Urbanistica n. 122 September-December 2003

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Angela Barbanente Urbanistica: differences between languages, focuses and cultures

Problems, policies, and research Policies and plans for medium sized cities in South Italy Giovanni Soda Urban policies in Cosenza Roberto Gerundo Salerno: a daring approach to town planning Paolo La Greca Programmes and policies of urban regeneration in Catania metropolitan area Antonio Pietro Latini The plan of Catania between the fox and the hedgehog Enrico Fontanari, Daniele Rallo Policies of conservation and revitalization of historic centres. The case of Ortigia (Siracusa) Carla Tedesco Europeanisation and urban policy initiatives in the Italian Mezzogiorno

Projects and implementation Augusto Cagnardi A fascinating adventure Augusto Cagnardi The new "italian city" for 80,000 inhabitants at Pujiang

Huang Xiang Ming One City, Nine Towns. Search for ideal suburbia in

Profiles and practices Ilene Steingut Ground Zero: costruction, recostruction, participation

Teresa Cannarozzo Sicily: the interpretation of the territory in the Bourbon land registry of the first half of the XIX century

Methods and tools Stefano Stanghellini Equalization in the new master plan for Catania

Andrea Di Giovanni Reviews

Received books 'One City, Nine Towns'. China from 1950's-1980's, a rural areas. It should be reform in rural areas, Search for ideal suburbia unique urban-rural self-sustained in terms of especially in 1983, when the in China framework is deeply rooted food supply. And the non- decades-old people's

U 122/03 Huang Xiang Ming in its social and economic farming population lived in commune was abolished, system. urbanized areas with an the number of towns Population was divided into access to food provided by increased sharply. In the 'One City, Nine Towns' two major categories: the state. In 1954, to stop year 1984 along, the project is a scheme to farming and non-farming. unexpected migration from number of towns jumped promote social and With a household countryside to cities, a from 2,781 of 1983 to a economic development in registration and food household registration historical height of 6,211. suburban , with a rationing system, the system was established. This reflects, to some focus on ten existing or government was able to Limited resources were degree, the reality of newly built towns. prevent largescale migration distributed in conjunction urbanization happened The origin of this project from countryside to cities. with this system until before 1980's. Nowadays, came from one of Shanghai Together with birth-control 1980's. Without proper after another two decades Municipal Government's six policy, thus, it was possible household registration, one since then, major shift from key topics "developing to stop unexpected growth had no access to many farming to non-farming took strategy for urbanization of of urban population. highly subsidized and place in urban and rural suburbs." It was first issued However, for the past two otherwise unavailable areas. However, the as Suggestions for and a half decades, China's consumer necessities such Chinese definition of 'urban' Shanghai to Promote the economy has been growing as soap. Although the food and 'rural', 'city' and Development of Experiment rapidly and sliding towards rationing system virtually 'countryside' that was used Cities and Towns in 2001, a free market orientation. vanished in early 1980's over the last 50 years is still which could also be seen as This tendency fueled a when the economic started influencing the decision- an implementation of the large-scale urbanization, not to boom, the traditional making process of the central government policy only in major cities, but also discrimination of urban and provision of urban embodied