1. “Urban-rural Integration” and “Areas In-Between”

 

Areas in-between are stepping out of the shadow of large metropolises. There is a growing attention to the liveability and opportunities provided by the networks of towns and small cities that constitute the ‘countryside’. But although a dichotomous view of urban versus rural has been mostly overcome in recent decades, many still understand the countryside only in a city-hinterland relation, ignoring the spatial, functional, symbolic and political features of these areas in-between. The major future challenges, like climate adaptation, energy transition, reversing biodiversity loss, the shift towards circularity, housing the growing (and ageing) population, all add to the development pressure on these areas. Therefore, this dialogue will be on integrating the urban and the rural beyond utopian dichotomies and envisioning future resilient areas in-between.
 

Track leaders:
Dr. Alexander Wandl
Dr. Rodrigo Ordonhas Viseu Cardoso