R-urban Development Approach: Responding to Efficiency and Sustainability - Report Example

R-urban Development Approach: Responding to Efficiency and Sustainability (College) R-urban Development Approach: Responding to Efficiency and Sustainability Abstract Viewing r-urban as an innovative development intervention, resilient urban living environments can be realized. R-urban embodies some sort of distinction that is guided by the principles of participation, environmental responsibility as well as making knowledge and governance democratic. It’s all about people working together to achieve something. Through r-urban strategy, the capacity of local resilience is enhanced by introduction of alternatives to the current living models. This is to speak of cities producing what they consume and consuming whatever it is that they produce with suburbs and rural areas inclusive. Furthermore, this strategy in question attempts to face future challenges through collective action. These challenges include global warming, population growth, depletion of natural resources and fuels, and geo-political conflict. No particular communities should be targeted in this case; instead r-urbanization should cause formation of new communities with its own set of rules and principles for management. Architecture plays a very significant role in r-urban; architecture does the hosting and showcasing of resilient practices. Most importantly, architecture helps realizing and putting all the strategies in a rather practical shape. Key words: r-urban, sustainability, efficiency, resilience. Chapter 1 – Introduction 1.1 Central theme The theme of this study is about R-urban. R-urban is attributed to the strategy of urban resilience in Europe cities. R-urban can be defined as “…a bottom-up strategy that explores the possibilities of enhancing the capacity of urban resilience” (R-Urban wick, n.d.). Globalization had significantly changed the way we run and manage our wealth, the economies, civilization, trade, culture, religion, and humanities. As the number of human population increases, demand for the available goods and services also increase. To ensure that there will be sufficient land area to meet the increasing needs of each person, land developers and societal planners are continuously being challenged to create an entirely new paradigm, strategies and approaches in the way people should utilize the existing space and resources available in our environment. Basically, one of the newly proposed approaches is the use of the R-urban strategy (Petcou and Petrscu, 2011). Currently promoted throughout the different parts of the European cities, the concept of R-urban aims to create a local network that will link a series of urban activities through the use of the available land (Urban Tactics, n.d.). At first glance, the definition of R-urban may seem to be very complex. However, the concept of R-urbanization is generally pretty simple. First of all, one should be able to understand that R-urban planning focuses on how one should create a network of local and closed ecological systems that could support urban activities (R-Urban wick, n.d.). As such, the R-urban planners should be able to create efficient mobility that could support the nation’s economy, social, environmental, and cultural concerns (Petcou and Petrscu, 2011; Constantin PETCOU, n.d.; Urban Tactics, n.d.). The concept of R-urbanization is more than the need to create an easy access between urban agriculture, technologies, and industry to the place where people live (R-Urban wick, n.d.). In the process of attempting to integrate communities to fulfill the existing human needs, it is equally important on the part of the land developers and societal planners to incorporate the need to protect our ecological system (R-Urban wick, n.d.). Basically, the importance of protecting our ecological system is what makes R-urbanization sounds a little more complicated. As such, R-urban planners and developers should consider ways on how they can promote people’s quality of life by preserving the quality of soil and water as well as the need to prevent further degradation of our landscape and natural resources (Rurbance, 2013). Petcou and Petrscu (2011, p. 64) explained that the letter ‘R’ in R-urban represents the need to ‘reduce, reuse, and recycle’ as well as the need to ‘repair, re-design, rethink, and re-assemble’. Therefore, among the few most effective strategies to promote renewability and sustainability in our environment is to include the need to incorporate the importance of promoting the practice of re-using, repairing, and recycling in R-urban planning (Constantin PETCOU, n.d.; R-Urban wick, n.d.). In the process of re-using, repairing, and recycling used materials, R-urban can play a significant role in reducing the risks of global warming as well as the long-term social and economic consequences of depleting our natural resources (i.e. fossil fuels, etc.) (Petcou and Petrscu, 2011; Constantin PETCOU, n.d.). In line with this, one of the