Urban Planning: New Directions at the Turn of the Century

New Directions in Planning Theory - Susan Fainstein 

In the article by Fainstein, she addresses what is necessary to improve human life and what can be done by urban planners to contribute to this. Three main concepts were developed to enable an improved urban life; all are not mutually exclusive.

The first is the communicative model; where the planner is the negotiator and intermediary among stakeholders, which include residents, businesses and business owners, political parties, schools, construction managers and many others. Being a mediator for discussion allows different stakeholders to engage and express their varying opinions on the matter. Exchanging opinions and changing language however does not allow agreements to be made, and this is the job of a planner, to mediate what ideas will solve the necessary urban problems.

The second concept which Fainstein believes would help contribute to improving urban life is the New Urbanism model. New Urbanism refers to a design based approach to planned urban development. This concept relates much to earlier planning theorists (as discussed in previous posts). The new urbanest calls for mixed uses, changing the structure of housing for different income groups, building developments. It focuses on having a civic or centre and a well-defined edge where neighbourhoods would lie. It would consist of strip mall developments and freeways which would enhance urban life and engagement.

The third concept is referred to as the Just City. The Just City bases its functions and systems on equity. This is where the city not only provides welfare but also generates increased wealth and embodies middle-class society rather than promoting structural inequality. Participation of decision making is an ideal aspect of a Just City, this also allows minorities to have a voice rather than only major power groups. 

Anglo-American Town Planning Theory Since 1945; Three Significant Developments But No Paradigm Shifts - Nigel Taylor

This article outlines three movements in planning history that are not necessarily paradigm shifts, but are still extremely significant changes to the way planning is viewed as a profession. The first main change is from viewing planners as ‘urban architects’ to planners and organisers of new systems and rational processes. Taylor identifies four points for this change;

1. Towns are now viewed as systems of activities and flux rather than of design and physical being;

2. Planners work by the notion of planning a town via economic, social and physical means;

3. Towns are ‘alive’ rather than a place where blueprints are developed; and

4. More scientific, analytic methods of planning were introduced.

Planning was no longer viewed as simply an art, but more of a practice which involved analysing activity systems. Taylor then begins to explain the change from the procedural method of planning to community involvement, otherwise known as the ‘communicative planning theory’. It began as the question was raised whether a planner, although knowledgeable, would be able to decide what is right for a particular environment without understanding the history, the culture of the people and the needs of the community. This introduced the communicative turn in planning theory. The third change is from modernist to postmodernist planning theory where there was a change in normative planning thought.