regional design studies to develop spatial strategies that acknowledge the complex and diverse urban landscapes of Chinese megaregions. Accordingly, the objective is to compare different morphological themes that form the basis for speculative gameboarding as a regional design methodology in the setting of academic planning and design studios. The paper evaluates a collection of outcomes from four years of collaboration between The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Design and the TU Delft’s Department of Urbanism. Here, gameboarding was used as a methodology to draft scenarios for large-scale spatial transformation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Firstly, the paper explains the pedagogical trajectory of the studios along their three main phases — analysis, gameboarding, and evaluation. Secondly, it is investigated in how far the given morphological themes informed the design outcomes of the students. These outcomes are compared with regard to their spatial specificity as well as the radicalness of proposed transformations. Lastly, it is discussed if some of the themes are more suitable than others to respond to the socio-cultural and environmental specificities of the GBA. In six design studios, students worked on eight different morphological themes: pointillist, linear, strip, megablock, radial, ring, cross, and edge. It is found that redundancies exist between some of the themes, which suggests that the consolidation of themes might be worth exploring. Furthermore, the different context of the studios in the two universities seems to affect the role that gameboarding takes in the process. Overall, the teaching methodology has proven to generate a wide range of design strategies that point far beyond conventional spatial planning solutions. Speculative gameboarding with morphological themes is therefore a promising methodology that may be further enhanced and tested for other forms of stakeholder engagement.
...
The unprecedented speed and scale of urbanization in China calls for advanced planning and design strategies. This paper aims to explore a new pedagogical approach that cultivates morphological regional design studies to develop spatial strategies that acknowledge the complex and diverse urban landscapes of Chinese megaregions. Accordingly, the objective is to compare different morphological themes that form the basis for speculative gameboarding as a regional design methodology in the setting of academic planning and design studios. The paper evaluates a collection of outcomes from four years of collaboration between The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Design and the TU Delft’s Department of Urbanism. Here, gameboarding was used as a methodology to draft scenarios for large-scale spatial transformation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Firstly, the paper explains the pedagogical trajectory of the studios along their three main phases — analysis, gameboarding, and evaluation. Secondly, it is investigated in how far the given morphological themes informed the design outcomes of the students. These outcomes are compared with regard to their spatial specificity as well as the radicalness of proposed transformations. Lastly, it is discussed if some of the themes are more suitable than others to respond to the socio-cultural and environmental specificities of the GBA. In six design studios, students worked on eight different morphological themes: pointillist, linear, strip, megablock, radial, ring, cross, and edge. It is found that redundancies exist between some of the themes, which suggests that the consolidation of themes might be worth exploring. Furthermore, the different context of the studios in the two universities seems to affect the role that gameboarding takes in the process. Overall, the teaching methodology has proven to generate a wide range of design strategies that point far beyond conventional spatial planning solutions. Speculative gameboarding with morphological themes is therefore a promising methodology that may be further enhanced and tested for other forms of stakeholder engagement.
The port of Rotterdam is a major hub in the global maritime exchange of fossil fuels, a key entry way to the European Union, and a strong contributor to the prosperity of the Netherlands. The port’s strong economic performance comes with high costs: the industrial complex causes grave negative environmental externalities, such as the pollution of air, water and land. In order to reduce and mitigate these unintended effects, the Port of Rotterdam authority is seeking more sustainable development and - as part of this effort - promoting the transition towards a circular economy. Students in the Research & Design studio “Spatial Strategies for the Global Metropolis” at Department of Urbanism, TU Delft, explored the immense challenges that this transition poses for the province of South Holland, the region that surrounds the port, by means of spatial analysis and regional design. In this article we draw on the results of students’ work to construct a portrayal of the role that the port of Rotterdam plays in this transition. By doing so, we demonstrate how the practice of regional design can contribute to a critical positioning of the port’s vision in a wider regional arena.
