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Summary of the lectures of Planning Theory
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Summary of the lectures given by Gert de Roo for the course Planning Theory given in the master Environmental Infrastructure planning and Socio-Spatial Planning
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Planning TheoryLecture 1: Introduction & Scientific context
The goal of this course: Gaining in-depth knowledge on the planning theory debate, in such a way
that it will support you to identify suitable planning and decision making approaches and their
consequences in dealing with issues at hand.
We start with looking at the following questions:
Who is interested in scientific news, when reading newspapers?
Philosophy: Is Aristotle’s Law of Non-contradiction true? A is not A, the law of non-
contradiction is not true.
Philosophy: is Reality a construct of our mind? Reality is a construct of our mind --> There is a
paradox, we cannot construct everything.
Theory: Will theory give us a better understanding of our reality? That is what we hope to
achieve. However, theoretical truths are true because we believe in them.
Discipline: Is Physics superior to the social sciences? Depends on how you look at it. Are the
two comparable? If yes, then maybe. If not, then one cannot be superior to the other.
Rationality: is the result to connect A and B a straight line from A to B? No.
The planning debate centres around the questions from where? Where to? When? What are we
going to see? And who are we going to meet?
Planning is the science of purposeful interventions. How do we intervene in a world that constantly
changes? We are embracing uncertainty.
Planning in the very past Contemporary Planning The future of planning
Religion Positivism Pluralism
Symbols Linear Nonlinear
Devine Functional Go with the flow
Ideal Planning Means- end planning Adaptive planning
Two really interesting figures in this are Fibonacci (1170 – 1250) and Mandelbrot (1924-2010). They
are both non-planners, they are mathematicians. Mathematics is often a frame of reference, which
we like to relate to. Both of them came with models that would explain the world in a non-linear
way. Both relate to periods of time, which are important for planning but do not relate to
contemporary planner. Fibonacci relates to the planning in the very past. Mandelbrot relates to the
future of planning.
Fibonacci is known for the Fibonacci sequence. He was a traveller. He brought back the numbers we
are using today, in a way that we can calculate with them. The Fibonacci sequence is a non-linear but
static view of the world.
Mandelbrot came with a non-linear model that is kind of the same as the Fibonacci sequence, but
then dynamic. He came with the fractal.
Fibonacci sequences is seen all over nature and reality. The sequence is a rhythm underneath of
reality. It is rhythm that we now see a divine proportions, given to us by god.
,Arman Jean Du Plessis build his own castle, park and village from scratch. He came up with the
Fibonacci sequence which he used as a framework to build his castle/park/village.
Apparently our brain likes this proportion, you can see it everywhere. Put there intentionally or not.
However if you want to see this, you believe it to be everywhere, that is how it should be.
Circles and pyramids were seen as the ideal.
In the 1900’s planning came up again. They no longer thought of the divine, we are cable to create
our own world. As shown by the industrialisation.
Ebenezer Howard was there at the turning point the idea of the Garden City was to divide
functions. Green, Living and Industry. It has two frame of references. Functionality &
mathematics/mechanisms. Garden cities were highly functional. It became the model of the 20 th
century. Which has functionality written all over it.
Functionality (length, width, height): functional, equal, transparent, modernity, simplicity, repetition.
We now know that before the era there were other ways of thinking.
Lecture 2: Philosophical context of planning.
Once Present Becoming
Divine proportions Linear Order-Chaos
Fibonacci Newton Mandelbrot
Symbolism Functionalism Complexity
From the Enlightment and the industrialisation we became confident in the believe we could do
everything ourselves. Knowledge informs us on how the world works. 21 st century science wanted
certainty. We understand the world based on facts, as such that it is certain.
In the world of becoming this is no longer the case. We can intervene, but the world is changing out
of our control. Uncertainty is always there.
We look at the present and go from there and then we go to the becoming. And see how we can deal
with this from a planner’s perspective.
Theory:
What is theory?
Is it about ‘theorems’ and ‘axioms’, as in mathematics?
Is there a difference between theory of the ‘natural’ and the ‘social’ sciences?
Is theory the right word?
Again what is theory?
A theory is a generalisation. It helps us explain the things around us. Theories are open to debate.
There are various categories of theories:
1. Normative theory: how we set an idea.
2. Prescriptive theory:
3. Empirical theory (descriptive)
4. Models
5. Conceptual frameworks, perspectives, notions or concepts
, A normative theory is about the perfect world. How we want something to be. It is related to culture
and politics. Ethical issues are being translated in how the world ought to be. (Almost) impossible to
test.
Argumentative
Cultural
Political
Ethical
An example of a normative theory: Kevin Lynch’s theory of a good city form. A good city form
includes vitality, sense and fit. The good shows us it is normative.
Another example is Jane Jacobs’s four conditions to create liveable cities: Mixed uses, short blocks,
buildings of various ages & density.
A prescriptive theory is about how to act (how to do it right), it is about protocol. An example of the
prescriptive theory is about the compact city model. Had to do with a move from people out of the
city to the suburbs. The people that stayed had hardly any income. The compact city model needed
to secure people with money staying in the city. In 1978 an UN report emerged: Our common future.
We have to think twice before demolishing things. You have to make sure there is a balance
between: society, economy environment or people, planet and profit. If you only think economically
it will not end well. Compact city: compact concentration of function, no urban sprawl, mix of
functions, spreading of facilities & public transport.
Also with prescriptive theory there is still a cultural, societal aspect to it. It depends on the frame of
reference. Even with prescriptive theory there is some influence of our values.
An empirical theory (descriptive): an example of this is Christaller’s place theory.
Models his description could easily be turned into a model. There is a rhythm. This model started
with an empirical observation, turned this a model, this model when really became appreciated was
implemented, this made it prescriptive.
Another example: Garden city model, the holy
spectrum.
Conceptual frameworks, perspectives, notions, frames
of reference or concepts are flued. We have a
conceptual idea about reality, because that could be
the lead. A theory is more established. Conceptual is a
draft theory. If we wait until we have a theory the
world has changed again.
Proto theory: The world is in transition. A transition is a non-
linear move. Structure and function change through the
transition, they co-evolve. Cities also goes through these
transitions.
In the model to the right we see universal laws on the bottom.
Universal laws are straightforward, secluded and timeless. If we
move up the ladder to programmes & instructions there are
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