With investment in urban real estate, infrastructure and renovation becoming one of the driving forces behind economic growth, the physical landscape and social structure of the city are being irrevocably altered. Cities are therefore called upon to have a different and more influential role in the 21st century.
This transformation and the evolution of the urban conditions which define cities occur at a very rapid rhythm. The trends in economic development, the role of new
information technologies, migration, trade and cultural exchange between cities, all of these will undoubtedly make the emerging global network of cities as important as the political relations between nation-states.
It is therefore critical that urban experts and practitioners engage in meaningful discussions, so as to ensure that cities are prepared to step into heightened roles.
The question for architects, urban planners and mayors is how to plan and manage infrastructure and development without constraining growth, while simultaneously promoting the social and economic benefits of proximity and complexity in compact urban systems. The aspirations are clear, but the actual impact on the social economy of urban communities has yet to be understood.
Trans-disciplinary teamwork Spatial planning is essentially transdisciplinary teamwork involving different professionals and actors in complex processes. The planner’s role evolves following the development of society and of planning laws and policies. These vary according to the different political and social structure of each country. Compared to other disciplines, the distinctive difference is that spatial planners must focus primarily on the interests of society as a whole, the settlement or the region as an entity, and the longerterm future. Spatial planners should analyse, draft, implement and monitor development strategies, supporting policies, programmes and key projects.