See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/262945258

World cities and urban form: Fragmented, polycentric, sustainable?

Article  in  URBAN DESIGN International · May 2013

CITATIONS READS

4 730

1 author:

Vytautas Grigonis
Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
25 PUBLICATIONS   209 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Konstitucijos žiedo pralaidumo ir eismo saugumo gerinimas reguliojant eismą. View project

Park and ride View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Vytautas Grigonis on 22 February 2018.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

URBAN DESIGN International (2013) 18, 182–183. doi:10.1057/udi.2012.5

The authors of this book analyse a number of no surprise that an interesting and discussion-
idiosyncratic cases of world cities through the worthy conflict is programmed into the concept of
paradigm of urban form. Urban form is evolving sustainable development itself: can the develop-
in the contemporary global world and the emer- ment of world cities be sustainable? It is probable
ging processes associated with this evolution that we should not expect any final and positive
represent a challenging and important area of answers as the best thing to do is to look at
research. The main theory validated by this book concrete examples.
is that a deeper understanding of the concept The second part of the book deals with such
of urban form leads to more sustainable urban concrete examples and identifies more specific
development.
A modern world city is comprised of complex
interrelations between local and global indicators
PY
issues. The main focus is given to Polycentric
Regions and Cities, analysing a number of exam-
ples from Europe, Asia and North America. Each
relating to socio-political, cultural, environmental of the articles reveals an interesting polycentric
O
and economic subsystems. Urban areas and pro- structure-related problem in a world region or city.
cesses within these areas are hard to describe They consider the background, provide general-
C

by unified and weighted indicators as all world isations and, in some cases, proposals, all of which
cities are unique and have specific features. provides for an interesting discussion. For exam-
Obviously, there are much more dynamic and ple, one of the articles discusses whether a ‘world
R

synergistic indicators, which are not covered even class city’ is a ‘sustainable city’. Many of the
by such a division in subsystems. articles return to consider the definition of the con-
O

Every city is a dynamic and living framework, cept of ‘sustainable development’ and exactly
influenced by the local inhabitants’ needs, the what it means. Some of the most dominant themes
TH

ideas of local planners, along with both local and in the book include: cities in the developed and
global economic conditions. Consequently, finding developing worlds, world cities, globalisation,
dynamic technological solutions is crucial. The urban economics, cultural and social dimensions,
thinking that may lead to such solutions is pre- transport and the style of planning systems.
U

sented in this book, which arose from a proposal Polycentric urban forms are multidimensional
advanced at the 7th International Conference on and problematical, it is appropriate therefore that
A

Urban Planning and Environment in 2007. The book the book also provides an analysis of the more
consists of individual articles written by specialists negative aspects of polycentrism. The third part of
from some of the most prominent universities in the book unravels the negative aspects of urban
the world. The articles presented are related to fragmentation, as well as considering the reasons
the three major subjects in this book. for this process. The themes discussed in the
The first set of articles is of a more theoretical second part remain relevant and are supplemen-
nature, allowing the reader to grasp the main ted by an additional dimension – poverty and the
concepts and aspects of the book: What processes growth of slums – a topic that is highly relevant to
affect world cities? What key indicators could emerging world cities and is undoubtedly one of
be used when evaluating world cities? Is such the most urgent global problems in terms of its
evaluation necessary at all? The first part of the scope and complexity.
book attempts to oppose and generalise these The interest of scholars, philosophers, politi-
aspects and their smaller integral parts. It is of cians, planners and ordinary citizens in the global

r 2013 Macmillan Publishers Ltd. 1357-5317 URBAN DESIGN International Vol. 18, 2, 182–183
www.palgrave-journals.com/udi/
 Book Review

perspective of world cities is increasing; hence, sustainable development and urban form that
it is appropriate that different strategies for are the central concern of this collection, it should
developed or urbanised territories are presented certainly make interesting reading for the aca-
here for consideration. In summary, this book demic or professional specialist. However, a less
presents various and sometimes conflicting points experienced reader with an interest in this field
that are shaping collective knowledge in the field should also find the book useful for learning
of sustainable urban form. Looking at the whole about the most recent developments in urban
structure of the book, it is wide ranging in terms planning.
of its variety, not least in the wide geographical
scope of world cities, the diversity of problems Vytautas Grigonis
and the number of analytical methods deployed Department of Urban Engineering, Faculty of
in attempting to find solutions. Coming back Environmental Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas
to the interrelations between the concept of Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania

PY
O
C
R
O
TH
U
A

r 2013 Macmillan Publishers Ltd. 1357-5317 URBAN DESIGN International Vol. 18, 2, 182–183 183

View publication stats