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The port of Rotterdam is a major hub in the global maritime exchange of fossil fuels, a key entry way to the European Union, and a strong contributor to the prosperity of the Netherlands. The port’s strong economic performance comes with high costs: the industrial complex causes grave negative environmental externalities, such as the pollution of air, water and land. In order to reduce and mitigate these unintended effects, the Port of Rotterdam authority is seeking more sustainable development and - as part of this effort - promoting the transition towards a circular economy. Students in the Research & Design studio “Spatial Strategies for the Global Metropolis” at Department of Urbanism, TU Delft, explored the immense challenges that this transition poses for the province of South Holland, the region that surrounds the port, by means of spatial analysis and regional design. In this article we draw on the results of students’ work to construct a portrayal of the role that the port of Rotterdam plays in this transition. By doing so, we demonstrate how the practice of regional design can contribute to a critical positioning of the port’s vision in a wider regional arena.
The Pearl River Delta (PRD) region represents delta urbanism in the Chinese context. In the past four decades, massive urbanization happened and transformed its deltaic landscape with unexpected speed and magnitude. Based on the review of its development trajectory, this chapter focuses on the planning of green infrastructure in this region as a strategy to promote ecological civilization. The case demonstrates the increasing design thinking in regional planning in Chinese mega regions. By re-embracing natural landscape in future development, it responds to issues brought by the economic-driven development model in the past - diminished environmental quality and uneven development between urban and rural areas. The visionary and strategic thinking embedded in the planning, design and implementation of the regional greenway network has stimulated collaboration among various levels of governments, as well as different disciplines and stakeholders. While the early phase of the greenway construction focused mainly on the provision of public green spaces and cycling paths, a shift towards regional green infrastructure has been facilitated recently by the provincial government, with the South China Historical Trail, the blueways enhancing ecological corridors, and a “Greener” Bay Area of the PRD. With this case as an example, the authors reflect on the current status of regional design in China.
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The Pearl River Delta (PRD) region represents delta urbanism in the Chinese context. In the past four decades, massive urbanization happened and transformed its deltaic landscape with unexpected speed and magnitude. Based on the review of its development trajectory, this chapter focuses on the planning of green infrastructure in this region as a strategy to promote ecological civilization. The case demonstrates the increasing design thinking in regional planning in Chinese mega regions. By re-embracing natural landscape in future development, it responds to issues brought by the economic-driven development model in the past - diminished environmental quality and uneven development between urban and rural areas. The visionary and strategic thinking embedded in the planning, design and implementation of the regional greenway network has stimulated collaboration among various levels of governments, as well as different disciplines and stakeholders. While the early phase of the greenway construction focused mainly on the provision of public green spaces and cycling paths, a shift towards regional green infrastructure has been facilitated recently by the provincial government, with the South China Historical Trail, the blueways enhancing ecological corridors, and a “Greener” Bay Area of the PRD. With this case as an example, the authors reflect on the current status of regional design in China.
Village revitalization in Chinese megaregions in the era of digitalization
Seeking sustainable strategies for Jing-Jin-Ji
Villages in Chinese megaregions are struggling to economically compete with their megaregional context. In order to prosper, villages seem to have two choices: to preserve their structure as much as possible and become “beautiful villages in the countryside” that attract tourism; or to radically re-develop and cluster with other villages, attempting to copy the economic success of larger towns. As an alternative to these conventional strategies, it is desirable to explore more endogenous forms of village- revitalization based on their transformation towards a new economy. In a megaregional context, the potentials of villagerevitalization have to be assessed in connection to fast-paced, digitalized, and globalized urbanization. This paper presents three approaches for village revitalization that are commonly used in China: e-commerce, agro-tourism, and the attraction of the creative class. For each of them, the influence of digitalization - particularly increasing mobile internet access - is assessed. It can be observed that as much as digitalization can accelerate village revitalization, it also makes the spatial extents of its appearance much less predictable. This increases the necessity to develop sustainable urbanization strategies. Therefore, the revitalization approaches are applied to a case in the north of Langfang, in the center of the Jing-Jin-Ji megaregion. In this sample area, three scenarios for urban development are presented, which could accommodate growth related to village revitalization. The three scenarios are then compared in terms of their contribution to ecosystem services, which is deemed an appropriate indicator for sustainable development. In conclusion, this paper shows that evidence-based regional design can help to cope with the challenges posed by megaregionalization, and that proactive planning approaches can contribute to more sustainable forms of village revitalization within highly urbanized regions.
