Abstract
Many cities evolve over time, but some are designed from scratch. Brasília is presented as a unique case on urban planning for having been built from figuratively nothing, based on a design concept that was the brainchild of Brazilian urbanist Lucio Costa. The present study aimed to analyze the interrelation between urban planning and spatial structure change over time to understand the role of urban development policies on the spatial organization of Brasília. The study was conducted based on three interrelated aspects: (1) The intentions of the plans, (2) territorial governance, and (3) external conditions. The results showed that the circumstances of territory occupation—characterized by a polycentric development system with dispersed satellite cities economically dependent on Brasília—have been gradually replaced by strategic development policies, mainly influenced by social and political driving forces. Accordingly, this research suggests a reconsideration of the scale of development instrumentations based on a better understanding of the metropolitan area of Brasília as a unique structure by strengthening its interrelations and seeking better coordination of interests and adaptability of governance processes.
Highlights
In the last century, certain countries have planned to transfer or even established new capital cities, following the steps of Washington and Canberra, or developing a town which already exists
Because the relationship between the evolution of spatial structure in Brasília and urban development policy is not addressed in previous articles, this study aims to provide a better linkage between these two topics
We agree that the local government’s autonomy is undoubtedly a form of democratic progress due to the new federal constitution of 1988, the Brasília metropolitan area should be coordinated by regional planning, including central governments and local authorities
Summary
Certain countries have planned to transfer or even established new capital cities, following the steps of Washington and Canberra, or developing a town which already exists. The decision to relocate a capital city is not simple, and the cost must be considered, as well as the fact that, as shown by Gottmann [1], capital cities act as articulators between different regions of the country. The rearrangement of these complex structures is complicated. It is imperative for planners and policymakers to understand the dynamics of the spatial structure of these new cities, and urban development policy due to the common arguments that planning influences spatial structure, in urban areas. A great part of the existing research has focused on natural and economic evidence to analyze spatial changes, recent studies have begun to pay special attention to the role of urban development policies as important drivers of spatial transformation patterns [4,5], highlighting the importance of developing better land use models to support urban planning
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