CFP Cities in Transition. Historical Approaches to Urban Change fromthe 18th to the 21st Century (EAUH 2020)
Main Session M-URB-4 Cities in Transition. Historical Approaches to Urban Change from the 18th to the 21st Century
Organizers: Stéphane Frioux (Université Lyon 2),
Charles-François Mathis (Université Bordeaux-Montaigne), Celia Miralles Buil (Universidade de Lisboa)
Short abstract:
This session aims at putting into a historical
context the urban transition. It proposes to analyse the technical
solutions considered to pass through one urban system to another in
world cities from 18th to
21st century. Papers will also critically consider the notion of
transition, discussing whether it is relevant to think the plurality of
historical moments (past/present/future) of cities.
Session content:
In a context of global environmental change, “Urban
Transition” is nowadays a fashionable topic claimed by various
stakeholders involved in urban planning, social or environmental
policies. These actors aim
at building a resilient city and propose technical innovations to move
away from an urban model considered harmful or even potentially toxic
for both the human health and the ecosystems.
If they propose a vision of urban future, they mostly focus on the technical, social, cultural and political means. The transition promotes a slow (and sustainable) transformation of cities to, paradoxically, address the climate emergency.
If they propose a vision of urban future, they mostly focus on the technical, social, cultural and political means. The transition promotes a slow (and sustainable) transformation of cities to, paradoxically, address the climate emergency.
This session is intended to replace the notion of
urban transition in historical perspective. It focuses on how the urban
actors thought the future of their cities and analyses the technical
solutions proposed
to pass through one urban system to another. Have the concepts of
environmental, energy or technical transition been operational
categories for these actors? How did the notion of transition shape the
way to think technical innovations in cities? What does
it mean to think the future in terms of transition (vs revolution)?
We welcome contributions which analyse the historical
changes in world cities taking into account the notion of “transition”
from 18th to 21st century.
Papers may address the practical implementation of
the urban transition in all its aspects: in environment, in energy and
its translation in the economic fabric, in political management, in the
reorganization
of public policies, in society etc. Transition from wood to fossil
fuel, from gas lighting to electricity, from open sewer system to
wastewater treatment to improve health conditions, from compact and
pre-automobile city to new urban fabrics intended, in the
1960s, to become “city of 2000”, are examples of possible topics.
We are particularly interested in case studies
focusing on the specific moments when two technical systems co-existed,
as well as proposals which consider the urban improvement in the long
term. Contributors
are invited to consider the negotiations and conflicts lying behind the
“transition” keyword, between public authorities, experts/scientists,
private stakeholders, inhabitants.
Paper proposals, including abstract (max 350 words) and short biography (200 words), should be submitted through the
EAUH 2020 website by 4 October 2019.
You will find a guideline for papers and more information on the conference website.
For any questions regarding the session, please don’t hesitate to contact us (Celia Miralles)