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Villages in Chinese megaregions are struggling to economically compete with their megaregional context. In order to prosper, villages seem to have two choices: to preserve their structure as much as possible and become “beautiful villages in the countryside” that attract tourism; or to radically re-develop and cluster with other villages, attempting to copy the economic success of larger towns. As an alternative to these conventional strategies, it is desirable to explore more endogenous forms of village- revitalization based on their transformation towards a new economy. In a megaregional context, the potentials of villagerevitalization have to be assessed in connection to fast-paced, digitalized, and globalized urbanization. This paper presents three approaches for village revitalization that are commonly used in China: e-commerce, agro-tourism, and the attraction of the creative class. For each of them, the influence of digitalization - particularly increasing mobile internet access - is assessed. It can be observed that as much as digitalization can accelerate village revitalization, it also makes the spatial extents of its appearance much less predictable. This increases the necessity to develop sustainable urbanization strategies. Therefore, the revitalization approaches are applied to a case in the north of Langfang, in the center of the Jing-Jin-Ji megaregion. In this sample area, three scenarios for urban development are presented, which could accommodate growth related to village revitalization. The three scenarios are then compared in terms of their contribution to ecosystem services, which is deemed an appropriate indicator for sustainable development. In conclusion, this paper shows that evidence-based regional design can help to cope with the challenges posed by megaregionalization, and that proactive planning approaches can contribute to more sustainable forms of village revitalization within highly urbanized regions.
Review of Chinese megablock urbanism
Case study of rapid urbanization in the greater bay area
In the past century, cities have undergone revolutionary changes from planning paradigms to urban forms. As the fastest urbanizing country in the world, China’s urbanization process has also been accompanied by dramatic changes in urban planning models and has emerged substantial real estate driven compounds in the form of megablock. In December 2018, The Ministry f Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD) promulgated a new version of the "Standards for the Planning and Design of Urban Residential Areas" (GB50180-2018) and made a series of adjustments to the residential planning policies. It is worth noting that the supporting facilities of housing community will be improved, and the urban blocks will be more compact.
Under this background, reviewing relevant residential projects in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) during the rapid urbanization period, what are their spatial characteristics? With the latest policies and requirements of the residential area planning, what urban morphological changes will take place in the future housing planning of the Greater Bay Area? This paper reviews essential context that has facilitated the Chinese Megablock Urbanism (CMU), and further takes a closer look at megablock cases in the GBA. The research methods include critical literature review of Chinese housing model, and case study expanded by configurative analysis with GIS. The outcomes of this research are expected to discuss the urban configurations, spatial distributions and other urban conditions of megablocks. It willconclude on the possible revisions of residential area planning parameters, and fully comprehend the implications of new policies to assess Chinese urban form within a more sustainable path.
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In the past century, cities have undergone revolutionary changes from planning paradigms to urban forms. As the fastest urbanizing country in the world, China’s urbanization process has also been accompanied by dramatic changes in urban planning models and has emerged substantial real estate driven compounds in the form of megablock. In December 2018, The Ministry f Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD) promulgated a new version of the "Standards for the Planning and Design of Urban Residential Areas" (GB50180-2018) and made a series of adjustments to the residential planning policies. It is worth noting that the supporting facilities of housing community will be improved, and the urban blocks will be more compact.
Under this background, reviewing relevant residential projects in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) during the rapid urbanization period, what are their spatial characteristics? With the latest policies and requirements of the residential area planning, what urban morphological changes will take place in the future housing planning of the Greater Bay Area? This paper reviews essential context that has facilitated the Chinese Megablock Urbanism (CMU), and further takes a closer look at megablock cases in the GBA. The research methods include critical literature review of Chinese housing model, and case study expanded by configurative analysis with GIS. The outcomes of this research are expected to discuss the urban configurations, spatial distributions and other urban conditions of megablocks. It willconclude on the possible revisions of residential area planning parameters, and fully comprehend the implications of new policies to assess Chinese urban form within a more sustainable path.
