This article is the second of a series of insights about Cities of Tomorrow, which is exploring topics such as urban development, innovation districts’ transformation and the future of cities.
As urban populations are growing at a high pace, cities tend to face new challenges. A common urban issue is the rise of abandoned, underutilised spaces and neighbourhoods. Every metropolitan city features this kind of areas and could benefit from dramatic improvements on an urban development level.
The most efficient way to tackle these kinds of challenges is urban renewal: revitalising places and turning them into spaces where people can live, work and connect; spaces that are functional and enjoyable for citizens. The desire to be part of an environment that engages them on a personal, social and professional level is extremely strong. Citizens are looking for a sense of belonging, safety, wellbeing and global connectedness. It is necessary to understand that a genuine connection between people and spaces can positively contribute to the socio-economic development of cities. Urban regeneration projects are necessary for a sustainable development of our cities and for the process of placemaking, which leverages local assets to improve people’s wellbeing and happiness.
What is urban renewal?
Urban renewal refers to the unified processes that, at different levels, are necessary to upgrade the physical structure of a city, provide solutions for local issues, create professional and social opportunities, improve the economic situation of the area and, last but not least, tackle climate change and address sustainability. The terms “urban regeneration”, “urban revitalisation” and “urban renewal” often overlap throughout current literature.
Urban renewal expresses a common vision and involves several aspects, from the reconstruction or repurposing of the metropolitan environment, the architectural redesign, to the placemaking and social layer. Moreover, it also helps to develop an overarching definition of the city’s identity. In order to start an urban renewal project, it is necessary to assess the public and private players involved in the development and financing. Local governments and the public sector are usually the ones setting up the project, but rarely all the required resources are being supplied by themselves. Nevertheless, even if a government is willing to fully finance urban renewal, communities as well as local businesses are needed to ensure the sustainability of regeneration efforts. Therefore, the participation of the private sector is important and inevitable for the success of any urban area in need of a revitalisation.
The role of innovation in urban renewal
Urban renewal has been in practice for years, with cities remodelling themselves in order to build bigger highways, motorways and transit networks, as well as modern housing districts, industrial sites and business centres. All these work together and lead to a healthier world.
Revitalisation projects for developing urban areas focus more on sustaining viable and healthy spaces by solving problems of industrial cities through renovations and rebranding. The economical advantages of urban redevelopment projects are particularly attention-grabbing for investors around the world. At the current pace in which populations are growing, such projects around the world have great benefits as they create job opportunities and boost people’s quality of life. Additionally, urban renewal also contributes to urban life by promoting inclusivity, strengthening the community and accelerating the modernisation process of city centres.
When it comes to urban renewal, SPX believes both the public and private sector must work together to adopt an inclusive and innovative approach to urban regeneration projects, only then cities can create a strong culture of transformation. Innovation must be at the heart of designing functional spaces that not only fit into neighbourhoods, but also uplift them. Furthermore, to guarantee the success of urban renewal projects, it is imperative to insert the concept of collective ownership into residents’ minds so that they develop a genuine interest in public spaces and facilities, making use of the structure and preserving it as well. Innovative strategies of communication and community bonding are at the core of connecting people to urban spaces and to each other. This is SPX’s favourite aspect of urban regeneration.
One of the latest projects we have been part of is directly connected to urban regeneration in Amsterdam: OurDomain South East by Greystar NL. The new building recently opened its doors to the first residents and 25 percent of accommodations were made available with priority to young professionals from Amsterdam Southeast and employees of the hospital Amsterdam UMC. The new shared living concept brought modernisation and new opportunities to the district of Amstel III, as part of the extensive transformation of the area into a sustainable living and working location.
Which Countries in Europe take the lead on urban renewal projects?
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