in Several in rural areas. Market force, rural population still exists. infrastructure and public Comments for the like that in the other part of The household registration services. Promotion of Healthier the world started to play an system keeps on affecting Development of Smallsized important role in China's farming population's access Suburban Shanghai Cities and Towns. urban system. People to public services such as Shanghai sits at the middle "During the Tenth 5-year virtually are free to move, to medical care and education, of China's eastern coastal Plan, and according to the live and to work in almost in large cities. line, at the mouth of the entire requirements of any place they want. The urban system of China River. It has Shanghai's national Farmers left their lands to consists of cities and towns, become China's largest economic and social work in factories, or to build and the Ministry of Civil commercial center since the development, the buildings throughout the Affairs governs the beginning of the last government will enforce the country. This was not designation of them. The century. policy of breaking through at expected when China's criteria of designation Shanghai occupies an area key points and advancing urban policy was made half change in different time- of 6,344 kmq, out of which steadily, try its best to form a century ago. periods, reflecting 93% is considered as a super urban system for all As the reality goes beyond urbanization policy, suburban or rural parts. international economic the existing urban-rural economic development, and Registered population center." From the text policy framework, social and po-litical ideologies. amounts to 13 million above, a message is environmental impacts Among the towns, there are according to government expressed that the became obvious. Thus, to two main types: designated records of 1998. 26% of government has made a restructure the out-of-date towns (jianzhizhen) and them are with a household decision to take strategic urban-rural policy gradually market towns (jizhen). The registration of farming, measures and to shape a emerges as a national population in designated although in reality, only 14% new urban-rural framework priority in China's process of towns is reported in the of the total population are in China's social structure, modernization. statistical yearbooks of involved in farming at least, as an experiment. 'One City, Nine Towns' is an China as part of the urban activities. If this is more on a policy effort to open new population, but that in Most parts of Shanghai are level, then, on a more possibilities for urban-sub- market towns is not flat, with abundant water realistic level, it's worth wise urban interaction and to reported. In the period resources and products. It to have a try to regulate the form a new urban system, between 50's and 80's of enjoys a climate of obvious urbanization taking place in which will enhance the last century, China's subtropical monsoon, with suburban Shanghai with an Shanghai as a metropolis of policy over non-farming clearcut seasons, longer overall policy of social and international importance. population varied, but winters and summers, and economic development. mainly very tight, as the shorter springs and This is almost the first Traditional urban system government was to autumns. attempt of its kind since the Chinese population was minimize the size of the It appreciates abundant founding of the People's basically divided into two population to whom the rainfall, long frostless Republic. major categories: farming state had to supply grain. season and sufficient Because of the central and non-farming. Farming After the adoption of the sunshine. planning economic nature of population used to live in open-door policy and the Shanghai is constituted with