Toward Inclusive, Vital and Livable City Scenarios
The Transformation of Urban Villages in Shenzhen
Currently Shenzhen is experiencing industrial upgrading and city reprofiling, transforming from a world factory to a world city. It is a crucial moment to rethink the future of urban villages in the city, informal settlements that emerged extensively along with rapid industrialization and urban development in the past three decades, and played essential roles as “arrival cities” for migrants. This chapter investigates the formation process of urban villages as well as planning strategies for future development, from the perspective of urban form and governance. Urban vitality, livability, and inclusiveness are addressed as multidimensional urban values that could generate common interests among stakeholders, which therefore could be considered desirable and possible future scenarios for such neighborhoods in Shenzhen.
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Currently Shenzhen is experiencing industrial upgrading and city reprofiling, transforming from a world factory to a world city. It is a crucial moment to rethink the future of urban villages in the city, informal settlements that emerged extensively along with rapid industrialization and urban development in the past three decades, and played essential roles as “arrival cities” for migrants. This chapter investigates the formation process of urban villages as well as planning strategies for future development, from the perspective of urban form and governance. Urban vitality, livability, and inclusiveness are addressed as multidimensional urban values that could generate common interests among stakeholders, which therefore could be considered desirable and possible future scenarios for such neighborhoods in Shenzhen.
The rapid development of Chinese megacities in the last decades have been mainly characterized by top-down planning and large-scale urban development and redevelopment, as well as by using place-making as a tool for city branding. This approach has also been used in other countries and has been constantly criticized for replacing old neighborhoods. In recent years, alternative development modes and participative approaches in urban regeneration practices have emerged in cities such as Shanghai and Shenzhen. This paper investigates participative urban regeneration cases in Yangpu District, located in Shanghai, and the Dalang subdistrict in Shenzhen. Both case studies are located at the urban-rural interface, where past industrialization processes have resulted in complex sociospatial conditions. The primary focus was to analyze the governance aspects in the cases, such as the enabling factors that allow the participative approach to emerge in these projects and their governance model. This paper concludes on the importance of civil society organizations and the incorporation of social objectives in emerging participative regeneration practices.
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The rapid development of Chinese megacities in the last decades have been mainly characterized by top-down planning and large-scale urban development and redevelopment, as well as by using place-making as a tool for city branding. This approach has also been used in other countries and has been constantly criticized for replacing old neighborhoods. In recent years, alternative development modes and participative approaches in urban regeneration practices have emerged in cities such as Shanghai and Shenzhen. This paper investigates participative urban regeneration cases in Yangpu District, located in Shanghai, and the Dalang subdistrict in Shenzhen. Both case studies are located at the urban-rural interface, where past industrialization processes have resulted in complex sociospatial conditions. The primary focus was to analyze the governance aspects in the cases, such as the enabling factors that allow the participative approach to emerge in these projects and their governance model. This paper concludes on the importance of civil society organizations and the incorporation of social objectives in emerging participative regeneration practices.
Experimenting with Circularity When Designing Contemporary Regions
Adaptation Strategies for More Resilient and Regenerative Metropolitan Areas of Amsterdam and Naples Developed in University Studio Settings
This paper aims to demonstrate how ‘research by design,’ which is an approach bridging research, design, and planning, can help unpack the complexity of today’s metropolitan challenges by considering the resource flows and processes that were omitted by traditional ways of planning. This is crucial for circular developments. By reporting the experience of two university design studios across Europe, this paper can contribute to a better understanding and imagination of desirable future scenarios of resilient regions. The experiments carried out in the Regional design studio: ‘Spatial Strategies for the Global Metropolis’ held at TU Delft are described alongside with the exercises carried out in the design studio ‘Laboratory of Urbanism’ of the MAPA Course, held at DiARC UNINA. Both courses focused on the regeneration of wastescapes as a fundamental part of holistic adaptation strategies for more resilient and circular regions. Climate change issues related to resilience thinking have been interwoven with other complex challenges such as the co-existence of wastescapes and land scarcity as well as spatial injustice. Through a ‘research by design’ approach, these different aspects are brought together to achieve a holistic approach for urban resilience.