best ways to protect our environment from further degradation is to create a balance between consumption and production (R-Urban wick, n.d.). It means that people should produce products just enough for the public to consume; and vice versa. To avoid future socio-economic and environmental problems, the R-urban planner should also consider the projected increase in the future population growth rate, the risks for employment crisis, housing development, geo-political conflicts as well as the risks for socio-economic problems (Petcou and Petrscu, 2011). To sum it up, R-urbanization is all about being able to plan and create a landscape architecture that will help us make use of the available land resources in a more efficient and more sustainable way (Vanempten, 2009). 1.2 Purpose of the project The focus of this research is based on the following two case studies: i. "R-Urban development approach" in Colombes near Paris. In this case new model of urbanism is being tested in order to realize change based on sustainability and efficiency. ii. “R-Urban development approach” in Kerala, India. In this case we are to explore the Kerala Model with respect to India’s bottom-up strategy based on efficiency and sustainability. 1.3 Hypothesis To closely analyze the extent to which r-urban development approach has been achieved in the two identified cases. To map the demographic distribution and geographical locations of the areas in question. To identify and discuss all the r-urban initiatives and strategies which have occurred in in the two regions. To identify the extent to which the two areas are able to effectively exploit the available resources in an efficient and sustainable way. 1.4 Research questions 1) Why was there need for the r-urban development approach? 2) Has the socioeconomic lifestyle of people in the identified regions improved with time? 3) What are some of the previous and ongoing r-urban development strategies in the areas? 4) Has any significant achievements been realized from the new r-urban societies? 5) What ideas and suggestions can be used to improve r-urban situations in the areas? Chapter 2: Literature Review 2.1 Case Study 1: R-urban development approach in Colombes 2.1.1 Research Colombes is located in the northwest suburbs of Paris, France which is about 10.6 kilometers from the center from the center of Paris. Based on the Geographical prospect Colombes has a minimum and maximum altitude of 23m and 44m, latitude of 48.923 degrees north and longitude of 2.252 degrees east and this area is about 7.81 square kilometers. This geographical information was retrieved from map-france.com just as the map in the picture below. Figure 1: Colombes map www.map-france.com R-urban began in Colombes in the year 2011 (Petcou & Petrescu, 2011), this literature asserts that the urbanism was centered on active involvement of citizens initiating collaboration, operating lifestyle changes, closing cycles between production and consumption and creating networks based on solidarity. We could therefore possibly describe this it as community engagement for sustainable urban living. The ‘R’ of R-urban reminds us that the goal to this strategy is resilience. Petcou & Petrescu (2011) addresses resilience as a prime term in the subtle discussion on sustainability, which occurs today in the context of scarcity. Resilience speaks of adaptability and thriving with change in circumstances. It is therefore a dynamic concept without a stable definition and identity outside circumstances producing it. The rural initiatives in Colombes were based on the right to resilience; claiming urban sustainability as a civic right. While the government, as always, incorporated a municipally driven top-down approaches to urban regeneration, Colombes society thought of r-urban as the key to realizing efficiency and sustainability. Before furthering the subject of r-urban in Colombes let us first find out how it can about and whether it was even necessary. A research conducted by atelier d’architecture autogérée (AAA) between May and August 2008 brought about the dawn of this urbanism in Colombes (Architecture in Development, 2014). AAA was seeking to investigate strategies that could bring about economic, ecological as well as social change on local and the wider global scale because it was necessary. Upon proposal to the Colombes municipality, the strategy was embraced with great interest. Through establishment of a facility that can be collectively run, people have the ability of generating local resources so as to involve local business hence unanimously building an ecological community that is efficient and sustainable. Since r-urban is much different from a bureaucratic planning process which is actually top-down, the strategy was initiated in Colombes by a newly formed cooperative team in order to enable the following pilot cases; EcoHab, AgroCite and RecycLab (Architecture in Development, 2014). Just to elaborate on the cases a bit: AgroCite focuses on agriculture and pedagogy, RecycLab is to