Professionalism and skills enhancement in the built environment: the role of higher education in a changing policy context in England

Since the election of the Labour Government in 1997 there have been a series of policy initiatives emphasising the importance of co-ordinated and integrated approaches to the delivery of urban regeneration and in particular Sustainable Communities. This changing policy context has given rise to a shortage of practitioners with both the technical skills to deliver specific programmes, and more especially the generic skills to work in multi-disciplinary teams in conjunction with partnership-based management boards. This paper discusses the origins of the debate about skills shortages and deficiencies and reviews the main government reports which have advocated a new approach to the provision of skills for community regeneration. It focuses particularly on the work of the Planning Network which was funded by the Centre for Education in the Built Environment (CEBE) to examine the contribution of higher education to the wider skills debate. It concludes by arguing that higher education has an important part to play in the provision of a more appropriate skills set for professional practice within a broader and more inclusive strategy involving all key stakeholders. However, employers also have a major responsibility in ensuring that key skills are maintained and enhanced within their own organisations.

The river solofrana bicycle network: a project of green mobility

The article presents the “LungoSolofrana” project, carried out during the course “Urban and Mobility” in the academic year 2009/2010, held during the bachelor in Environmental Engineering at the University of Naples “Federico II”. The work has also been chosen as a finalist at the “UrbanPromo 2010” contest, the urban and territorial marketing event sponsored by the National Institute of Urban Planning and Urbit which was held in Venice in 2010. The project consists in a green mobility proposal, developed with an approach based on the integration of the environmental redevelopment of a portion of river Solofrana, located in the Salerno Province, and of the renewal of seven local stations of the railway line Mercato San Severino – Nocera Inferiore, including the realization of a cycle-path network for the natural environment fruition. Furthermore the work drew attention to the local and regional administration. The main intent of the project is to integrate sustainable mobility themes with the environment recovery in a territory affected by high environmental troubles. The area includes the municipalities of Nocera Inferiore, Nocera Superiore, Mercato San Severino, Castel San Giorgio and Roccapiemonte, situated in Salerno’s province, with a total population about 114.000 (font Demo ISTAT 2010). The area extension is about 84,30 sqkm and it is crossed by river Solofrana that is the central point of the project idea. The intervention strategy is defined in two kinds of actions: internal and external rail station interventions. The external rail station interventions regard the construction of pedestrian-cycle paths with the scope of increasing the spaces dedicated to cyclists and to pedestrians along the river Solofrana sides and to connect the urban areas with the railway station. In this way, it’s also possible to achieve an urban requalification of the interested area. On the other side, the interventions inside the station , according to Transit Oriented Development principles, aim at redeveloping common spaces with the insertion of new activities and at realizing new automatic cycle parks covered by photovoltaic panels. The project proposal consists of the urban regeneration of small railway stations along the route-Nocera-Codola Mercato San Severino in the province of Salerno, through interventions aimed at improving pedestrian accessibility. The project involves in particular the construction of pedestrian paths protected access to the station and connecting with neighboring towns and installation of innovative bike parking stations in elevation, covering surfaces coated with solar panels and spaces information. The project is aimed to propose a new model of sustainable transport for small and medium shifts as an alternative to private transportation

Acompanhamento dos trabalhos de reabilitação de espaços exteriores à Casa Museu dos Patudos e edifício de apoio: Câmara Municipal de Alpiarça

Relatório de Estágio para obtenção de grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil Perfil de Edificações

Cultural organizations and communication in portuguese decentralization policy

This paper intends to show the Portuguese municipalities’ commitment, since the first decade of this century, in cultural facilities of municipal management and how it provided 12 of the 18 district capitals of mainland Portugal with cultural equipment, but after all we want to know if this effort resulted in a regular, diverse, and innovative schedule. Investing in urban regeneration, local governments have tried to convert cities’ demographic changes (strengthening of the most educated and professionally qualified groups) in effective cultural demands that consolidate the three axes of development competitiveness-innovation-creativity. What the empirical study to the programming and communication proposals of those equipment shows is that it is not enough to provide cities with facilities; to escape to a utilitarian conception of culture, there is a whole work to be done so that such equipment be experienced and felt as new public sphere. Equipment in which proposals go through a fluid bind, constructed through space and discourse with local community, devoted a diversified and innovative bet full filling development axis. This paper presents in a systematic way what contributes to this binding on the analyzed equipment.

