Sustainable Urban Development and Globalization

This book equips readers with a deeper understanding of the challenges posed by radical socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural changes due to globalization and describes effective, sustainable solutions to these challenges. The focus is especially on the rapid urbanization processes in countries of the Global South, which are giving rise to dramatic new problems of spatial and social inequality and difficult environmental challenges in relation to climate change. Readers will gain skills and knowledge that will help them to develop an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to planning, design, and management of urban settlements and territories in contexts with a high level of social, economic, territorial, and landscape vulnerability. The coverage includes, for example, strategies to promote social inclusion, improve housing quality, ensure adequate education, protect cultural heritage, enhance risk management, and address issues in the food-energy-water nexus. Among the authors are leading experts from the Polytechnic University of Milan, where a multidisciplinary set of studies and research projects in the field have been undertaken in recent years.

Auteur
Paola Bellaviti, BA (Hons, cum laude) (Architecture), PhD (Urban Planning), has had a long career as a researcher on housing and urban policies and participatory approaches to design and planning. She has worked both within academic settings (Politecnico di Milano; Politecnico di Torino; IUAV, Venice) and at other research centers of national relevance. In 2001 she joined the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU) at the Politecnico di Milano, where she coordinates research programs, often international, focused on collaborative-participatory urban planning methods to improve living conditions and well-being in urban areas, especially in more marginalized contexts. In more recent years she has coordinated the activities of the Laboratory for International Cooperation at DAStU, applying approaches and tools for inclusive and sustainable urban development in countries of the Global South. She has also had a significant and continuing career as an Adjunct Professor on various courses and is the author of numerous book chapters and journal articles.

Agostino Petrillo, BA (Hons, cum laude) (Architecture, Philosophy), PhD (Sociology), is Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Italy, where he teaches courses on Urban Sociology, Sociology, and Sociology of the Environment. Dr. Petrillo is a member of the editorial or scientific boards and a reviewer for a number of Italian journals. He is also a scientific board or doctoral college member for various academic and scientific associations. His research work focuses on cities, urban conflicts, globalization, and immigration. Dr. Petrillo has participated in international research projects such as the 2001 Program Interreg IIC on Metropolization and Peripheries (in collaboration with Genoa University) and Tresegy (2009): Transnational Research on second generation youth in Europe. He has authored seven books on subjects in his field and co-edited a further three. He is also the author of many journal articles and book chapters.

Contenu

Preface.- Chapter 1 Sustainable cities and territories in the Global South: a new challenge and a new chance of cooperation for researchers and professionals of natural and built environment.- Chapter 2 Facing rapid urban growth and rising socio-spatial inequality: interpretations, approaches and tools.- Chapter 3 Design strategies and building technologies to improve housing quality and enhance socio-economic development.- Chapter 4 Protection and enhancement of cultural heritage amid conservation and development.- Chapter 5 Integrated strategies to reduce the territorial risks.- Chapter 6 Managing the agro-urban system and the Food-Energy-Water nexus.- Chapter 7 A multi-disciplinary workshop on the field.