Planning with extended urbanization: Elements of a strategic spatial planning vocabulary. London, UK. 21/06/2024.

Prof. Nick Phelps introduced his recent research progress on planning theory and practice. The purpose of the research is to anchor a facet of planning theory in a language for, and examples of, purposeful planning with the relational complexities of the extended urbanization that characterizes our urban age. The challenge is one of better attuning strategic spatial planning conceptual repertoires to the realities of patterns of extended urbanization. The concepts we propose as potentially useful additions to the strategic spatial planning vocabulary are: (i) ‘white space’ regions; (ii) edges; (iii) boundary objects; (iv) interstices; and (v) coalescence. We seek to elaborate them as both theoretically and practically meaningful concepts. In conclusion we note how, in their relationality, these elements of a new vocabulary signal how questions of the physical arrangement of settlements – the questions of what goes where and how – cannot be divorced from consideration of urban social relations and questions of for whom and why what goes where.

Nicholas (Nick) Phelps is Chair of Urban Planning and Associate Dean International, Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne. He has written extensively on the planning and politics of suburbanization.

The seminar attracted audience in and beyond China and led to productive discussions.