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This paper aims to demonstrate how ‘research by design,’ which is an approach bridging research, design, and planning, can help unpack the complexity of today’s metropolitan challenges by considering the resource flows and processes that were omitted by traditional ways of planning. This is crucial for circular developments. By reporting the experience of two university design studios across Europe, this paper can contribute to a better understanding and imagination of desirable future scenarios of resilient regions. The experiments carried out in the Regional design studio: ‘Spatial Strategies for the Global Metropolis’ held at TU Delft are described alongside with the exercises carried out in the design studio ‘Laboratory of Urbanism’ of the MAPA Course, held at DiARC UNINA. Both courses focused on the regeneration of wastescapes as a fundamental part of holistic adaptation strategies for more resilient and circular regions. Climate change issues related to resilience thinking have been interwoven with other complex challenges such as the co-existence of wastescapes and land scarcity as well as spatial injustice. Through a ‘research by design’ approach, these different aspects are brought together to achieve a holistic approach for urban resilience.
Cultivating the next generation designers
Group work in urban and regional design education
This article will contribute to filling the knowledge gap about learning from group methods in (urban and regional) design education, with action research results based on real teaching activities in TU Delft, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment (A&BE), conducted and coordinated by the authors. Constructive alignment of the teaching triangle and feedbacks from students are used to assess the necessity and effectiveness of group work in achieving learning objectives in the chosen courses. The conclusions of the article focus on pros and cons of group-working in urban and regional design education, with highlighted common challenges in implementing group work, such as proper distribution of workload among group members and assessing individual performance, as well as specific challenges of certain courses, such as stimulating ‘out of the box thinking’ in the setting of ‘role play’ and supervising interdisciplinary groups in the setting of research and design studio.
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This article will contribute to filling the knowledge gap about learning from group methods in (urban and regional) design education, with action research results based on real teaching activities in TU Delft, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment (A&BE), conducted and coordinated by the authors. Constructive alignment of the teaching triangle and feedbacks from students are used to assess the necessity and effectiveness of group work in achieving learning objectives in the chosen courses. The conclusions of the article focus on pros and cons of group-working in urban and regional design education, with highlighted common challenges in implementing group work, such as proper distribution of workload among group members and assessing individual performance, as well as specific challenges of certain courses, such as stimulating ‘out of the box thinking’ in the setting of ‘role play’ and supervising interdisciplinary groups in the setting of research and design studio.
The Circular Economy Concept in Design Education
Enhancing Understanding and Innovation by Means of Situated Learning
Journal article
(2019)
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Alexander Wandl, Verena Balz, Lei Qu, Cecilia Furlan, Gustavo Arciniegas Lopez, Ulf Hackauf
The concept of circular economy (CE) is high on the agenda of many planning agencies in European countries. It has also become a prominent issue in European academic education institutions. It is expected that spatial planning and design can support and add the spatial quality dimension of such a transition towards CE. However, incorporating the concept of CE in an integrative manner in urban design and planning courses is challenging because of its metabolic and complex nature. This article presents the first results of integrating design-teaching activities at a faculty of architecture with an H2020-financed research project. The integration of research and design education provided the students with a situated and indeed transdisciplinary learning environment. Students understood that they needed to address challenges from a systemic perspective rather early in the design process, meaning to understand what the relations between different subsystems and their spatial structures are. Furthermore, the experiment provided evidence that the eco-innovative solutions developed by the students are seen as an effective option to achieve objectives for a transition towards CE by stakeholders.
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The concept of circular economy (CE) is high on the agenda of many planning agencies in European countries. It has also become a prominent issue in European academic education institutions. It is expected that spatial planning and design can support and add the spatial quality dimension of such a transition towards CE. However, incorporating the concept of CE in an integrative manner in urban design and planning courses is challenging because of its metabolic and complex nature. This article presents the first results of integrating design-teaching activities at a faculty of architecture with an H2020-financed research project. The integration of research and design education provided the students with a situated and indeed transdisciplinary learning environment. Students understood that they needed to address challenges from a systemic perspective rather early in the design process, meaning to understand what the relations between different subsystems and their spatial structures are. Furthermore, the experiment provided evidence that the eco-innovative solutions developed by the students are seen as an effective option to achieve objectives for a transition towards CE by stakeholders.
