Abstract

AbstractIn this first chapter of the Book “Regenerative Territories. Dimensions of Circularity for Healthy Metabolisms”, the relation between circularity and space is explored. The main focus is the development over time, and in particular the way how spatial planning and strategies respond to new unpredictable urgencies and opportunities related with territorial metabolisms. In relation to space and time, 5 grand rules are explored as necessary to implement the transition towards Circularity: (1) The Circular Economy paradigm shift requires a socio-ecological perspective and looking beyond boundaries; (2) Circular Economy is based on systems thinking and territorial metabolism; (3) a Circular Economy calls for a renewed approach to the public domain and stakeholder involvement; (4) amplifying the definition of Circular Economy with the inclusion of wastescapes; and (5) Planning the Circular Economy as an open collaborative system. The paradigm shift of contemporary planning towards circularity is aimed to facilitate the capacity of cities to be adaptive and flexible to the speeding up of the biggest changes in the present-day society. Therefore, the relation between the various spatial scales is strictly interlinked to the time scales, as well as to the metabolic processes and Life Cycles of Territories. In this perspective, the “existing city” is a non-negotiable common heritage, the result of a “selective accumulation” of material and immaterial traces produced by the slow and progressive anthropic work in the territory. Contemporary spatial planning looks beyond boundaries. This concerns both the physical boundaries between areas or countries, both the boundaries of the various scale levels of solutions, of the interrelated networks, of the public space and, particularly, of their reciprocity. It induces the scrutinization of the underlying social needs and the finding of instruments that allow the spatial planning and renewed infrastructure to fit the changing social objectives such as sustainability and liveability. The territory of the Circular Economy is the city, as a complex and multidimensional organism. However, the most problematic field for experimenting with “circular planning” is the peri-urban territory consisting of urbanized areas, crossed by differentiated phenomena of settlement expansion beyond the limits of the countryside, which identifies rural and open space, traditionally coinciding with the limits of the city. A circular planning for the regeneration of the peri-urban identifies the waste spaces, the decay of the territory, the obsolescence and end of life of buildings, functions and urban parts now inadequate, namely wasted landscapes (wastescapes). The latter are both the result of metabolic transformations of the territory and generator of prospects and potential for rebalancing the material welfare of the city.

Highlights

  • In the past three decades, one of the biggest transformations ever took place, viz., the fusion of the various geographical markets in the world into one dynamic, complex organism

  • In relation to space and time, five grand rules are explored as necessary to implement the transition to Circularity: (1) The Circular Economy paradigm shift requires a socio-ecological perspective and looking beyond boundaries; (2) Circular Economy is based on systems thinking and territorial metabolism; (3) a Circular Economy calls for a renewed approach to the public domain and stakeholder involvement; (4) amplifying the definition of Circular Economy with the inclusion of wastescapes; and (5) Planning the Circular Economy as an open collaborative system

  • The circular economy radically overturns the paradigm of unlimited growth and affirms itself as its antithesis: it brings closer the possibility of looking at the territory as a complex organism, consisting of “dense interwoven socio-ecological networks” (Swyngedouw, 2006), a landscape in constant evolution subject to different life cycles, which requires the use of the principles of care, regeneration and rebalancing of eco-systemic flows as reference principles of its project

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Summary

Introduction

In the past three decades, one of the biggest transformations ever took place, viz., the fusion of the various geographical markets in the world into one dynamic, complex organism. In order to cope and shift from closed centralized systems to an open innovation model related to circularity, cities must address different forms and levels of communication and co-production with consumers, customers and citizens. During these last decades of the twentieth century, in a large part of the publications on environmental issues, a rising awareness can be noticed that the (environmental) credo of “Think

Russo (B)
The Circular
Circular Economy Is Based on Systems Thinking and Territorial Metabolism
A Circular Economy Calls for a Renewed Approach to the Public Domain and Stakeholder Involvement
Amplifying the Definition of Circular Economy with the Inclusion of Wastescapes
Findings
Planning the Circular Economy as an Open Collaborative System
Full Text
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