Rise,Growth and Evolution of the Chinese Urban System

The paper explores the rise,historical growth and evolution of the Chinese urban sys-tem in its spatial context and the implication of these characteristics for the spatial distri-bution of cities and economic activity,the pattern of interaction,and the processes ofgrowth and change.The growth of modern city links with its development history,geographical condi-tions,economic basis and political systems of a country.There has been rapidurbanization in China during the last several decades,as in other developing countries.The purpose of this paper is to review the rise.growth,evolution and development ofChinese urban system in the time-spatial context.First,when did the initial cities emerge?Second,when did the Chinese urban system rise? Third,how did the urban system growand evolute?     

Reconstruction and planning in the aftermath of the Anglo-Boer South African War: the experience of the Colony of Natal, 1900–1910

The idea of ‘reconstruction’ is now well established in the historiography of South African planning. Particular attention has been paid to ‘reconstructionist planning’: during and immediately after World War; in the apartheid era; and, in the recent context of post-apartheid development. The centenary celebrations of the Anglo-Boer South African War (1899–1902) are, however, directing attention to the programme for the reconstruction of the previous Boer republics that was initiated by the imperialist proconsul, Lord Milner, and is the subject of ongoing controversy. Natal was not a direct target of Milner's programme but the aftermath of conflict in this British colony was linked to important socio-economic and spatial transformations. The idea of ‘town planning’ was only in an embryonic form at the time but ‘post-war reconstruction’ in Natal included interventions in the shaping of urban and rural space that provided the basis for future programmes of reconstruction and planning, including that of racial ordering under apartheid. For example, the system that developed in Durban to finance the construction and administration of segregated municipal housing for Africans was later exported to the rest of South Africa and became a major feature of the National Party's programme of ‘township development’.     

Introduction to a special issue: the future of landscape characterisation,and the future character of landscape – between space,time, history,place and nature

Abstract

In any discussion of landscape characterisation the elephant in the room is the question of just what is landscape? Another way of putting this question is to simply ask: ‘How would you characterise landscape?’ What this implies is that there is a certain circularity in landscape characterisation because, through the very act of characterising landscape, one is also defining what one means by landscape. The European Landscape Convention’s definition of landscape as ‘an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors’ suggests a similar circularity because the character of an area, as it results from the action of natural and/or human factors, is dependent upon human perception, which is presumably also, in addition, one of the human factors acting upon the landscape. This circularity, or ‘circulating reference’, to use Bruno Latour’s term, is fundamental to Denis Cosgrove’s analysis of the origin of the modern concept of landscape as scenic space, and his analysis, we would suggest, helps explain some of the questions raised in this special issue concerning landscape characterisation and the future character of landscape .     

Review and Exploration of the Development of Planning for the Conservation of the Famous Historical and Cultural Cities in China

To comprehend the development of the famous histori-cal and cultural cities in China and their conservation plan-ning, it is necessary to understand, first of all, the back-ground of their history and present condition. This back-ground has taken shape in the historic development of thecities and is influenced by many complicated factors of thepresent time. To discuss these factors in simple way, theycan be summarized as follows:The impact of the historical and cultural ideas;The impact of the physical and environmental condi-tion;The impact of the present socialand economicsituation.The impact of the historical and cultural ideasChina is a country with ancient civilization. TheChinese cultural has been shaped through development, in-heritance and harmony in a history of 5000 years on the ba-sis of the ancient Huaxia Culture with the Yellow River andthe Yangtse River as the main arteries.The rising of ancient cities in China can be traced backto over 3500 years ago. China is a multinational country. Int     

Retrospect and Prospect of the Protection and Reconstruction of Old Beijing

Beijing is a famous,cultural and ancient capital inour country and one of the first group of famous,histori-cal and cultural cities proclaimed by the State Council.The Imperial Palace,the Great Wall and the Ape—manCave are listed as the” world cultural heritage”,whichhas further confirmed Beijing’s historical position in theworld.It has always been an important task in the field ofBeijing’s overall planning to protect this historical citywell while carrying out its modernization.At present,itbecome more important to do so for Beijing when the re-form and opennng policy is accelerated,the socialist mar-ket economy is being set up and the development of thecity is speeded up.To protect and reform the old Beijing,a great dealof valuable exploration has been put into practice overthe past more than 40 years.The work is now heing putinto a more scientific course.A few points of view are asfollows:     

Michel Ecochard in Lebanon and Syria (1956–1968). The spread of Modernism,the building of the independent states and the rise of local professionals of planning

The architect and planner Michel Ecochard has had a long career in developing countries, from its first works in Syria under the French rule, until the 1970s. He represented the modernist and functionalist approach to planning in a time of modernization. In this article, we concentrate on his work in Lebanon and Syria between the end of the 1950s and the 1960s. He prepared the master plans of Beirut and of Damascus. Those works represented the end of an era rooted in colonial planning. It was also the beginning of a new time, with the local planners taking on, sometimes sharing, sometimes contesting Ecochard's visions. Building on recent scholarship on the circulation of planning ideas, we focus on the reception of Ecochard's proposals. Though most political elites and planning professionals shared most of Ecochard's views, the political circumstances and the changing social conditions led to adjustments and reorientations. The new planning framework was also a major factor of change.     

