NEW URBANITY:
CITIES VS. GLOBAL CHALLENGES

GLOBAL CONTEXT

↘ There is a large number of political and economical forces within cities all over the world, which influence the manner of development and functioning of new urban micro- and macro-environments, specific by the same or similar shaping. Those forces form a new, internationally led urban paradigm. Politicians, designers, urban planners and architects together create this new image. Still, the shaping of cities is apparently significantly influenced by the powerful forces of intellectual and financial globalization – that should be neither underestimated nor dismissed. The role of planning and urban design in that hierarchy can be potentially highly ranked, but also denied.

↘ Planning solutions, urban design and architecture are often created by copying known examples, a process of adjusting standard decisions or models to a given location. Instead
of analysis of a local problem and addressing it, uniformed solutions are being used, identical
throughout the world. Such manner is deeply rooted, but at the same time numerous guidelines are being created in order to direct planning methodology and urban design, with the goal to better understand the requirements of globalization and adjust them to local circumstances.

↘ Investments with assumptions of characteristics of global society, regardless whether foreign or national capital is in question, presume characteristics of homogenous urbanity – creating a recognizable image made of mega markets and new business facilities as a symbol of investing in the market. Their architecture does not follow characteristics of local building, traditional values nor climate requirements, creating a stereotypical image in the wider scale of urban design.

↘ The trend of modern urbanization conditioned by economic development creates a model based on consumption and wasting resources which has led to a dramatic state of the environment and the planet’s ecological degradation. We live in an era of fast global changes which include changes in diferent segments, e.g. unplanned development of tourism and industry, deforestation, domination of a private automobile over public transportation, uneven consumption of water and goods in diferent regions, large influence of the human intervention in creating climate changes – this is the reality for every country.

↘ Urban areas are a challenge in the protection of the environment, and problems stem from the consumption of natural resources, as well as from the consequences of waste and pollution, contributing to the development of social and economical disparity. All these problems which continue to grow in the global society require the development of new solutions.

↘ This situation requires the necessity of changing the existing model of consumption and production, as well as geographic mobility, towards a new direction where economy and ecology will be combined in order to act synchronized since their end goal represents achieving a sustainable environment.

↘ In this context there is an urgent need for necessary adjustments in order to secure survival in this transitional period until a new form of ecological balance is established in nature. Urban policies pertaining to natural resources, agricultural production, environment protection, urban development and managing natural and cultural heritage, must reassess their priorities in this new context, taking into account scientific and technological progress. Therefore, planning is a prerequisite for sustainable development on all levels: global, national and local.

LOCAL COMPLEX OF INFLUENTIAL FACTORS

↘ The complex of influential factors in the last two decades has significantly altered the trend in planning, creating a new urbanity in Serbia. Social and cultural models of transitional society, economical restructuring, a new methodological approach formed according to experiences of foreign practices, innovations in planning techniques, changes of the legislative framework...make up a new complex of influential factors which gradually help us recognize the emerging of new urbanity.

↘ Planning model defined by legislative framework offers a flexible interpretation of plans, which represents a chance for development plans, but also a danger in the realization under pressure by investors’ demands.

↘ Viewed from positions of widely accepted and recognized values, globalization is opposite to the standpoint of distinguishing a regional, traditional identity.

↘ The philosophy and principles of sustainable development are built in the legislature, as well as into planning documents, but ultimately the essential principles are not being implemented in practice.

↘ Principles of energy effciency are listed in planinng documents and design solutions but are not being practiced in realization, thus not leading to an essential change.

The International Symposium addresses a variety of themes, with the aim of recognizing analysis and potentials of urban policies for the predicting and directing development, innovative methodological framework, in the context of the legislative framework, under the following topics:

1. EFFECTIVE URBAN POLICIES
The complex of issues which inffluence urban development consist of economic development,
social cohesion, ecological balance, managing resources, investment infrastructure, privatizations, combating climate changes... How can all these issues beimplemented into effective urban policies and financial arrangements aimed at the developing sustainable cities?

2. CITY PLANNING IN A PERIOD OF TRANSITION
Integrated plan:
With the aim of acquiring a thorough understanding and a clear analysis of all aspects, creating a network of participants and establishing cooperation with experts from similar fields, such as: economy, sustainability, legal expertise and construction... Including the knowledge of all interested groups, e.g. NGOs that are expert- or user-focused.

Corporative planning:
There is an increasing development of the process of planning on community level in EU member states. This process develops structures, not only local self-government, but also other bodies of the social sector, as well as representatives of the community who form a partnership, taking part in the development of a strategic plan for providing social services. Planning on the level of community through the process of corporative planning implies that state owned funds can be unified for treating common priorities. There is also the process of inclusion or the so-called social engagement for recognizing priorities within the local self-government. For example, this can be directed towards decreasing crime, solving problems of unemployment or improving bad housing conditions. The main advantage of the community level planning approach is the fact that, here is an established common agenda and action plan. In practice, corporative planning implies that the municipality/local community acts as a corporation or a company which plans its current and future work in a comprehensive and sustainable manner, taking into account all local actors and resources from public, private and civic sector.

Improvement of administration
- initiatives for improvement of city and regional administration:
Improvement of administration quality is assessed based on principles, such as participation of civic engagement, transparency and responsibility, implementation and rule of law can, inter alia, help to improve decision-making processes for development of cities and react to the people’s needs. Urban planning is the central instrument of urban administration and should take into account all of the stated factors.

3. URBAN PLANNING AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR SUSTAINABILITY
When it comes to urban planning, a large number of transitional countries rely on instruments such as master plans, provided with zoning, purpose of land use and regulatory details – which are often rigid and limiting. Even though innovative planning approaches are increasingly present in practice, and these classic instruments are also being reformed, there is still a long way before the entire planning system can be transformed into control oriented in order to support contextual relevant forms of development. The theme of this session is the issue of reforming urban planning relying on instruments such as master plans and building codes, with the aim of promoting social, economic and ecological sustainability (focus on: studies, master plans, innovative plans).

4. INFLUENCE OF SPATIAL PLANNING, URBAN DESIGN AND ARHITECTURAL FORM
ON URBAN SUSTAINABILITY
The essential mechanism of spatial development and control is spatial planning, understood as a complex and comprehensive activity, from planning to urban design and architecture. Spatial planning and urban design have far-fetching consequences on the sustainable course of urbanization, in the sense of balancing towards an even social development, where there is no social exclusion of groups, decreasing of spatial fragmentation, protection of urban land and ecosystems, supporting ecologically sensitive development, protection and building of an environment resistant to the increasingly often and intensive natural/man-caused catastrophes...

5. BEST PRACTICES, LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL
Case studies presented at this session can represent a catalogue of ideas and strategies that can be used by planners and architects in their work. The studies can pertain to larger spatial entities, metropolitan regions, as well as to regions of specific contents of cultural, natural or ecological importance. They can also relate to any study which promotes the concept of sustainability and better quality for life and the environment.