focus on recycling, social economy and eco-construction and finally EcoHab is for cooperative housing. At the dawn of r-urbanization, Colombes had reported high rate of unemployment with a population of about 80,000. However, Architecture in Development (2014) reveals that Colombes has a vibrant culture of civic activity and goes ahead to attribute this to 450 non-profit organizations. Indubitably this shows a strong civic engagement with inhabitant’s willingness to contribute, but does it in any way justify the need for intense r-urbanism displayed in attempts to combat life’s hardship? According to this literature, r-urban focuses on the engagement of active inhabitants in the utilization of a bottom up strategy. The plan directly contributes to urban living though efficient and sustainable measures. Land cultivation not only creates local resources, production and job opportunities but also enhances the sense of ownership and capital for a resilient community. These achievements reveal to us the extent to which Colombes has triumphed against hardship in its quest to exploit available resources and keep sustainability. R-urban consists of three pilot projects each focusing to generate social, economic and ecological assets. This is to mean ecological co-operative housing, civic urban agriculture without forgetting eco-construction and recycling. The first Agro-cite in Colombes is a set of building and strictures for agriculture. It also boasts of educational, experimental and shared gardens for testing new theories (Architecture in Development, 2014). Self-agricultural consumption and creation of resilience is possible for citizens. Through recyclab, thing that would normally be thrown away are made useful. This is aimed to achieve environmental improvements through green urban practices. The final unit which is EcoHab is now meant for seven socially mixed housing apartments. This is aimed at seeing to it that inhabitants live green while sharing natural resources. This is however not achieved at the moment. One more thing to note about Colombes is that it experiences generally cool winters and mild summers. Occasionally, it also experiences strong, dry and cold northern winds, summer brings lots of sun and through winter it stays dark for long. 2.1.2 Analysis From the research above, it is quite obvious to tell that r-urban planning strategy is the best thing that has ever happened to the Colombes community as a whole. However, most authors barely reveal any form of resistance or misfortune regarding the Colombes project. This is rather unrespectable in any thriving plans as it offers better alternatives to architects. The following images depict the success of r-urbanism in Colombes as reveled by Architecture in Development (2014). Figure 2: Agriculture farm in Colombes with Agrolab in the middle background June 2013. Photo, aaa Figure 3: Recyclab, recycling and eco-construction unit, R-Urban Colombes, October 2013. Photo, aaa The three two figures above depict strictures made up of wood. Normally, r-urban has several trees (Architecture in Development, 2014), and this is just proof enough that the planning in Colombes breeds a bottom-up strategy. Figure 1 reveals that the Colombes is a sloping area; this is observable by the altitude marking. The geographical data explains why Colombes is just suitable for r-urbanism. It is located on high altitude with cool winter and mind summer. Colombes has managed to achieve a lot from working together and sticking to sustainable and efficient plans as citizens producing what they consume and consuming what they produce. The high population in the area has also contributed to the current positive results are there was enough labor that contributed to the r-urban architectural implementation by aaa in 2008. Now there are chances that such strategic planning is likely to spread across wider parts of France for the sake of full realization of efficiency and sustainability. One way to improve this great idea is through public education and information. 2.1.3 Report Evidently, r-urbanism demands resilience and unity. It calls for democratic civilization as put by Petcou & Petrescu (2015). These authors stipulate that r-urban strategy is one of the emergent small scale initiatives brought about by slow response of governmental procedures and limited consensus in addressing challenges of global crisis. AAA realized that Colombes was such a potentially productive land and proposed betterment. Colombes now offers typical suburban context. With its mixture of private and housing estate it experiences problems as youth crime, large scale dormitory suburbs and economic deprivation. It is such kind of problems that deemed r-urban development approach useful. In parallel, this strategy will be propagated on wider scales and instances of Hackney Wick in London reveal the extent to which r-urbanization is on the rise. 2.2 Case Study 2: R-urban development approach in Kerala 2.2.1 Research Kerala is located in the southwestern tip of Indian peninsula