scholarly journals Mass housing estates legacy: urban design perspectives

Author(s):  
Carmen Díez Medina ◽  
Javier Monclús

In the recent international debate about mass housing estates built during the decades of rapid urban growth after the World War II different approaches coexist. Many studies, including diagnosis about their current state, have been carried out, some of them from a social and economic standpoint; other offer architectural and historical approaches. It has only been in the last years, that urban planning and urban design perspectives have been considered in depth. In the case of Spain, some global visions complement more specific approaches, such as the ones focused on the obsolescence of dwelling typologies and urban forms. In addition to this, there are consolidated teams working on some cities, especially Madrid and Barcelona, which continue developing previous studies started some decades ago. Our starting point is that Spanish collective housing (polígonos) constitutes a huge legacy which needs accurate diagnosis. Our research has been developed from an urban design perspective, focusing on urban forms and free open spaces. The goal is to add some nuances to some excessively generic interpretations, trying to find ‘indicators’ (such as density, urban integration, diversity…) that allow a suitable evaluation of ‘each’ case, besides a qualitative approach. Although there are common factors that have led to a general loss of urban quality, it is necessary to take into account the specificities of each city, context, transformation processes, etc. In this way, future necessary interventions could provide more appropriate knowledge for the regeneration, recovery or reactivation of these estates. This paper addresses with a comparative perspective some case studies of Spanish polígonos built in Madrid, Barcelona and Zaragoza between 1950 and 1975. Contrasting the original situation at the time of their construction with their current state, the quality of the urban projects (classified in ‘Best’, ‘Good’, ‘Standard’, ‘Poor’) and the resilience or the obsolescence processes has been tested.

Cities ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 103 ◽  
pp. 102657
Author(s):  
Sergio García-Pérez ◽  
Vítor Oliveira ◽  
Javier Monclús ◽  
Carmen Díez Medina

Author(s):  
Umut Doğan

The common characteristic of qualified urban spaces is that they offer an environment enriched with livability criteria, protecting and maintaining the elements of identity and offering flexibility and diversity compatible with the current conditions. Nowadays, the first condition of creating such qualified/successful urban spaces is to reflect the “urban design” processes on the urban spaces. Therefore, the present study aims to discuss the “urban design” quality (the level of success) of the Turkish cities shaped within the scope of urban plans. This discussion was performed using the urban design criteria determining and assessing the actors, which play an effective and relevant role in urban design and planning processes. The fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method was used. By making use of the results of the present study, the conditions influencing the urban design aspect were re-discussed via current state analysis, and the foundation for a general assessment about the urban design quality of Turkish cities was established.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7039
Author(s):  
Laurence Pattacini

In a post-industrial world one of the foci of urbanism has been on the regeneration of former industrial sites along urban rivers. This is a contemporary urban design issue that needs further attention, especially in relation to urban forms and design interventions. This paper sets out to contribute to research in design by reviewing past theories and practices in order to inform the formation of conceptual ideas. These are of importance to inform practice and ensure responsive and responsible processes in planning and design. Such a review has hitherto been lacking, but with a renewed interest in urban densification, research in the design of cities is required. Thus, this paper provides a critical assessment of theories, which are identified and categorised in relation to urban riverside regeneration. For this study, urban design is considered as a craft requiring ‘savoir faire’ to ensure the functionality and quality of urban spaces. Transferable principles and ideas are identified in relation to the specific characteristics of riverside locations contributing to the definition of a ‘riverside urbanity’. It provides a theoretical framework identifying types of riverside landscapes, including the relationship between urban forms and river corridors.