An Analysis of the Relationship Between the Education Attainment and Economic Status of the Elderly Population in the Towns and Cities of China

Viewed from a macro scope,the cultureof a community is closely related to its econ-omy.Economy being the basis,the level ofeconomic growth determines the level ofcultural development.Conversely,culturecan act as the precursor and cultural devel-opment enhances economic growth.Likewise,the education attainment of an in-dividual reflects the same sort of     

Effects of pulp and paper mill effluents on the microplankton and microbial self-purification capabilities of the Biobío River, Chile

Most studies focus on the ecotoxicity of pulp and paper mill effluents, rather than on how they affect the physicochemical and biological structure and the intrinsic ecological capabilities of the receiving watercourses. We investigated the impact of such effluents on the water quality, microplankton system and microbial self-purification capacity (degradation of polymeric organic compounds via extracellular enzymes) of the Biobío River in Chile. The physicochemical impact on the water quality was indicated by raised conductivity, by the pollution of the water body with nitrate, nitrite and soluble reactive phosphorus, by the appearance of tannin and lignin, and by the steady accumulation of inorganic and organic suspended matter (SPM) along the river. From the biological structure of the microplankton system, very low and declining concentrations of chlorophyll a and heterotrophic flagellate densities were determined. The pulp and paper mill effluents introduced high bacterial abundances and biomass concentrations into the river water. This reflects the effective use made of the abundantly available inorganic and organic nutrients within this industrial and municipal process water by bacteria adapted to these extreme environments, additionally supported by concomitant low grazing pressure derivable from low heterotrophic flagellate abundances. Indeed, in one section of the river affected by a pulp mill, the plant was found to significantly contribute to the self-cleaning capacity of the river. However, this elevated degradation capacity was not enough to compensate for the additionally discharged organic material which, together with the toxic effects of the paper plant effluents, significantly interferes with the ecological status of the Biobío River.     

The effects of Seoul’s greenbelt on the spatial distribution of population and employment, and on the real estate market

This paper examines the effects of Seoul’s greenbelt on the distribution of population and employment, and on the real estate market, under the assumption of the complete relaxation of the greenbelt using the random utility-based metropolitan input–output model with an endogenous land market for the Seoul metropolitan area. Simulation results show two important consequences of the greenbelt release. First, the greenbelt release would attract more residents and jobs into greenbelt zones and reduce the population and number of firms in both the central city and outer sides of the greenbelt, thereby implying the reduction of inner city densification and of development beyond the greenbelt. Second, both residential and nonresidential space rents would have declined for the whole metropolitan area from 0.4 to 13.7% had the greenbelt been completely released in 2006, thereby indicating that Seoul’s greenbelt made a contribution to raising space rents by limiting land supply.     

The Protection of the East Tombs of the Qing Dynasty and the Restoration of Historic Environment

The general planning is aimed to protect the historic relics and their environ-ment while paying attention to the overall restoration of historic environment onthe basis of historic and present characteristics of the East Tombs of the Qing Dyn-asty.Attention should also be paid to the coordinated development in other as-pects of socio-economic and tourist constructions.     

Entangled Landscapes and the ‘Dead Silence’? Humphry Repton,Jane Austen and the Upchers of Sheringham Park,Norfolk

This paper explores two aspects of designed landscapes in the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries that are often neglected—first, the importance derived from intersecting (auto)biographies of designers and patrons; and second, how they relate to global social, economic and political networks. Sheringham Park, Norfolk, reveals the significance of the relationship between the designer, Humphry Repton, the patron and his wife within their respective (auto)biographies. It is positioned alongside Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park (1814), its exact contemporary, to draw out relationships between the principle actors and the wider colonial world. The paper will therefore address questions about the role of designed landscapes in personal and historical narratives, and in particular, their position within the international issue of colonialism.     

Research and Discussion Held on the Relationship between Reconstruction of Dangerous and Dilapidated Buildings in Beijing and Preservation of the Style of the Ancient Capital

Form Sept.10 to Sept.12,1990,the of-fice of Beijing planning committee invitedover 50 people to hold discussion on the     

The palace,the city and the past: controversies surrounding the rebuilding of the Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, 1990–2010

In step with economic and political growth, the Korean government is in the process of restoring the main palace, the Gyeongbok Palace, of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), which was destroyed by the Japanese during the colonial era (1910–1945). The ensuing public debate regarding the method and extent of the restoration has brought to the fore the significance such a project carries in Korean society of the twenty‐first century. The restoration of this palace complex has created a number of controversies relating to history and the built environment, urban morphology and national identity. Questions about historical authenticity, both in terms of what has happened to the site since the palace was destroyed and the best means of restoring it; questions about the historical origins of Seoul and the need to restore the palace to make its role in this clear; questions about the methods and materials of restoration, are all matters of debate. There are also cultural and political issues: the role of the built environment in aiding public education; sustaining a sense of national identity; encouraging the development of traditional craftsmen’s techniques for public benefit; bolstering self‐confidence for national progress and expanding the infrastructure for the Korean tourism industry. This paper argues that not only is the physical restoration of the ‘new’ historic buildings and structures important, but also the cultural and social meanings (as outlined above), and that these justify the controversial restoration of the national historic monument.     

