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EVERYTHING WE’VE FORGOTTEN!

And What is at Stake for the City of Tomorrow.

by Suzanne Belaieff

We are witnessing a necessary expansion in Town planning is, by its nature, a social In an effort to reduce mobility and maximise
the concept of enrichment: a lack of territorial discipline for the following reasons: it deals the effective alignment of jobs and residences,
policy, often subject to various opportunistic with urban life and human needs: housing, urban life places a premium on diversity. For
factors. leisure, work, transport. instance, challenges such as land insecurity,
Cities are are regarded as a potential source real estate speculation, the presence of what
of wealth, both material and spiritual. Only an However, we are now talking about ecology and some deem “unnecessary urban projects”, and
“acceleration of speed” has been recognised, the “Green candidate” where it is imperative the contamination of soil and water contribute
capitalism being one of the primary driving to combine ecological awareness with new to the challenges facing town planning;
forces, alongside professional and territorial technologies, making the human condition As it stands, urban planning needs to be
mobility; everything is happening in an more complex. This complexity calls for reassessed. An environment is far from being
acceptable manner, and it is the rare town inventive synthesis and coherence among a mere “ordinary” container. It is a dynamic
that is still resilient. the residents, something that can no longer and responsive entity, one that encompasses
Town planning is a discipline that pertains to be ignored. both aesthetic and ethical dimensions.
both time and space, “the study of existing Regrettably, ecology and security are
conditions and the transformations brought supplementary factors in the overall framework
about by new streets, squares and the of town planning, which must increasingly Rethinking Urbanism INFOLIO Collection Archigaphy
construction of new residences.” adapt to existing conditions and tends towards
The City, its image and the grouping of homogenisation. A healthy urban life thrives
buildings are fundamental elements for on diversity, such as the preservation of
wellbeing. different architectural styles. At the present
Any negligence on the part of city officials time ecology is struggling to gain ground.
is unacceptable. YES, urban quality has a
significant influence on people’s lives.
The simple concerns of traffic, sanitation,
hygiene are social, economic and aesthetic
problems.

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