ZARCH ◽  
2017 ◽  
pp. 214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio García-Pérez

El interés institucional por la regeneración urbana integrada y la mejora de los tejidos urbanos obsoletos ha aumentado en los últimos años, siendo uno de los procesos por los que apuesta la nueva agenda urbana. Al respecto, numerosos autores señalan el carácter sistémico de los problemas, de múltiples dimensiones y reconocen que la calidad de la forma y el diseño urbano son una condición que puede favorecer la correcta evolución de un área urbana. El objetivo de este texto es analizar en qué grado están presentes la necesidad de un buen diseño y una atención específica por las formas urbanas en los conceptos, el marco institucional y en determinadas prácticas que promueven la regeneración urbana. Para ello, el artículo comienza con una exploración evolutiva del concepto de regeneración urbana focalizada en la experiencia española. A continuación, se analiza el marco institucional que regula actualmente la regeneración urbana, así como las políticas de estímulo estatales que la promueven. Al encontrar en el escenario nacional (Plan Estatal 2013) algunas debilidades en torno al diseño urbano y espacio público, se compara con otro de reconocida influencia (Ley de Barrios 2004) con el fin de conocer el rol del diseño urbano en cada uno de ellos. Por último, el artículo analiza dos experiencias recientes realizadas en el marco de la Ley de Barrios –Santa Caterina i Sant Pere y Sant Ildefons, (en Barcelona y su área metropolitana)–, verificando la relevancia del diseño urbano en determinadas prácticas de regeneración.PALABRAS CLAVE: regeneración urbana, diseño urbano, espacio público, legislación urbanística, políticas de estímulo, BarcelonaThe institutional interest for integrated urban regeneration and the improvement of deprived urban fabric has increased in last years, being one of the main processes included in the new urban agenda. At this regard, many authors point out the systemic nature of the problems, of multiple dimensions, recognising in the quality of the form and the urban design a condition capable of favouring an urban area evolution. The purpose of this paper is to analyse to what extent the need for good design and specific attention to urban forms are present in concepts, institutional framework, and certain practices that urban regeneration promotes. To this end, the article begins with an evolutive exploration of urban regeneration concept, focusing on the Spanish experience. Next, the recent institutional framework is analysed, as well as the state policies that support urban regeneration. Finding in the national scenario (Plan Estatal 2013) some weaknesses around the urban design and public space, which it is compared with one of recognized influence (Ley de Barrios 2004), in order to know the role of urban design in each of them. Finally, the article analyses two recent experiences carried out within the ‘Ley de Barrios’ framework -Santa Caterina i Sant Pere and Sant Ildefons, (in Barcelona and its metropolitan area)-, verifying the urban design relevance in certain regeneration practices.KEYWORDS: urban regeneration, urban design, public space, planning law, stimulus policies, Barcelona


Author(s):  
Jorg Becker

The chapter sketches a holistic approach to semantically validating conceptual models. The quality and thus the validation of conceptual models are of high economic importance. However, only little empirical work has focused on their evaluation so far. This raises the question whether a holistic approach to determining the quality of conceptual models is available yet. In order to describe the current state of research and to expose the so far neglected research fields we develop a two dimensional framework. With the help of this framework we can identify a notable shortcoming on conceptual model evaluation. We can show that there is actually no approach that covers all aspects of the framework. Hence, we describe a procedure model that integrates different evaluation techniques. This procedure model provides a starting point to further elaborate on a holistic evaluation approach.


2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-121
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Polak ◽  
Karolina Kaznowska-Opala ◽  
Katarzyna Pawlecka ◽  
Kazimierz Różkowski ◽  
Jerzy Klich

Abstract Drainage of the rock mass is a key component affecting the safety of mining operations and is associated with the removal of the overburden, dumping and excavation of useful minerals. The primary method of drainage in lignite coal mines are bored wells. The efficiency of drainage of rock mass depends on their accurate positioning and quality of workmanship. The paper presents the current state of knowledge concerning the distribution of the components of drawdown (1) in pumping well (Walton, 1955; Bruin & Hudson, 1961; Kruseman & de Ridder, 1991; Avci, 1992; Atkinson, 1994; Helweg, 1994; Kawecki, 1995; Singh, 2002; Dufresne, 2011) and their dependence on the hydrogeological parameters of the drained aquifer (Fig. 2). The results of pumping tests conducted in drainage wells operating in lignite mines are also presented. The subject of analysis was the geohydraulic resistance coefficient B, describing the resistance of the aquifer under laminar flow. This coefficient also takes the hydrogeological parameters into account which determines the dynamics and range of influence of drainage (12, 13). The value of the parameter and its spatial variability can be used for planning, designing and evaluating the effectiveness of wells drainage In view of the results of the pumping tests, classification of aquifer susceptibility to drainage was proposed, which can be used to support decision-making in the scope of expansion of the drainage system, the necessary timing and dynamics of pumping water. The classification is preliminary and is the starting point for the development of methods to rationalize functioning costs of the drainage systems.


