ABSTRACT

This book presents new research and theory at the regional scale showing the forms metropolitan regions might take to achieve sustainability. At the city scale the book presents case studies based on the latest research and practice from Europe, Asia and North America, showing how both planning and flagship design can propel cities into world class status, and also improve sustainability. The contributors explore the tension between polycentric and potentially sustainable development, and urban fragmentation in a physical context, but also in a wider cultural, social and economic context.

part |8 pages

Introduction

chapter |6 pages

Introduction

World Cities and Urban Form

part 1|84 pages

Theoretical Approaches in a Global Context

chapter 1|14 pages

What is a ‘World Class' City?

Comparing conceptual specifications of cities in the context of a global urban network

chapter 3|16 pages

The World City Hypothesis Revisited

Export and import of urbanity is a dangerous business

chapter 4|14 pages

Sustainability and the ‘World Class' City

What is being sustained and for whom?

chapter 5|22 pages

Polycentrism and ‘Defragmentation'

Towards a more sustainable urban form?

part 2|144 pages

Polycentric Regions and Cities

chapter 6|18 pages

Promoting Sustainable Urban Form

Implementing urban consolidation policies around the Helsinki Metropolitan Region

chapter 8|16 pages

The Barcelona Model

1979–2004 and beyond

chapter 11|16 pages

Global Integration, Growth Patterns and Sustainable Development

A case study of the peri-urban area of Shanghai

chapter 12|12 pages

Taichung the Waiting Metropolis and its Campaign Towards a ‘World Class' City

A case of glocollision, glocoalition, or glocalisation?

chapter 13|16 pages

‘World Class' Vancouver

A terminal city re-imagined

chapter 14|18 pages

Planning a ‘World Class' City without Zoning

The experience of Houston

part 3|114 pages

Aspects of Fragmentation and Polycentrism

chapter 15|20 pages

Assessing Urban Fragmentation

The emergence of new typologies in central Buenos Aires

chapter 17|24 pages

The Right to the City

Stakeholder perspectives of Greater Cairo Metropolitan communities

chapter 19|18 pages

Staunchly Middle-class Travel Behaviour

Bangkok's struggle to achieve a successful transport system

chapter 20|12 pages

To Be or Not To Be a ‘World Class' City

Poverty and urban form in Paris and Bucharest

chapter 21|18 pages

The Inner Truth of Slums in Mega Cities

A scenario from India

part 4|10 pages

Conclusion

chapter 22|8 pages

Conclusion

The Form of Cities to Come?