Ivana Katurić, Lucijan Černelić (p), Ana Devčić

Shaul Hartal

Diffuse urbanization, also known as urban sprawl, is a pattern of urban development characterised by disjointed, low-density and car-dependent development, and is widely recognised for generating significant social, environmental and economic costs. Mitigation of urban sprawl is present as an objective in spatial planning systems of many European territories, although the effectiveness of public interventions in achieving compact urban development varies significantly, and diffuse urbanization remains a pervasive issue in urban development across Europe.
Recent development of the EU policy discourse shows this issue gaining greater attention. The increasing concern of environmental policies with land take and calls for “no net land take” targets hold significant implications for spatial planning in EU member states. There is a need for greater understanding of the complex drivers of land take to identify barriers to compact urban development. In each territory, the mode of urbanization – whether urban development takes more compact or diffuse patterns - is determined by an interplay of factors influencing the demand for and supply of developable land. These include both broader economic, demographic and cultural factors, as well as public policies at various levels of governance, including spatial planning and governance, as well as sectoral policies.
We aim to contribute to the understanding of the dynamics affecting modes of urbanization through a study of urbanization patterns in Croatia, a country characterised by diffuse urban development throughout most of its territory. Using national census data on demographic changes and data on urban development derived from remote sensing, Croatian municipalities are classified according to land use efficiency. We further examine spatial data derived from local land use plans to explore the influence of planning policies on urbanization.
Our findings highlight a persistent pattern of diffuse urbanization. A key contributor is the widespread zoning of undeveloped land for construction, facilitating self-promoted housing development, which aligns with a housing system dominated by small-scale production and widespread homeownership. Additionally, commercial activities are increasingly concentrated in monofunctional business zones often developed on greenfield land, reinforcing car dependency. These dynamics suggest that urban sprawl in Croatia is not merely an outcome of weak planning controls but a product of institutional arrangements that sustain low-density development patterns. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for designing more effective spatial policies aligned with EU sustainability objectives.

Shaul Hartal (p)

Ada Wolny-Kucińska

The accessibility to lifestyle amenities increasingly influences intra-metropolitan inequalities. The gaps are typically attributed to restricted access to jobs, resources, and infrastructure and to ethnic and social identity issues. However, this research delves into how the availability and accessibility of high amenities shape the socioeconomic landscapes and attractiveness of urban neighborhoods, with a particular focus on Anti- Adaptive Neighborhoods (AANs). AANs are defined by how they are planned and built, in a single plan encompassing both public and private elements prepared by a single planner, built and populated at once, and their spatial design, dedicating them to a single use (usually housing), based on inward-turned structure, large open spaces and separation from the surrounding built area. AANs often suffer from spatial stagnation due to their characteristics, which lead to social and economic decline. This study tie the definition and performance of AANs with the possible restricted development and accessibility to high-amenities. Based on in-depth investigation of amenities distribution, the spatial structure of residential neighborhoods and the long- term development of socioeconomic characteristics, we study: (1) the effect of neighborhood structure on high-amenity accessibility, (2) how spatial configurations influence the development of high-amenities, and (3) the socioeconomic outcomes associated with limited access to these amenities. Utilizing GIS mapping, socio-demographic data integration, and a high-resolution Accessibility Calculator, the research assess high-amenity distribution and engagement across 30 neighborhoods within metropolitan areas in Israel. We will present the preliminary results at the conference.

Ada Wolny-Kucińska (p)

Chengche Chen

In recent decades, Polish suburbs have been characterized by dynamic growth both demographically and spatially. In particular, rapid development can be observed in the area of commuting zones delimited within functional urban areas (FUAs). The growing attractiveness of these areas was determined by increasing transportation accessibility and real estate markert dynamics. Numerous recent changes in legal, economic and infrastructural conditions are prompting a closer look at areas transformed by bottom-up initiatives and compare them with planned, managed and arranged local development. The purpose of the study is to indicate the effects of both bottom-up and top - down development. This study aims to answer the following questions: (1) what role does transportation accessibility play in transforming suburban areas?, (2) how well does transportation-oriented development work in Polish FUAs? (3) how can the state of development be monitored when planning large-scale investments? For the purpose of the study, an analysis of selected cases from Polish FUA commuting zones was conducted. The study uses spatial methods of analysis and capabilities of GIS software.

Chengche Chen (p)

Lucijan Černelić

Taipei’s Inner City was the first metropolitan core during Japan’s colonial expansion. It undertook tremendous transformation during several decades. Current discourses concerning its transformation lacks non-governmental viewpoint in terms of empowered agency, street block’s viewpoint in terms of urban planning, as well as constructive technology’s viewpoint in terms of architecture. The study tries to supplement previous mentioned three themes by focusing on the period of time during 1909-1932, when the international trend payed much attention to the beauty of streetscape and technological development of reinforced concrete. With the nexus of these two factors, essences of modernity were embedded in Taipei’s urban evolution.

Previous studies were limited by mainstream data thus putting a stress on authorized Interpretations. Contrarily, the study bases on histories of association and patent, therefore it could further look at non-governmental knowhow during reinforced concrete’s developing process. Regarding the concept of preservation, the study is not limited to appearance and style. It adds constructional viewpoint and reconsiders technological value of Inner City’s non-governmental architecture. Especially for Kikumoto Department Store, which is the masterpiece of the most advanced developing company Taiwan Land & Building Association during Japan colonizing period, and a few remaining street buildings in Inner City, together they demonstrate the process of modernization by the perfection of reinforced concrete technology and the formation of streetscape that were done by the non-governmental sector.