Urbanistica 2 www.planum.net central urban and suburban public services are seriously Shanghai has more than At the policy level, areas. Suburban Shanghai insufficient. Quality as an 200 towns. Only 10% of household registration consists 1 county of urban space is relatively them have a population of system, farming and non- Chongming, 8 districts low. more than 10,000, while faring population, land use (Nanhui, Minhang, In suburban Shanghai, a most of the rest (more than and distribution and social Baoshan, Jiading, Jingshan, typical Municipality-- 71%) have less than 5,000 security system have been Fengxian, Songjiang and Town 3 level hierarchy of residents. In average, a far behind the social and Qingpu), the suburban part administration is applied. town normally serves an economic realities. of New District, area, which is smaller than In the megalopolis, excluding 6 townships which Trend of urbanization 5 kmq. governance between was already put under the By mid 1970's, China Because of the existing provinces, cities and towns administration of central became the world's largest urban-rural system, constitutes the major urban part. urban nation, although only interaction between the burden in the effort to By the end of 1998, there 20% of the population was inner 'built-up' part of city maximize efficiency of were 204 towns and 8 urbanized at that time. In and suburban has been public service delivery and townships, with a total area the past two decades, this restricted. Movement of effectiveness of urban and of 5,900 kmq. Registered process became dramatic. It people, capital and regional management. population in suburban is predicted that over the economic interests are Shanghai counts at 5.84 next 10-15 years, half of somehow limited. One City, Nine Towns million, which constitutes China's population will live Therefore, the input to 'One City, Nine Towns' is a 45% of the total population and work in urbanizing upgrade the infrastructure in project focusing on the of Shanghai. Among the areas. suburban Shanghai remains future development in suburban population, 42% In Yangtze Delta, urban low. Especially, as the suburban Shanghai. As a of it is holding a non- population amounts to 54% towns and villages are too test of new policy, one farming registration while of the total, while in much spread, the efficiency central town was chosen for 58% is farming. Shanghai it reaches a high of input is even much lower. each district of the city. However, in reality, only level of 74%. And in reality, Lack of planning and They are: Song Jiang New 31% is involved in farming by putting the household coordination results in low City of Song Jiang District, activities, the other 69% is registration system aside, level development. Hai Gang New Town of working in other sectors. the real figure is over 85%. Consequently, impact on , An Ting Suburban Shanghai A megalopolis stretching environment becomes New Town of Jia Ding contributed one third of the from Ningbo to Shanghai serious and quality of life in District, Gao Qiao New total GDP. However, only and Nanjing is taking its suburban areas is relatively Town of Pudong New 7% of the overall output shape. In this largest urban poor. District, Feng Jing New was from the primary sector. system of China, the To resolve these problems Town of Jin Shan District, The secondary and tertiary population goes over 30 and to achieve higher level Bu Town of Chong Ming sectors generate 56.1% and million in a network of and sustainable County, Pu Jiang New Town 36.9% of the total out-put. numerous cities and towns development, those issues of Min Hang District, Feng Morphologically speaking, within a band of land longer still remain as the major Chen New City of Feng except for one or two main than 500 km. As constraints. Xian County, Luo Dian New towns of each district or transportation and Industrial development acts Town of Bao Shan District county, most of the towns communication networks as a key factor to support and Zhu Jia Jiao New Town are spontaneously grown improve between multiple the urban development in of Qin Pu District. based on natural villages or centers, 'urban-rural' suburban Shanghai. As the new millennium settlements. boundaries disappear in a Compare to the population came, the central Population sizes are usually rapidly changing web of and the speed of government made up its small; most of them are less economic linkages. People urbanization, development mind to take strategic than 5,000. Number of live and work in different in secondary and tertiary measures to promote urban towns and settlements is cities; manufacturers are sectors are much left development. To implement intensive. Average distance able to absorb competitive behind. the new urban-rural policy, between settlements and inputs from multiple Shanghai has a three-level Shanghai municipality towns is no more than 5 km. suppliers over a much government system and elaborated a new project of Many people still live in broader area; cities and related financial policy. Most 'One City, Nine Towns' as villages and settlements, towns develop of the local infrastructure an experiment of a strategic even after they work in specialization; and higher development is to be adjustment of decades-last factories of towns. level services begin to financed by the local urban system and patterns Settlements and villages concentrate within those government at town level. of social and economic take shape from the land key metropolitan areas These governments usually development. The municipal pattern and canal system which best provide for have very tight revenues if government determined, derived from water field rice regional, national and only take the premier during the tenth 5-year Plan growing. Among them, international market sectors into account. period, to move those geographically better transactions. However, to develop infrastructure construction located attract more While the main site of secondary and tertiary priorities from urban regions residents and grow into urbanization in suburban economic activities, the land to suburbs, and aim to towns. However, in most of Shanghai remains positive, use policy becomes a major bridge the gap between them, infrastructures and problems are obvious. constraint. urban and rural areas in

