Urban
Decay
Architecture and Town 1
Planning
Urban Decay
Urban decay (also known as urban
rot and urban blight) is the
process whereby a previously
functioning city, or part of a city,
falls into disrepair and decaying
in worse conditions.
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Why Urban decay
Urban decay may as a result of
deindustrialization, depopulation
or changing population,
economic restructuring,
abandoned buildings, high local
unemployment.
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Deindustrialization
Deindustrialization is a
process of social and economic
change caused by the removal
or reduction of industrial
capacity or activity in a country
or region, especially heavy
industry or manufacturing
industry. It is an opposite of
industrialization
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de-industrialization
The term de-industrialization has been used to
describe the decline of labor intensive
industry in a number of countries and the
flight of jobs away from cities. One example is
labor intensive manufacturing.
After free-trade agreements were instituted
with less developed nations in the 1980s and
1990s, labor intensive manufacturers relocated
production facilities to third world countries
with much lower wages and lower standards.
In addition, technological inventions that
required less manual labor eliminated many
manufacturing jobs.
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depopulation
It is a term usually used to
describe any great reduction in a
human population.
It can be used to refer to long-term
demographic trends, as in urban decay
or rural flight, but it is also commonly
employed to describe large reductions
in population due to violence, disease,
or other catastrophes.
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Economic restructuring
Economic restructuring refers to
the phenomenon of Western
urban areas shifting from a
manufacturing to a service sector
economic base.
As cities experience a loss of
manufacturing jobs and growth of
services, a widening of the social
hierarchy occurs where high-level,
high-income, salaried professional jobs
expands in the service industries
alongside a greater incidence of low-
wage, low-skilled jobs, usually filled by
immigrants and minorities
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A rise in Unemployment leads to
urban decay
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Shift in economy and policies
Since the 1970s and 1980s,
urban decay has been
associated with Western
cities, especially in
North America and parts of
Europe. Since then, major
structural changes
in global economies,
transportation, and
government policy created the
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economic and then the social
Town Planning
Urban Renewal
Architecture and Town 1
Planning 5
Definition
The process where an urban neighborhood or area
is improved and rehabilitated.
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment
in areas of moderate to high density urban land
use.
Following World War II, and continuing into the
early 1970s, “urban renewal” referred primarily to
public efforts to regenerate the urban sector.
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An Example of Sheffield the super tram)
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Definition (Contd…)
A continuous process of remodeling older parts of
urban areas, including their central business areas
by means of rehabilitation and conservation as well
as redevelopment.
The displacement of an existing low-income
population, creating space for more profitable
office, commercial and luxury residential
development or the provision of transport facilities.
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Urban renewal (Brazil)
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Scope/ Tasks involved
Urban renewal may involve
relocation of businesses.
massive demolition of structures.
slum clearance and rehabilitation.
the relocation of people, and
necessary changes in the local and state
legislation.
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Purpose
Urban renewal is usually undergone for the
purposes of persuading wealthier individuals to
come live in that area.
Urban renewal is often part of the gentrification
process.
Gentrify: to change an area making it suitable for living
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Town Planning
Origin of Urban Renewal
Term “Urban Renewal” is American in
origin.
Emerged in the late 1940s (post-war)
as an attempt to revitalize central
cities.
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Underlying Concept
Urban Renewal programs are generally
undertaken by public authorities or by local
governments.
The emphasis is on those parts which have
fallen below current standards of public
acceptability. These are commonly to be found
in:
The residential parts of the inner city,
In the central business district itself.
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Town Planning
Indicators: When to Take
Decision…?
Indicators for residential parts of inner cities
are:
Inadequate housing,
Environmental degradation,
Presence of non-conforming uses.
Indicators for central business district are:
Traffic problems,
Congestion,
Substandard buildings.
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Town Planning
Approaches: How to Tackle the
Problem…?
Slum Clearance
Demolition of substandard dwellings located
in a slum (an area of sub-standard,
overcrowded housing occupied by the poor
immigrants).
Redevelopment
The demolition of an existing building and its
replacement by a new building.
Rehabilitation
The repair and improvement of existing
structurally sound property
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Slum clearance
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Slum redevelopment project
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Slum rehabilitation
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Approaches (Contd…)
Housing Improvement
Improvements of dwellings by provision of
essential basic amenities.
Environmental Improvements
Main emphasis is to improve environmental
conditions.
Economic Renewal
Improvement of economic conditions of
dwellers.
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Housing improvement
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Housing improvement
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Housing improvement
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Environmental improvement
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Economic renewal
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Industrial estates and jobs
New industrial
estates with enough
labour residence
capacity having
water, sewerage
and electricity
should be provided.
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Transport…an important sector
Transport:
Transport facilities need to be improved to
improve living conditions
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Urban Renewal
Projects
Following projects fall under
Urban Renewal:
Redevelopment projects.
Economic development
strategies.
Housing loans and other financial
tools. Street improvements.
Transportation
enhancement. Historic
preservation
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Town Planning
Parks and open spaces.
A Video of Graham Young’s
Lecture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c
nrB1Y
Thanks…
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