Global Agendas in Rapid Urbanisation Contexts
In territories of rapid urbanisation in the “Global South”, unsustainable development patterns such as: informal settlements, limited access to affordable housing, urban sprawl, social exclusion, traffic congestion, air pollution, etc. become more obvious and potentially undermine green, digital, and fair transition. Cities are laboratories of fast-paced development, where decision makers, investors, urban planners, architects, designers, and citizens operate at the intersection of project design, planification, and governance. Ambitious planning efforts, such as grand capital districts, smart mobility, and functional urban areas, increasingly adopt an integrated perspective that considers synergies and trade-offs across long-term sustainable development goals.
However, this long-term, integrated planification is very often too slow compared to the market and demographic needs that characterised rapidly urbanizing landscapes in the “Global South”. In addition, too often local stakeholders have asymmetrical information, continue to work in silos, with limited coordination across levels of governance and mandates. How do various players involved in everyday ‘city-making’ consider long term sustainability objectives as spelled out in the sustainable development goals and global urban agendas?
The workshop aims at providing students with comparative tools (such as stakeholders and investment mapping, urban planning documents, etc.) to analyse context-specific gaps and challenges in the framework of 2030 UN Agenda and other global sustainable urban agenda. In dialogue with practitioners and scholars, the students will also identify a portfolio of existing (or potential) tangible planning and design solutions.
At course completion the student will:
Exploring future cities through balancing global & local agendas Located on what’s called the ‘Coromandel Coast’ of South East India, Chennai is home to a population of over 10 million people, approximately. Earlier known as Madras, Chennai is part of the top 5 populous cities of the country and is located within the second most … Read more
Abstract Dakar is Senegal’s capital city and rapidly urbanizing economic center. Today, Dakar’s urban area is home to 3.54M people, half of Senegal’s population, and generates 55% of the Country’s GDP. This growth is artificially constrained by an urban growth boundary, where new homes are informally built, and due to the city’s topography, a peninsula … Read more
Where is Lahore? Lahore, the capital city of the Punjab province in Pakistan, is a historic urban center known for its rich culture, vibrant life, and significant economic contributions. Situated near the eastern border with India, Lahore stands as a testament to centuries of evolution, from a small walled city to a sprawling metropolis. As … Read more
Dhaka, the bustling capital of Bangladesh is at a critical juncture in its urban development. With a population exceeding 10.4 million, the city faces significant challenges in housing, transportation, and environmental sustainability. This project is a part of a comparative analysis done by the students, understanding these challenges under the framework of SDG 11 – … Read more
Introduction In the dynamic landscape of the “Global South,” cities are at the forefront of rapid urbanization, presenting both opportunities and challenges for sustainable development. Recognizing the urgency of addressing these issues, a consortium of experts and practitioners has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative to assess the nexus between urbanization and sustainability across diverse cities. … Read more
Cairo, Egypt’s vibrant capital, exemplifies rapid urbanization in the Arab world. The city’s growth presents multifaceted challenges, from housing to transportation, reflecting modern urban planning complexities. This project explores Cairo’s development strategies, linking them to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 11: “Sustainable Cities and Communities.” By examining Cairo’s case, we gain … Read more
The workshop challenged us to engage with the topic of planetary urbanization through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 agenda. We chose to work on the city of Neuquen as it represents an example of a city that is undergoing a fast transition in the context of climate change. Neuquen province has a rich … Read more