Cultural organizations and communication in portuguese decentralization policy

This presentation intends to show to what extent the Portuguese municipalities’ commitment, from the first decade of this century, in cultural facilities of municipal management and which has provided 12 of the 18 district capitals of mainland Portugal with equipment, resulted in a regular, diverse and innovative schedule. Investing in urban regeneration, local government has tried to convert cities’ demographic changes (strengthening of the most educated and professionally qualified groups) in effective cultural demands that consolidate the three axes of development competitiveness-innovation-creativity. What the empirical study to the programming and communication proposals of those equipment shows is that it is not enough to provide cities with facilities; to escape to a utilitarian conception of culture, there is a whole work to be done so that such equipment be experienced and felt as new public sphere. Equipment in which proposals go through a fluid bind, constructed through space and discourse with local community, devotes a diversified and innovative bet full filling development axis. This paper presents in a systematic way what contributes to this binding on the analyzed equipment.

Utilização de coberturas ajardinadas de vegetação intensiva, extensiva e horta urbana em edificações

Trabalho Final de Mestrado para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil

Reabilitação de edifícios na baixa do Porto: análise de casos de obra

A reabilitação de edifícios antigos tem vindo a alcançar uma maior importância na actual narrativa da organização das cidades, devido à inevitável necessidade de reabilitar o património arquitetónico dos centros degradados, sendo vista pelo setor da construção civil como uma atividade com potencial de desenvolvimento para todos os intervenientes na construção. Torna-se, por isso, num tema consensual e extremamente interessante como objeto de estudo e reflexão, concretamente na cidade do Porto, onde se pode encontrar um centro histórico classificado. Nesta perspetiva deve ser dada a devida relevância à preservação do património construído, reabilitando-o para que a população regresse ao centro urbano. O presente relatório tem como base um estágio desenvolvido na empresa Porto Vivo, Sociedade de Reabilitação Urbana (SRU) da Baixa do Porto. Numa primeira parte deste trabalho será feita uma reflexão sobre a reabilitação urbana, registando a evolução que esta tem vindo a sofrer ao longo dos tempos, tendo posteriormente o foco na cidade do Porto, mais concretamente no centro histórico da cidade. Também será dado ênfase à intervenção da Porto Vivo SRU. Numa segunda parte, serão abordados os tipos de estrutura predominantes no centro histórico da cidade do Porto, nomeadamente, estruturas de madeira e estruturas de alvenaria de pedra. Por fim, na terceira parte deste trabalho analisaremos dois casos de obra. Como corolário, apresentamos a conclusão do trabalho onde se incluem propostas e sugestões para o seu desenvolvimento futuro.

Análisis de la influencia del proceso de implementación del tratamiento de renovación urbana en el barrio San Bernardo sobre las dinámicas sociales de los residentes y comerciantes de la zona (2004-2011) Estudio de caso: barrio San Bernardo entre las carreras 10 y 11 con calles 1 y 4

El presente trabajo de grado tiene como propósito evidenciar los cambios que se generaron en las dinámicas sociales de los residentes y comerciantes del barrio San Bernardo, cuando se decidió declarar este territorio idóneo para el Tratamiento de Renovación Urbana como resultado de una serie de especulaciones originadas por parte de la comunidad debido a la incertidumbre generada por la presencia de las entidades distritales en este barrio de Bogotá.

Análisis de la relación entre los componentes: urbano y económico del proyecto 22@Barcelona

Generalmente las intervenciones urbanas son sectoriales y carecen de un enfoque transversal, lo que dificulta el ejercicio de la planificación y la gestión, y afecta negativamente la construcción de una visión de ciudad de largo plazo. Es por ello que esta monografía busca establecer la importancia de diseñar y ejecutar intervenciones urbanas estratégicas, por medio del análisis de un proyecto. El proyecto 22@Barcelona es un ejemplo de una intervención urbana estratégica porque logra, entre otras cosas, dar respuesta a distintas necesidades y problemáticas a través de una propuesta: urbana, económica y social. En esta ocasión se analizará la relación entre los componentes: económico y urbano del proyecto, a la luz de los postulados de la Planeación Estratégica Urbana; lo que permitirá concluir que éste no es ni un proyecto urbano, ni económico, sino ambas cosas, y es precisamente esto lo que lo hace loable.