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 244-261
Author(s):  
Mariola Tracz ◽  
Małgorzata Bajgier-Kowalska ◽  
Radosław Uliszak

Podkarpackie Voivodeship is one of the regions of Poland in which the number of agritourism entities is very high. Therefore tourism plays a significant role in its development strategy. The aim of the paper is to identify the current state of agritourism and the changes that have occurred in the region in the years 2000–2016. Specific objectives are to determine the distribution of agritourism farms and their offer, together with a comprehensive analysis of the environmental and socio-economic factors, as well as the impact of the Slovak-Ukrainian border. The report was developed on the statistical materials from the Polish Central Statistical Office, Podkarpackie Agricultural Advisory Centre in Boguchwała and data collected from municipalities and district offices that is published on their websites, as well as through interviews with 100 owners of agritourism farms in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. The research has shown, on the one hand, the decline in the number of farms in the region and, on the other hand, the increase in the diversity of the tourist offer of these entities. Distribution of agritourism farms is closely linked to the attractiveness of natural environment and quality of secondary tourism resources. Traditional agritourism has not yet fully used its countryside, as well as cross-border advantages of its location.


Author(s):  
Olha Pavlenko

The article discusses the current state of professional training of engineers, in particular, electronics engineers in Ukrainian higher education institutions (HEIs) and explores best practices from US HEIs. The research outlines the features of professional training of electronics engineers and recent changes in Ukrainian HEIs. Such challenges for Ukrainian HEIs as lack of collaboration between higher education and science with industry, R&D cost reduction for HEIs, and downsizing the research and academic staff, the disparity between the available quality of human capital training and the demanded are addressed. The study attempts to identify successful practices of US HEIs professional training of engineers in order to suggest potential improvements in education, research, and innovation for training electronics engineers in Ukraine.


Author(s):  
Shalini S ◽  
Ravichandran V ◽  
Saraswathi R ◽  
BK Mohanty ◽  
Dhanaraj S K

 Aspire of the Drug Utilization Studies (DUS) is to appraise factors related to the prescribing, dispensing, administering and taking of medication, and it’s associated. Since the middle of twentieth century, interest in DUS has been escalating, first for market-only purposes, then for appraising the quality of medical prescription and comparing patterns of use of specific drugs. The scope of DUS is to evaluate the current state and future trends of drug usage, to estimate roughly disease pervasiveness, drug expenditures, aptness of prescriptions and adherence to evidence-based recommendations. The increasing magnitude of DUS as a valuable investigation resource in pharmacoepidemiology has been bridging it with other health allied areas, such as public health, rational use of drug, evidence based drug use, pharmacovigilance, pharmacoeconomics, eco-pharmacovigilance and pharmacogenetics.


1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 361-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleftheria Papachristou ◽  
Costas T. Lafazanis

A great number of cheese dairies and dairy industries in Greece are disposing their wastes, mainly cheese whey, either on land or in surface receivers, in large quantities creating a major environmental problem. A typical agricultural and pastoral provincial town of 70,000 inhabitants, Trikala, became the starting point of this research. A co-treatment of the urban sewage and the dairy wastes in the municipal treatment plant was recommended. The successful application of the above statement is based primarily on the pretreatment of the cheese dairies wastes. So far for cheese whey the recovery of the lactose serum in the contemporary central unit applying membrane technology has been suggested. As far as the wastewaters of the washing and refrigeration are concerned a pretreatment is required for the defatting in a grease trap, the grating, the adjustment of pH and the equalisation in an appropriate tank. Finally, this research has also focussed on the importance of membrane technology in improving the quality of milk and cheese production.


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