Researching the urban as a metabolism to find a bottom-up strategy for the regeneration of Overvecht

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Abstract

This paper examines a new approach to regenerate the neighbourhood Overvecht in Utrecht by tackling some of its problems using a bottom-up strategy. The neighbourhood is approached as a metabolism using a Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and an Urban Political Ecology (UPE) approach. The UPE unveils relational problems while the MFA gives more insight in the different flows in the neighbourhood. The research is limited to the neighbourhood Overvecht and focusses on the money flows. The goal is to find a strategy which empowers the inhabitants by creating businesses and housing which are using the existing money flows in a more efficient way. The strategy found is one of creating hubs throughout the neighbourhood enhancing the local economy. The steps in the strategy are tested by applying them to an example hub.