“Nadie es profeta en su tierra”: Etnografía económica de las dinámicas comerciales de los Kichwa-Otavalo en San Victorino, Bogotá

La presente monografía describe las dinámicas económicas de los Kichwas Otavalo en la zona comercial de San Victorino, Bogotá. Dichas dinámicas son examinadas a partir de la Nueva Sociología Económica (Smelser & Swedberg, 2005) y la Etnografía Económica (Dufy & Weber, 2009) para mostrar las divergentes racionalidades que surgen al interior del mercado. Esto nos lleva a debatir con la ciencia económica ortodoxa y los supuestos que manejan frente a la racionalidad, el mercado y la competencia. A lo largo del texto se sostiene la importancia de los marcos de transacción (Dufy & Weber, 2009), su trascendencia, y su factibilidad para entender las dinámicas históricas, económicas y comerciales que rodean la venta ambulante en San Victorino. Por otro lado mostramos cómo estos mismos marcos de transacción se reflejan en las dinámicas comerciales de este grupo indígena oriundo del Norte de Ecuador. Se hace un recuento de su historia y de los tipos de negocios en los que resultó la tradicional venta ambulante en la capital colombiana. Las racionalidades de estos son resumidas en dos tipos de racionalidades (tradicional y modernista) que derivan tanto en grandes logros como en grandes problemáticas al interior de la comunidad. El caso, en suma, demuestra que la racionalidad económica es mucho más compleja de lo que la teoría económica ortodoxa desea admitir. Nadie es profeta en su tierra.

Requalificação Urbana e Infraestruturas Hidráulicas

This article focuses on issues of planning that arise in S Vicente Island and in particular in the city of MindeloWe consider issues of urban regeneration and the inventory of solutions within the general scope of hydraulic options solutions for an appropriate response to the serious problems caused by floods in Mindelo, which occur at times of heavy rainfall.

A Praça das Cidades : A Praça da República das Caldas da Rainha

A presente dissertação tem como objectivo reflectir sobre as condições funcionais da Praça da República, nas Caldas da Rainha, no domínio da sua regeneração e das potencialidades económicas e sociais, no sentido de apresentar uma solução, entre outras possíveis, como contributo para futuras intervenções. Ao estudo da Praça da República das Caldas da Rainha associou-se o caso da Praça do Mercado de Cambridge, na Inglaterra, fundamental como termo de comparação no sentido de tentar regenerar a Praça da República. A dissertação desenvolve-se em três partes. A primeira parte centra-se numa apresentação generalista e exemplificativa das praças, com destaque para as suas formas e funções. Na segunda parte, procedemos a uma observação pormenorizada do caso de Cambridge, em relação ao seu funcionamento, tipo de vendas e intervenções. Por último, na terceira parte, para além de procedermos a um exame pormenorizado da Praça da República, em relação aos seus problemas, à sua importância e ao estado de conservação dos edifícios envolventes, finalizamos com uma proposta de intervenção. O estudo desenvolvido neste trabalho permitiu-nos concluir que esta praça necessita, urgentemente, de uma intervenção que corrija a situação de decadência em que se encontra e dê solução a problemas de acessibilidade, limpeza, estacionamento, para além de necessitar da construção de um edifício de apoio que torne este espaço acolhedor e agradável e que não seja apenas local fortuito de passagem.

Hyperactive governance in the Thames Gateway

This paper examines the implementation of brownfield regeneration policies in the UK within the context of complex systems of multi-level governance. Using the regeneration of the Thames Gateway as an example, it explores how the Government's centrally driven institutional arrangements have undermined leadership in this key development project. The Government's approach to brownfield governance is characterised as one of constant intervention in the Thames Gateway in an ad hoc and incoherent fashion. Congested and fragmented governance structures are the result. These, this paper argues, have diffused the focus and undermined the leadership of policy and implementation. It is suggested that the adoption of the principles of policy mapping and weaving would bring more clarity and coherence to the governance of the Thames Gateway.

Innovation districts: an investigation of the replication of the 22@ Barcelona’s Model in Boston

In 2000, the city of Barcelona launched 22@ Barcelona, dubbed the innovation district. The city sees the project as a means to accelerate Barcelona’s transition toward the knowledge economy. Other cities around the world have since followed the example of Barcelona, building or planning to build their own innovation districts. Boston began to establish its innovation district in 2010. Cities’ ultimate goal for these initiatives is to become more innovative and thus more competitive. Innovative districts are different from technology parks in that they aim to respond to a new economic paradigm in which economic production flows back to cities. The 22@ Barcelona model involves theoretical designs regarding five layers of innovation: economics, urban planning, productive, innovative, and creative. The comparative approach between 22@ Barcelona and Boston’s Innovation District intends to highlight the similarities and differences between those two innovation districts as well as providing a framework to define innovation districts.