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www.planum.net terms of cultural activities, town from different sectors The approved master plan structures. education, employment, including state, private and then became the principles It is complex, divers, consumption and social international investors for the development of multifunctional and security. based on a market-oriented these towns for the next 20 multicultural. It is built up of Planning has been given mechanism. years. many different urban great attention. The local 'One City, Nine Towns' For many of the towns, a typologies. Thus, to authorities were asked to project, at the policy-making committee composed by incorporate the Chinese make comprehensive and level, can been seen as an planning officers, local way of living with Dutch strategic plans for social attempt to establish a new experts and foreign urban design becomes a and economic development. urban-rural framework of planners was be set up to fundamental challenge. Based on that, the tomorrow. In this sense, it monitor the execution of the Moreover, the government called for will also be made a model master plan. multifunctionality and master plans for urban for thousands of towns all This was in the history the flexibility of the new city development of world over China, if the project first large scale involvement should offer good standard. As an experiment, succeeds. of its kind of foreign opportunities for different international firms are The Municipal Government planners in the master ways of living and invited to make blue prints set up a very high standard planning of Chinese cities. It integration of new habits. for the ten new towns. for the master plan of the was widely seen as a step Kuiper Compagnons made In the project, a new land new city and town. of open up for foreign a conceptual master plan to use policy is tested. The On the one hand, they services in the Chinese control the development of local government is allowed found the ongoing market and also the hope of the city by drawing a line of to exchange the usage of urbanization and planning importing modern urban ecology and a line of land for input of industries for the rural part of the city concepts. However, for the economy. The line of and infrastructure. are not comparable to those local policy makers, local economy will be the outer The economy of the towns of the central city of planners and future ring of Shanghai, and will is for the first time Shanghai, while on the inhabitants of those new extend into the peninsula. considered as a part of the other, the international level towns, the consequent The line of ecology will overall economy of the of planning is a good effects are still expected. consist of the old sea dike municipality. To promote reference for the fast In Search of Utopia: A Case and the road. The San Lin specialty of economy in growing Chinese towns and Study of two Towns Yuan Tree Nursery will be each town, according to the cities. The Dutch design for an extended into a recreational strategic planning of the International competitions expanding Chinese townis and holiday area that will city, makes it possible that for the master plan of the related to the Conceptual extend into the northern part the local economy be well ten city and towns were Master planning of the of the newly built Gaoqiao developed at a higher level. organized by the Shanghai Gaoqiao District and the district. Part of this area will The new towns are to Urban Planning New Town of Gaoqiao in be dredged into a lake that create a new mechanism to Administration Bureau and Shanghai. Located between will have some artificial attract people to move in the local governments. the river mouth of the islands. Low-rise houses and live there by adding For each town, 3-4 design Yangtze River and the and holiday villas will be certain flexibility to the firms of international level Huangpu River, the built on the islands to create existing household were invited. Some of them peninsular shaped Gaoqiao a pleasant living registration system. were recommended by the in Shanghai is an important environment surrounded by A new policy of social diplomatic representatives port town in the north of water. The future town of security system will be of those countries which is Pudong. Based on Lingqiao will be developed made to unify the urban and presented. Shanghai's development into a new port in the rural parts of the city as a The competition was usually concept of 'One city, Nine direction of the river mouth whole. conducted in two phases. A towns' Gaoqiao will become of the Yangtze Kiang. A much higher standard of interim presentation was a modern Dutch-style town A few small to medium- urban and social organized to have better in which the local sized office buildings will be development will be applied communication between the architecture is incorporated. built into the large fields in to provide better client and the planners. It will use the Dutch model the centre of Gaoqiao to infrastructure, public After the interim report, a of urban planning concepts create harmony with services and cultural written comment was as reference. Kuiper surroundings. The centre of facilities. Therefore, a higher delivered to each firm as a Compagnons won the bid in Gaoqiao will be remodelled, quality of life is to be guideline for the further the international tender in rebuilt, renovated and achieved to make the towns development. 2001 and is now proceeding extended within an area of more suitable and desirable After the finalist was with the detailed planning 5.6 kmq to create a town in places. selected, Shanghai Urban and design, commissioned which will enjoy living. The Financially, the municipal Planning Institute, as the by People's Government of objective of the conceptual and district government will government planning agent, Gaoqiao (Shanghai). planning is to respect and provide more support to was involved to further The main purpose of this protect the valuable promote the development of develop the concept and to project was to create a Chinese architecture and the towns. act as a mediator between Dutch city in China. A city in urban space and to re- The new policy is also the foreign planners and the Holland means per arrange the distribution of encouraging capital local government definition a complex of the water basin network. movement into the new authorities. spatial and functional Green spaces and water

