Publication details
Polycentric spatial vision in planning practice: between normative narratives and specific institutional frameworks
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| Year of publication | 2022 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| Citation | |
| Description | Spatial planning concepts, such as polycentric development or compact city, are based on theoretical and analytical research into the functioning of contemporary cities and metropolitan areas. These are concepts with a strong geographical and spatial dimension. At the same time, however, they are becoming planning normatives that penetrate planning practice at various scale levels. Each normative is by definition limited when encounters local specifics. The paper aims to point out the limits and barriers in the application of polycentric and compact narrative in the given institutional conditions of the post-socialist territory of the Czech Republic with emphasis on the scale of daily urban system (DUS) as a spatial arena for routine everyday human practices (work/school commuting, shopping, leisure activities). A different understanding of scale, hierarchy of spatial planning documents and various explanations of the terms ‘centrality’ or ‘metropolitan space’ are discussed. Although the defined normatives have been part of the global planning discourse for several years, only after permeating spatial planning practice their importance for managing particular territories can be evaluated. The paper is based on quantitative analysis of the settlement structure of selected metropolitan areas and qualitative research of spatial planning and strategic documents. Preliminary results show the incompatibility between the generally adopted narratives of spatial planning and the institutional framework of a particular territory and emphasize the need of the institutionalization of metropolitan areas in relation to a more effective planning at the scale of DUS. |