Determinism,idealism and the politics of environmentalism—a view point

Over the past 15 years there have been ideological shifts in the ecologically‐based environmentalist movement. The earlier emphasis was on reactionary ideologies of neo‐Malthusianism and the lifeboat ethic, romantic anti‐urbanism and rural escapism. These were strongly underpinned by the notion of naturally‐imposed limits on human endeavour which sprang from a philosophy of environmental determinism. Now there is more emphasis upon human free will and less which is escapist, defensive and socially regressive. The green movement is increasingly compatible with socialism, but there is still a large ideological gap between “Green” and “Red” wings of the movement. Green Greens are idealistic, and mistakenly believe that they have discovered a new politics which are “above” the politics of class conflict. They call for a common unity and for spiritually‐inspired value changes, and erroneously think that their ecotopian vision is becoming a widespread reality. Green socialists, however, are more realistic because their analysis is materialist. They do not divorce social and environmental reform from the need to change the social‐economic mode of production, and therefore hold out a solution which is more genuinely revolutionary and has more relevance to the mass of people.     

An Exploration of the Thinking and Method of the Revision of Beijing''''s Master Planning

This article introduces the new thinking andmethod of the revision of Beijing's master plan.The plannersmade new exploration and breakthroughs in such aspects asthe involvement of the general public in planning,the intro-duction of value concept,unified planning of both urban andrural areas,how to link with the future goals of development,etc.     

Statistical survey of the inspection,diagnosis and repair of painted rendered façades

This paper presents a statistical study on the pathology of painted rendered façades, based on the inspection of 105 façades, in Lisbon, Portugal. Accordingly, the most common types of anomaly in painted renders, their probable causes, related diagnostic tests and repair techniques were studied, using the classification defined in an ‘inspection, diagnosis and repair system’, which was developed to simplify and facilitate the inspection procedure. Some conditioning parameters were evaluated, which provided additional information on the sensitive key factors of this kind of coating and enabled new conclusions to be drawn on the prevention and repair of anomalies.     

The Politics of “Parental Co-Habitation”: Austerity,Household, and the Social Evils of Dependency

The household as a social formation is being assigned a renewed function in the provision of social welfare via neoliberal austerity politics. Government inaction regarding housing provision is forcing millions of young adults into “parental co-habitation”. In contrast to the dominant ideological view of the family as a school of liberty through the provision of welfare, this article argues that the dependence of millions of young adults on the parental household is degenerative both for the individual “recipient” and for the future democratic character of the polity. Mobilizing a Neo-Roman analysis of Liberty, I argue that housing policy is promoting the long-term creation of “slaves” as part of a wider strategy of oligarchic domination. The article seeks to articulate an explicitly political theoretical critique of “parental co-habitation” and advocates for directed government action in the area of housing provision to secure the autonomy and independence of a generation otherwise reduced to “slavishness”.     

‘London particular’: the city,its atmosphere and the visibility of its objects

Over the course of the nineteenth century, the smoke-filled atmospheres of London and other industrial cities were the subject of aesthetic, scientific and legal inquiry. Reconstructing the conjunction of such inquiries in a pivotal architectural episode—the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament—reveals an important transformation in the understanding of the relationship between a city and its architectural objects. Where it once seemed possible to regard these objects (and their architects) as independent, discrete participants in the larger material and administrative domains of the city, the expanding knowledge and judgements of the atmosphere and its effects produced an entirely different perception. The city and its architectural objects were co-extensive, involuntary participants in an encompassing process of change registered by two newly recognised categories: decay and maintenance.     

Analysis of the causality links between the growth of the construction industry and the growth of the macro‐economy in Ghana

A vibrant construction industry in a developing country, that mobilizes human and local material resources in the development and maintenance of buildings, housing and physical infrastructure, is an important means to promote increased local employment and accelerate economic growth. Ghana, a country of about 22 million people, currently has one of the fastest growing economies in West Africa. The Government of Ghana (GOG) has recently set a target of annual economic growth rate of 8% and above, up from annual growth rates of 5–6% in the past five years (2001–05). It intends to use the agricultural sector as the major vehicle for achieving such high growth rates in order for the country to reach the status of a middle income country by 2015. Surprisingly, the construction industry was left out from the list of major growth drivers of the economy. We contend that with the construction industry currently making up the third largest sector of the economy, special attention should be given to this industry as one of the main drivers of economic growth in Ghana. Therefore we conducted a study to analyse the causality links between the growth in the construction industry and the growth in the macro‐economy of Ghana, measured by the gross domestic product (GDP), to ascertain whether the construction industry can be used to lead the entire economy on a growth path. The analysis was based on a simple Granger causality test using time series data from 1968 to 2004. We showed that growth in the construction industry Granger‐caused growth in GDP, with a three‐year lag. The construction industry needs to be considered as one of the major drivers of economic growth in Ghana.