a global multidisciplinary network on housing research and learning shrinking cities, the case of...
TRANSCRIPT
A global multidisciplinary network onhousing research and learning
Shrinking Cities, The case of Volos
Vasiliki Anagnostopoulou, Dimitra Patra, Panagiota Pouliou,
University of Thessaly, Department of Architecture
COTTBUS, 1-6th June, 2015 Second International Workshop
The phenomenon of shrinking cities through the example of the city of Volos.
• The definition of the shrinking city as a global phenomenon• Five main causes of urban shrinkage• Urban shrinkage as a result of economic globalisation and international economic
crisis• The case of the shrinking Greek cities• The case of Volos, Greece• Abandoned buildings in Volos and their reuse• Volos as a shrinking city compared with Agria as a growing city
Cottbus Workshop
SUMMARY
The phenomenon of shrinking cities
Cottbus Workshop
What is a shrinking city?
A densely populated urban area
Minimum population: 10.000 residents
Population losses for more than two years
The phenomenon of shrinking cities
1950-2000: 370 cities all over the world with a population over 100.000 inhabitants started to shrink.
1990-2000: Every fourth city in the world was shrinking
The phenomenon of shrinking cities
Cottbus Workshop
Causes of urban shrinkage
• Surburbanization
• Economic transformation
• Economic restructuring
• Economic crisis
• Demographics, economic and political immigration
The phenomenon of shrinking cities
Cottbus Workshop
Urban shrinkage as a result of economic globalisation and international economic crisis. The case of peripheral European cities with vulnerable and weak economies.
• rapid and unregulated economic and physical growth in the 2nd half of the 20th century
• The capacity of the industries to switch location
The case of Greece
Cottbus Workshop
Globalisation and economic crisis. The case of the shrinking Greek cities.
• the rapid economic growth of Greece during the ΄90s.
• high public investments in large urban development/redevelopment schemes and transportation projects in Athens.
• the immigration flows from the Balkan countries to the Greek cities
Τhe case of Volos
Cottbus Workshop
Volos: Middle-sized city 150.000 inhabitants Enhancement the productive age group of 25-54 years.
Τhe case of Volos
Formal Industrial Activity
• 19th century: one of the most dynamic industrial centre in Greece
• 1930: 984 industrial companies were operating in Volos with approximately 6,000 employees.
• Second World War: The end of the industrial development
• 1950: the once thriving businesses collapsed
• 1980: The industrial building heritage protection policy include new uses for the existing buildings
The case of Agria
Volos – Agria
Agria: 6 klm southesast 6500 residents
20th century: Demographic and industrial development
Remarkable touristic infrastructure
The case of Agria
Goritsa hill: Natural obstacle between the two cities
Lafarge Factory: Artificial obstacle between the two cities
Cottbus Workshop
CONCLUSIONS
The shrinking Greek cities have to path their own way in developing urban policies to deal with shrinkage. However, on the ground of international experience, certain steps or directions in this process may be proposed:
• Urban shrinkage has to be recorded, surveyed, understood and interpreted in each Greek city. In virtue of its dynamic character, urban shrinkage has to be recorded constantly by means of an observatory recording changes.
• The negative effects of the economic crisis and the urban shrinkage may be considered as a challenge to remodel urban growth and restructure inner city areas in Greek cities or in any other European shrinking city.