Global Cities.

Over recent decades inner cities in specifically western countries have changed due to a desire for international competitiveness. Policies, often associated with principles of a neo-liberal market economy, have focused on attracting international businesses through, for instance, encouraging development by tax-incentives and direct (often foreign) investment, implementing large-scale urban (re)development and housing projects for high income groups, weakening social housing schemes and imposing mechanism to control public space for the benefit of social safety. Graduation projects that investigate the global city review such policies from a critical perspective and in a regional/metropolitan context. By means of analysis and design, they explore how different policies accelerated or dampened the spread of distinct population groups across polycentric areas with consequences such as loss of cultural identity and heritage, an increase of social and ethnical segregation and, last not least, bitterness undermining societal consent and democratic decision-making.

London/UK: Graduation project research in the UK and London will benefit from input by colleagues at Westminster University, University College London, the London Borough of Westminster, London planning NGOs and others. We will also draw on the work of the LSE Cities Research Centre. Subject to sufficient numbers there will be a guided field visit to London with visits to key sites including the Kings Cross-St Pancras redevelopment area, the Olympics site, and neighbourhood planning areas.
Randstad/NL: Graduation projects addressing global cities in the Randstad/NL have access to a broad range of experts and stake-holders in the area. They also build up on the extensive body of knowledge and expertise that the chair of Spatial Planning & Strategy has acquired through its traditional interest in the area.
Shenzhen/China: Graduation projects addressing global cities in Shenzhen/China focus on the on-going large urban projects in the context of spatial restructuring of the city, especially on challenges related to integration of social and infrastructural networks. These projects will all together formulate ‘Shenzhen Scenarios’, which is a platform supported by the International New Town Institute (INTI). They are supported by the Shenzhen Scenarios Studio at the International New Town Institute (INTI).

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