Critical Urban Theory
Henri Lefebvre (1901-1991): Redefining the Study of Cities
Two circuits of capital:
Primary circuit- Investment to hire workers
Second circuit- Real estate investment (speculation)
Space as part of social organization
Planners and developers are important architects of urban social life
Social and political systems organize space for the benefit of specific groups
The image of the city
Paths: Streets, walkways, bikeways, transit lines, canals, or railroads
Edges: Boundaries between two areas, including shorelines, walls, wide streets and highways, borders, and open space
District: Medium-to-large sections of the city
Nodes: Points of intense activity, paths lead and interest, people mix
Landmarks: Physical reference points like buildings, businesses, signs, monuments, or natural features.
What is the role of government?
Eminent domain: forced sale of private property for public purposes
Owner of vast amounts of land: land owned by the local, state, and federal governments; sometimes through a seizure.
Modes of development
Marx: Modes of production: needed to produce goods and services
Castell: Modes of development: now concerned with information and energy, and not as much with raw materials and factories
Poverty
Canada- 7 of every 10 poor Canadians live in an urban area
United States- 40% suburbs, 43% principal cities, 17% of all poor live in nonmetropolitan areas (rural), 84% native-born, 5% neutralized, 11% non-citizens
Europe- Greece, Bulgaria, Spain, and Romania have higher rates of poverty. Rural areas have higher levels of poverty
Theme environment
Recycling of abandoned factories and docks, revitalized waterfront areas (1960s onward), example Festival Marketplace of Faneuil Hall (Boston) by James W. Rouse
Epitome of themed cities: City Walk in Universal studios opened in 1993, Jon Jerde