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www.planum.net have been included in the Holt is situated, a area into four major recreational facilities, while plan to prevent the buildings combination of a forest functions: cross the Wenzaobang from becoming too landscape and dwellings. - International Automobile River, a leisure park, a golf populated. The form and the Along Pu Xing Road urban City. The IAC is located in a course and possibly a size of the buildings are in blocks are located, with large piece of land between automobile themed park will harmony with the size of the facilities on the ground-floor Cao An Road, a major be built. green and water areas, and dwellings on the top. highway, and Wusongjiang creating a pleasant living The Pu Xing Blocks make a River, a major geographical environment. front to the main access feature in the area. It is For the New Town itself, Road. composed by the functions Bibliography Kuiper Compagnons' plan is International Automobile of Automobile Exhibition, Su Ping, Yao X. (2000), based on a few important City is an initiative related to Automobile Trade, “Let’s develop ‘One City, structural lines and zones, the Conceptual Master Plan Automobile Duty Free Nine Towns’ First”, Jiefang which connect the Dutch of Shanghai Automobile City Service, Automobile Daily, 17 nov. City with the rest of and the New Town of Research and Technology, Albert Speer and Partner Gaoqiao town. At first there Anting. The planning was Management and Traning, (2001), Shanghai is the Classical and Modern commissioned in 2001 by Urban Services. International Automobile Dutch Strip which is situated Shanghai Urban Planning - Anting Central Area. As an City and Anting New Town parallel at the Gaoqiaogang Administration Bureau and important complementing Master Plan Final Report, River and connects the People's Government of Jia function to the International am Main. historic Chinese centre with Ding, Shanghai to Albert Automobile City, Anting New Kuiper Compagnos the new Dutch centre. The Speer and Partner Gmbh Town is to be built as a (2002), Conceptual second one is the Pu Xing (Frankfurt-Main, ), town very suitable for living, Planning of Gaoqiao New road, which connects the and Fichtner Gmbh and Co. with the following qualities: Town, Rotterdam. four quadrants of Gaoqiao (KG Stuttgart, Germany). low-rise and open in Sun T., Liu Q. (2001), Town with each other. By Anting Area is located in the volume, mixed in function, “About the Plan ‘One City, this a cross of important western part of Shanghai. It intimate and cozy in scale Nine Towns’ of Shanghai”, infrastructure, spatial and is the gate for the highways and urban and lively in T+A n. 3. functional lines is formed leading to Jiangsu Province mood. Yeh A.G.O., Xueqiang X. and there will occur a and further on to . - Residential Areas. The (1996), “Urbanization and sustainable basis for the Since 1984, when planners foresee a potential the Urban System development. Volkswagen moved in and development in the area. Development in China”, in Looking at the area on a established the first modern Therefore, in the master Fi-chen L., Yue-Man Y. lower scale, the plan is autoindustrial base in plan, they propose a new (eds.), Emerging World based on a geometrical China, Anting's major residential area between the Cities in Pacific, United system of green and water industrial sector has long Wusongjiang River and the Nations University Press, lines, which are based on been centered at car Shanghai-Nanjing Highway, Tokyo. the existing situation and manufacturing. As one of the south boundary of the partly continue in the rest of the major towns, known as New Town. Gaoqiao. In-between these 'One City, Nine Towns', - Automobile Manufacturing lines seven different and which will enjoy the special Areas. The Automobile interlinked areas are privileged policy of Manufacturing Area will be situated, which all have their development, Anting is basically focused on the specific urban typology, expected to be built into the existing VW Shanghai and character and appearance. most important automobile extended to the east The northern part contains manufacturing center in boundary stopped by the the Classical and Modern China, as well as a new green-lined Wenzaobang Dutch Strip, with the new town with modern living River. The total area for city centre Central Square comforts and amenities. The manufacturing will reach that leads to the historical planned size of the town 234 ha, with an additional centre. The strip is shall have a potential to area of 377 ha reserved for surrounded and divided by host 200,000 inhabitants. accessories manufacturing small canals and built after Since Anting was to the north of the area. the classical Dutch towns designated as a German The International and architecture. The style area, possibly because Automobile City, the New middle part is wider and of the existence of Town of Anting and the contents three different Volkswagen, a competiton proposed future residential typologies: the Green was organised to propose a area are bonded by the Gardens (a green area with master plan for the future rivers of Wusongjiang and strips with low-rise housing), urban development of Wenzaobang and the large the Harbour (wide canal Anting. The entry done by scale public green space. In with warehouses and Albert Speer and Partner of fact, the park becomes the restaurants aside) and the Frankfurt and Fichter and center of the area, with Waving Gardens (landscape Co. of Stuttgart, won the man-made lake, surrounded and dwellings integrated). In project. by entertainment, catering, the southern part, Leaves The master plan divided the leisure, sports and

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