Lecture

Redefining Modernity in African Urbanism

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Description

This lecture discusses the need to redefine modernity in African urbanism, emphasizing the importance of questioning current paradigms and exploring alternative approaches to urban development. The instructor highlights the challenges faced by African cities, the inadequacy of existing models, and the crucial role of architects and urban planners in shaping sustainable urban futures. The lecture delves into the historical context of urban development in Africa, the impact of international organizations on urban planning, and the necessity for a shift towards more inclusive and community-driven urban strategies.

In MOOC

African Cities III, urban planning and management

"African Cities" offers a course on urban management and planning. After a review of the major urban themes (climate change, infrastructure and services, energy, the right to the city, land, housing, the informal economy), we will take a critical look at the tools currently used in urban management and planning. We will then look at how to manage and plan a more inclusive, productive, resilient and resource-efficient city that respects the environment. Finally, we will look successively at the issues of ci

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Related concepts (12)

Urban planning

Urban planning, also known as town planning, city planning, regional planning, or rural planning, is a technical and political process that is focused on the development and design of land use and the built environment, including air, water, and the infrastructure passing into and out of urban areas, such as transportation, communications, and distribution networks and their accessibility.

Sustainable urbanism

Sustainable urbanism is both the study of cities and the practices to build them (urbanism), that focuses on promoting their long term viability by reducing consumption, waste and harmful impacts on people and place while enhancing the overall well-being of both people and place. Well-being includes the physical, ecological, economic, social, health and equity factors, among others, that comprise cities and their populations.

Urbanism

Urbanism is the study of how inhabitants of urban areas, such as towns and cities, interact with the built environment. It is a direct component of disciplines such as urban planning, a profession focusing on the design and management of urban areas, and urban sociology, an academic field which studies urban life. Many architects, planners, geographers, and sociologists investigate the way people live in densely populated urban areas. There is a wide variety of different theories and approaches to the study of urbanism.

New Urbanism

New Urbanism is an urban design movement that promotes environmentally friendly habits by creating walkable neighbourhoods containing a wide range of housing and job types. It arose in the United States in the early 1980s, and has gradually influenced many aspects of real estate development, urban planning, and municipal land-use strategies. New Urbanism attempts to address the ills associated with urban sprawl and post-Second World War suburban development.

Urban planner

An urban planner (also known as town planner) is a professional who practices in the field of town planning, urban planning or city planning. An urban planner may focus on a specific area of practice and have a title such as city planner, town planner, regional planner, long-range planner, transportation planner, infrastructure planner, environmental planner, parks planner, physical planner, health planner, planning analyst, urban designer, community development director, economic development specialist, or other similar combinations.

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