Randstad Spatial Planning

Randstad Centre for Strategic Spatial Planning and Design

Programme leaders
Prof. V. Nadin, Prof.ir. J.M. Schrijnen

Department
Urbanism

Chair

Summary

The Randstad Centre responds to the challenge of reshaping spatial planning and design interventions in complex urban regions. Such regions are particularly strongly affected by complex relationships of networked cities, fragmented governance and globalised liberal economies (Healey et al. 1997, Koresawa and Konvitz 2001, Healey 2005, Hulsbergen et al. 2005). Traditional styles of strategic planning and design struggle to influence spatial development in this context. Nevertheless, there are urgent demands for strategies that take account of the new relational complexity in regions; that help to resolve competing goals in the way land is used; that make best use of the territorial capital of urban regions, and that improve environmental and spatial quality. And they must to do all this in a socially inclusive way.

TU Delft is well located to address these questions. Around the world, Randstad still evokes the idea of ordered and successful spatial development arising from effective strategic spatial planning and design. We use the Randstad as a starting point for research more generally on the changing spatial structure of complex urban regions and the potential of spatial planning and design to intervene in that process. We are particularly interested in examining the connections between the different scales of development from the broad vision to the specific project, and also the interaction of strategies and actors that influence spatial development. A multidisciplinary approach is needed, especially one where social and spatial sciences, policy and design approaches meet. The Centre is also keen to raise the quality of its methodologies, particularly in terms of the relation between design and social science and the use of cross-national case studies and comparisons.

The programme comprises six research themes/objectives designed to take forward the best of previous TU Delft research relevant to this field. Two themes address the character of contemporary spatial development trends and their drivers; two themes address interventions through regional and urban planning and design; and two themes undertake cross-national comparisons. Thus the Randstad programme offers a platform for the faculty and partners to engage with new styles of strategic planning and design, building from sound analysis of spatial development.

Sub research programmes

Spatial positioning and networks

This theme brings together and takes forward the strong record of the Faculty on the network city, mobility and sustainable transport.

Megacity spatial structures

The aim is to begin to investigate urban effects which are the result of multiple scales, to facilitate cross-scalar analysis of regions and places, to develop strategies for guiding the emergence of centralities, and to compare the way these processes work in metropolitan and megacity regions in different parts of the world.

Regional design and strategies

This theme focuses on the specific situation of the Randstad and the application of regional planning and design.

Modernisation of urban areas

The main questions (among others) for this sub-programme are about the external and internal factors that play a role in the design process, the role of spatial planning and design processes in connecting local community demands with wider strategies; and the consequences of modernisation (strategic and local) for the economic and social situation of local communities.

Transformative spatial planning systems

The aim of the sub-programme is to extend theoretical understanding of the form and operation of spatial planning in respect to underlying conditions and assist in the design of new planning styles and instruments.

Global Cities

The Global Cities sub-programme will develop a joint research agenda with our partners outside Europe on global city regions. The first stage will be to develop comparative analysis and a typology of global city regions which emphsises their spatial characteristics. We also aim to develop the interest in informal settlement in global cities which has so far been led from the Masters teaching programme. This sub-programme will link research elsewhere in the Randstad programme and in TU Delft with the international network.