#9/2024
ISSN-L 2501-5591 (Online)=ISSN 2559-4141
VELKOVSKA, M. - Untangling ambiguities: the definition and typology of ‘spatial leftovers’ in Skopje’s urban fabric
Abstract
The term "spatial leftovers" as a concept in urban studies has become known to describe areas within cities that are underutilized, residuary, or in other ways marginalized in the urban fabric. The concept despite its increasing use remains ambiguous, with inconsistent definitions and interpretations across disciplines. By critically engaging with the term “spatial leftovers,” this paper addresses the gap examining its theoretical evolution, and refining its definition in the context of urban planning. The paper proposes a more precise understanding of spatial leftovers through this exploration of spaces resulting from historical, political, or socio-economic disruptions in urban planning processes. These leftovers in many cases are defined/ described by their exclusion from the active flow of the city, their lack of clear functional designation, and their potential to reflect broader urban inequalities and planning shortcomings.
The study examines the city of Skopje in North Macedonia which displays significant spatial leftovers because of its multifaceted historical path characterized by reconstruction periods, ideological changes, and swift urban growth. This study presents distinct examples of spatial leftovers located in Skopje's central urban area using case studies from multiple urban planning periods. The case studies consist of vacant spaces resulting from post-earthquake reconstruction and underused areas from the Socialist period alongside development voids from Skopje's post-2014 urban planning changes which included controversial architectural changes. The research applies mapping techniques to segment spatial leftovers into distinct categories which illustrate the diverse forces that have shaped urban development.
The methodology combines an extensive study of Skopje’s urban history with spatial analysis of leftover urban spaces. This study creates a typology which maps leftover spaces by offering a spatial overview that connects physical traits with historical and socio-political factors behind their current conditions. The study identifies patterns of neglect and fragmentation as well as disconnection between spaces while focusing on how urban planning decisions and policies contribute to these leftover areas.
Rather than being services of little practical use, the paper centrally argues that spatial leftovers represent sites of potential urban transformation, offering opportunities for regeneration and different forms of spatial organization. Mapping and analysing these spaces demonstrate how important such areas must be in urban planning initiatives going forward. A further component of this research provides a challenge to the conventional urban narratives that overlook marginalized spaces-they could play a serious role in building a more inclusive and sustainable urban future.
Keywords: spatial leftover, urban fabric, configuration, interaction, public space, transformation, "between" space, change, value
RADOSLAV, R. D. - The emergence of the ecological network as the most important urban infrastructure
Abstract
We are at the beginning of the 4th Industrial Revolution, which is no longer linked to the discovery of a new fuel like the previous ones but is fueled by technological advancement. The use of Artificial Intelligence will lead to a radical change in people’s lives on all fronts, from work to education and health, and thus to a change in human behavior.
Along with this, buildings, neighborhoods, cities, and regions are modifying their functions due to the new way in which their users interact. The former major urban networks (mobility, utilities and social) will receive other meanings and importance in the hierarchy between them.
In this competition between these major vectors, a new urban resilience factor appears: The Ecological Network, which will probably play the predominant role from now on.
Defining an equitable and sustainable relationship between humans, their activities, and nature is essential. This makes the Ecological Network (the proposed theme) the most important of the urban infrastructures because it is the mitigating factor in the face of today’s challenges.
Keywords: Urbanism, Regional Planning, Urban Networks, Holistic Approach, Think Global, Act Local.
SEN, P. - Planning for Nelamangala Block in the peripheries of Bengaluru, Karnataka - an attempt towards decongestion and renewal
Abstract
The Indian National Development Council in its meeting, held in the year 1968 decided to study the regional imbalance at its depth. Thus, it was important to identify a fairly homogeneous economic structure in a newly proposed area to address a comprehensive regional issue. Nelamangala situated in the fringe area of the software capital of India, Bengaluru has been generally known for its raw silk, silk sarees, coconut, vegetables, beedi, bricks and kerosene. But presently it has gained immense potentialities as a region of development which would not only carry some loads of overly populated Bengaluru region and at the same time its existing population and the economy would surely gain from such measures. It has been marked as a part of the major cluster zones located in the north-west part of Bengaluru Metropolitan Region which has been analysed statistically for demographic components, literacy, working status and land use components to gauge its suitability (and feasibility) for consideration as a growth region in future.
Keywords: cluster, urbanization, fringe areas, gentrification, households, Sustainable Development Goals.
GHOSH, S., MOKTAN, A. and CHAKRABARTI, S. - Urbanisation and labour marginalization: an analysis on slum employment in post-reform India
Abstract
While the ‘Urban Workforce Marginalization’ portrays an ongoing process of general economic exclusion in the urban areas of developing countries like India, slums are visible sites of exclusion in cities, providing refuge to a precarious labour force. In this context, this paper seeks to understand the changing pattern of employment opportunity and degree of marginal employment of the slum residents relative to that of urban India. It also reviews the supply and demand factors influencing such a change in relative employment opportunity and relative marginality of employment. The study has been done using employment and population data of the slum and urban residents from census of India for two years, 2001 and 2011. The study finds that both relative employment opportunity and relative marginal employment of the slum residents are increasing over time, signifying the growing incidence of marginal employment for the slum residents. Moreover, higher marginal employment elasticity of the slum residents due to one unit rise in output denotes increasing marginal work by the workers of slums. The study also finds that the increase in the share of the slum population to urban, as a supply-side factor, has influenced both relative employability and marginality of the slum dwellers more effectively than the demand-side factors. On the demand side, the study finds that economic growth and manufacturing sector growth influence the marginal employment of slum residents. Finally, a model abstracting the findings of this study outlines that total labour engagement in slums is determined as a result of supply-demand interaction.
Keywords: slums, employment, workforce marginalization, marginal work, relative employability, India
MZEE, A. M., KAZAURA, W.G. and LUKENANGULA, J.M. - Enhancing Public Open Space Usability: The Impact of Accessibility and Activity Diversity in Unguja, Zanzibar
Abstract
Public open spaces are essential for enhancing well-being, fostering social interaction, and supporting environmental sustainability in urban settings. Objective of this study was to assess the usability of public open spaces focusing on Mwanakwerekwe neighbourhood, in Unguja, Tanzania. Primary data were collected through in-depth interviews and field observations, while secondary data were sourced from existing literature on public space management. The data were analyzed using Past 4.03 software, applying univariate and multivariate statistical methods within a mixed-methods approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative techniques. The results revealed that accessibility was the leading factor affecting the usability of public open spaces, accounting for 94.18% of the variance in user perceptions. Activity diversity is the secondary factor, explained only 5.82% of the variance. Population size was found to significantly influence the usability of these spaces, with the mean score for population size (men) being 82.73, while for women it was 134.34, indicating that areas with a higher female population are largely accessing open spaces. Additionally, a p-value confirmed that gender had a statistically significant impact on the perceived accessibility of the spaces. Overall, the findings highlight that accessibility is the most important factor influencing the usability of public open spaces, while environmental quality and activity diversity had relatively lesser impact. These findings offer valuable insights for urban planners, policymakers, and community leaders in managing public spaces.
Keywords: Community engagement, Public space design, Social interaction, Sustainable development, Urban planning.