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Beyond urban ecomodernism: How can degrowth-aligned spatial practices enhance urban sustainability transformations

Author

Listed:
  • Alejandro De Castro Mazarro

    (Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, Germany)

  • Ritu George Kaliaden

    (Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, Germany)

  • Wolfgang Wende

    (Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, Germany)

  • Markus Egermann

    (Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, Germany)

Abstract

For spatial practices such as architecture, urban design and planning, degrowth remains an abstract concept, as there is no clear alignment of its principles into spatial strategies. To bridge this gap, this paper examines how degrowth can be operationalised into sustainable spatial practices. Through a review of more than 200 sustainable spatial projects across the world operating at the building, neighbourhood and citywide scales, the paper shows that while the majority of sustainable interventions representative of dominant architecture and urban design culture do not align to degrowth principles, a significant number of examples using sustainability strategies such as convivial technologies, building retrofitting, urban renaturation and revitalisation, eco-urbanisation and spatial infrastructure upgrading are in fact aligned to degrowth principles. We suggest that these examples form a potential stepping-stone to enable an urban design and building culture rooted in a degrowth agenda, however further research and conceptualisation are needed to enable this to happen.

Suggested Citation

  • Alejandro De Castro Mazarro & Ritu George Kaliaden & Wolfgang Wende & Markus Egermann, 2023. "Beyond urban ecomodernism: How can degrowth-aligned spatial practices enhance urban sustainability transformations," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(7), pages 1304-1315, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:60:y:2023:i:7:p:1304-1315
    DOI: 10.1177/00420980221148107
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maria Kaika & Angelos Varvarousis & Federico Demaria & Hug March, 2023. "Urbanizing degrowth: Five steps towards a Radical Spatial Degrowth Agenda for planning in the face of climate emergency," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(7), pages 1191-1211, May.
    2. Yaryna Khmara & Jakub Kronenberg, 2020. "Degrowth in the Context of Sustainability Transitions: In Search for a Common Ground," Lodz Economics Working Papers 1/2020, University of Lodz, Faculty of Economics and Sociology.
    3. Isabelle Anguelovski & James Connolly & Anna Livia Brand, 2018. "From landscapes of utopia to the margins of the green urban life," City, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(3), pages 417-436, May.
    4. Rodríguez-Labajos, Beatriz & Yánez, Ivonne & Bond, Patrick & Greyl, Lucie & Munguti, Serah & Ojo, Godwin Uyi & Overbeek, Winfridus, 2019. "Not So Natural an Alliance? Degrowth and Environmental Justice Movements in the Global South," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 175-184.
    5. Power, Anne, 2008. "Does demolition or refurbishment of old and inefficient homes help to increase our environmental, social and economic viability?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(12), pages 4487-4501, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sofia Morgado & Jeanna de Campos Cunha, 2023. "Grounded in the Landscape—Climate Action, Well-Being and Public Space in a Small Town in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-22, August.
    2. Maria Kaika & Angelos Varvarousis & Federico Demaria & Hug March, 2023. "Urbanizing degrowth: Five steps towards a Radical Spatial Degrowth Agenda for planning in the face of climate emergency," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(7), pages 1191-1211, May.
    3. Maurice Hermans & Joop de Kraker & Christian Scholl, 2024. "The Shrinking City as a Testing Ground for Urban Degrowth Practices," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9.
    4. William Otchere-Darko, 2023. "Scaling-up degrowth: Re-imagining institutional responses to climate change," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(7), pages 1316-1325, May.

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