The Declining and the Thriving Neighborhoods
Urban Regeneration in the Chinese Context of Migration and Economic Transition
In the past few years, one of the major changes in urban development strategies of the first-tier cities in China is the increasing focus on urban regeneration. To cope with the magnitude of migration and challenges of economic transition, these cities are forced to find new models of urban redevelopment. This has brought up a few challenging questions: How to deal with the ‘old’ typologies of urban neighborhoods, including not only their ‘outdated’ physical environment, but also new lives embedded in the dynamics of emerging social structure and productivity? How to balance interests related to big redevelopment plans of city re-branding and the thriving small businesses bound to the low cost living and working environment in the old neighborhoods?
This paper will use Guangzhou as the study case, focusing on two neighborhoods: Kecun, an area with old danwei housing and factories and Lijiao village, an urban village with historical heritages, both of which are accommodating migrants and various types of small businesses. These two neighborhoods are adjacent to the southern section of the new central axis of Guangzhou, which, from the planning perspective, represents the future of the city. As planned, the southern section of the new axis will be extended in the coming years, focusing on an administrative center and multi-functional community for cultural, leisure and public activities. It is bringing large-scale urban regeneration into the adjacent areas, where migrants and small businesses are finding their ways to thrive at the moment. This paper intends to unfold the current socio-economic and spatial transformation happening in the two chosen neighborhoods, especially the role of low-cost living and working environment in enhancing social resilience and economic transition in the local scale. By doing so, the paper will indicate possible ways of creating synergies between the ‘big plans’ and neighborhood-based development.
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In the past few years, one of the major changes in urban development strategies of the first-tier cities in China is the increasing focus on urban regeneration. To cope with the magnitude of migration and challenges of economic transition, these cities are forced to find new models of urban redevelopment. This has brought up a few challenging questions: How to deal with the ‘old’ typologies of urban neighborhoods, including not only their ‘outdated’ physical environment, but also new lives embedded in the dynamics of emerging social structure and productivity? How to balance interests related to big redevelopment plans of city re-branding and the thriving small businesses bound to the low cost living and working environment in the old neighborhoods?
This paper will use Guangzhou as the study case, focusing on two neighborhoods: Kecun, an area with old danwei housing and factories and Lijiao village, an urban village with historical heritages, both of which are accommodating migrants and various types of small businesses. These two neighborhoods are adjacent to the southern section of the new central axis of Guangzhou, which, from the planning perspective, represents the future of the city. As planned, the southern section of the new axis will be extended in the coming years, focusing on an administrative center and multi-functional community for cultural, leisure and public activities. It is bringing large-scale urban regeneration into the adjacent areas, where migrants and small businesses are finding their ways to thrive at the moment. This paper intends to unfold the current socio-economic and spatial transformation happening in the two chosen neighborhoods, especially the role of low-cost living and working environment in enhancing social resilience and economic transition in the local scale. By doing so, the paper will indicate possible ways of creating synergies between the ‘big plans’ and neighborhood-based development.
Urban villages in Shenshen
A new type of social housing?
Urban villages in Shenzhen have been playing essential roles as ‘arrival cities’ for migrants along with the rapid industrialization and urban development processes in the past three decades. Currently, Shenzhen is experiencing industrial upgrading and city re-profiling, transforming from the world factory to a world city. It is a crucial moment to re-think the future of urban villages. The scope of this paper includes the current morphology of such informal settlements, as well as planning strategies for future development, based on an overview of differentiated interests of stakeholders involved. In response to the ongoing large-scale tabula rasa model of urban regeneration in central urban districts, this paper proposes a collaborative and participatory planning and design approach, with special concern for maintaining the role of urban villages as affordable housing neighborhoods for migrant workers. Liveability is addressed as an urban value that could generate common interests among stakeholders.
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Urban villages in Shenzhen have been playing essential roles as ‘arrival cities’ for migrants along with the rapid industrialization and urban development processes in the past three decades. Currently, Shenzhen is experiencing industrial upgrading and city re-profiling, transforming from the world factory to a world city. It is a crucial moment to re-think the future of urban villages. The scope of this paper includes the current morphology of such informal settlements, as well as planning strategies for future development, based on an overview of differentiated interests of stakeholders involved. In response to the ongoing large-scale tabula rasa model of urban regeneration in central urban districts, this paper proposes a collaborative and participatory planning and design approach, with special concern for maintaining the role of urban villages as affordable housing neighborhoods for migrant workers. Liveability is addressed as an urban value that could generate common interests among stakeholders.