as depicted in figure 4 below. Geographically, it can be termed as a geographical region. Due to the location, it has unique climate and geographical features; talking of the southwestern monsoon winds which bring about heavy rainfall to the state of Kerala during May to September (Maps of India, 2014). Figure 4: Location of Kerala in India www.mapsofindia.com The entire Kerala area measures about 38863 square kilometers with about fourteen districts. Area under cultivation in Kerala is up to 2.292 million hectares. The figure below gives us a closer look at Kerala with all its deserts, plateaus, lakes, and river basins: Figure 5: Physical Map of Kerala www.mapsofindia.com A campaign was launched in 1996 by India state of Kerala with aims of making village democracy a prime development mechanism (Guinness, 2010). In this research we are about to explore the Kerala model on the prospect of bottom-up strategy. With bottom up strategy in Kerala, experts work together with the community in order to help identify their needs. Chandra (2004) presents the argument that “development from below” strategy is appropriate for meetings needs of the rural poor as is it involves development by the victim party itself. The author presents yet another growth equity strategy concentrated on human development rather than GDP. This is achieved through the devotion of major investment resources to education and health in both urban and rural areas. Claims from this piece of literature had it that this strategy yielded rich dividends in Kerala due to large investment in education health. However, one vital thing that Chandra fails to tell us in the book is how the rich dividends were achieved in Kerala. This would be important for laying down other strategies in the future as Kerala is still a state undergoing transition. One of the most significant achievements of Kerala as brought out in Chandra (2004) is the proof that achievement of good health outcomes is much possible even at the low levels of economic development in India. However, one limiting factor is the absence of real complete public provision. One outrageous argument presented by Chandra in this literature however is the paradoxical aspect of Keralas health service state. Chandra goes ahead to stipulate that despites Keralas successful efforts to improve its health services, the differences in the position of health transition Imply that it is being faced with burdens on how to tackle high cost per episode health care. We could then view this challenge as one of the reasons as to why Kerala is into r-urbanism. A contributing factor to Keralas r-urbanism is its road coverage that has created rural-urban continuum. This has indubitably contributed to unique attainments on humans and other developmental indicators (Chandra 2004). Despite all Keralas efforts, its level of unemployment and poverty remain high. Per capita GDP in Kerala still ranges on three dollar a day which is below the average in India (The Encyclopedia of Earth 2008). 2.2.2 Analysis The research on Kerala surely reveals that the state indeed needs a bottom-up strategy. It is also evident that sustainable development in Kerala mainly focuses on education and health. Based on statistical analysis from The Encyclopedia of Earth (2008), Kerala proves to be one of the poorest states in India. With high life expectancy and high rate of literacy (The Encyclopedia of Earth 2008), Kerala could easily thrive into a self-sustaining urban center. Given that Kerala practices agriculture than any other state in India and is also a tourist destination, one way to improve on its current state of poverty would be to focus on these two things. They are the things that should give its citizens control over their lives to fully realize the r-urban strategy. 2.2.3 Report Attention of most environmental and development scholars got captured by Kerala as a result of its potential and location. The main question of concern during the proposal of bottom up idea was whether an impoverished society could be improved without industrialization. The Kerala Model under study suggests that the achievements of great improvements in life quality are achievable through the reform of social, economic and political institutions without attempting to peruse economic growth programs. In this study, Kerala is revealed as poor and densely populated state which is also principally agrarian. Reforming Kerala was entirely based on powerful systems of social value. Most importantly, the reforms involved bottom up development approach which was to bring about efficient sustainability to the needy. This study strongly suggests that welfare is not only achievable through predicted economic growth but also through institutional and societal improvements. We can generally conclude that Keralas future trajectory is uncertain, a fact that induces worry as it heads towards unsuitable industrialization in the pursuit of economic growth (The Encyclopedia of Earth 2008). Chapter 3: Discussion In this particular chapter we are mainly going to focus on analytical comparison between the two case studies during the discussion. To start with, one major difference between the Colombes case study and the Karela case study is based on project motive. This is to mean that in Colombes the bottom up strategy is mainly driven by economic growth which is not the case with the Karela Model. Karela Model is highly motivated by the institutional and societal improvements. In fact, the economic motive in Colombes makes the r-urban strategy in Colombes a lot much better that that in Kerala. In Colombes the resultant society produce what they consume and consume what they produce due to the economic prospect. Comparing the geographical coverage in Colombes and Kerala we can say that Kerala is much bigger than Colombes and due to this has got a higher population. However, there is low rate of employment in both cases. The high population in Karela might provide sufficient labor for the sake r-urbanism but it is also just too much to effectively manage. Agriculture is dominant in both cases but much better in Colombes in terms of quality production. In general, the bottom up strategy in Colombes is much more advanced than that in Karela. This could be as a result of the incomplete transition of urbanism in Kerala. Kerala still has a long way to go. However, with ignorance to economic grown it stands a chance of having an entirely shaky future as the nub of any state normally consist economic motives. This is to mean that as much as Kerala desires societal improvements it has to involve economic concerns in its sustainability strategies. In this study it is also observable that at some point the bottom up strategy involves the parties considered to be belonging to the top-down strategy. Based on the experience it is therefor important to note that bottom-up strategy should at no given time be considered as the opposite of top-down strategy as a way of achieving better results upon combination of the two. Chapter 4: Conclusion and Recommendations In this research we have to a broad extent examined two case studies on the subject matter R-urban. The study has successfully explained what a bottom-up strategy is all about and with due examples of case studies explored its significance on efficiency and sustainability. R-urbanization has a great impact on the human lifestyle as it bridges the gap between the rich and the poor in a society by bringing them together. We need to look at the people around us as one way of taking seriously the idea of self emancipation. Such people include both those at work and in the streets. Building a self sustaining community such as the one in Colombes demands that accept and respect all sorts of persons around us regardless of their rebellion. It is up to everyone to further the efforts of betterment into the future. Generally, without resilience it would be extremely difficult for any given community to rise. Some times the government might decide to turn against its citizens rendering the whole idea of r urbanization fruitless. Therefore participants must always prepare for the worst including traitor also turning against the community and taking what they have all collectively built. Due to all these it is necessary for an r-urban community to come up with effective security measures on how to protect all that has been built. References Vanempten, E. (2009). Fragmented and dispersed: Designing Brussels R-urban Landscape. The 4th International Conference of the International Forum on Urbanism (IFoU). [Online] Available at:http://newurbanquestion.ifou.org/proceedings/6%20The%20Design%20of%20the%20New%20Urban%20Space/full%20papers/D050_Vanempten_Elke_designing%20brussels%20rurban%20landscape.pdf [Accessed 8 November 2014]. Petcou, C., & Petrscu, D. (2011, December 19). R-Urban Resilience. pp. 64-70. [Online] Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.showFile&rep=file&fil=RURBAN_resilience_Atlas1.pdf [Accessed 8 November 2014]. R-Urban wick. (n.d.). R-Urban. [Online] Available at: http://r-urban-wick.net/ [Accessed 8 November 2014]. Constantin PETCOU. (n.d.). R-URBAN - R-URBAN / Participative strategy of development, practices and networks of local resilience for European cities. LIFE10 ENV/FR/000215. [Online] Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=3965 [Accessed 8 November 2014]. Rurbance. (2013). Rurbances Aims. 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[Online]. Available on: http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/kerala/keralalocation.htm# [Last updated on 26 September 2012] [Accessed on 1 April 2015] Guinness, P. (2010). Geography for the IB Diploma Patterns and Change. England: Cambridge University Press. [Web]. Chandra, R., (2004) Social Development in India. India: Gyan Publishing House. Volume 3. [Online]. The Encyclopedia of Earth. (2008). Kerala, India: Geography Sustainable Development. [Online] Retrived from: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/154018/ [Retrival Date: April 2, 2015] Read More