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Spatially Differentiated, Temporally Variegated: The Study of Life Cycles for a Better Understanding of Suburbia in German City Regions

Räumlich differenziert, zeitlich verschiedenartig: Lebenszyklen als Zugang zu einem besseren Verständnis von Suburbia in deutschen Großstadtregionen

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Raumforschung und Raumordnung | Spatial Research and Planning

Abstract

This paper takes a spatially differentiated and temporally variegated perspective on suburban areas. It proposes a conceptual framework for studying the temporal variation and related trajectories of the subject matter, with suburban lifecycles being the key to our analysis. In empirical terms, the paper summarises the findings of research undertaken in 12 selected locales of four major metropolitan regions in Germany. Against the background of assessing the broader socioeconomic development of these regions, detailed local case studies have been conducted in order to reconstruct past and current development trajectories. Our analyses detected particular life cycles (and related segments) in the study areas, based on age and social composition, the physical conditions of the built environment and broader developments in the real-estate market. The different cycles include, in most cases, growth, maturity, transition and resilience, and they are also discussed in terms of their relevance for strategies responding to recent changes.

Zusammenfassung

Dieser Beitrag nimmt einen räumlich differenzierten und zeitlich verschiedenartig gerichteten Blick auf suburbane Räume vor. Es wird ein konzeptioneller Rahmen vorgeschlagen, um insbesondere der zeitlichen Variation im Entwicklungsverlauf von Suburbia auf den Grund zu gehen, wobei Lebenszyklen den Schlüssel zu einem neuen Verständnis dieser Raumkategorie bilden. In empirischer Hinsicht beruht der Beitrag auf den Ergebnissen von Fallstudien in 12 ausgewählten Standorten in vier Metropolräumen Deutschlands. Unsere Analysen konnten verschiedene Lebenszyklen dieser Standorte identifizieren, ausgehend von Alter und sozialer Mischung, den baulichen Konditionen sowie der Entwicklung der Immobilienmärkte. Die verschiedenen Zyklen beinhalten in aller Regel Phasen des Wachstums, der Reife, der Transition und der Resilienz, und verhalten sich je spezifisch auch mit Blick auf Strategien zum Umbau von Suburbia.

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Notes

  1. As to German developments, see for example Prigge (1998), Kuhn (2002), Menzl (2007), Hesse (2012); for the international context, the overviews provided by Siedentop and Fina (2012), Keil (2013), Scott, Cartera, Reeda et al. (2013), Nijman (2015) or Salet and Savini (2015) can be considered useful here.

  2. A more differentiated, pluralistic approach to the study of suburbia has been pursued primarily at international levels (see e.g. Wunsch 1995; Harris/Larkham 1999; Clapson 2003; Phelps/Parsons/Ballas et al. 2006; McManus/Ethington 2007; Hanlon 2010; Phelps/Wood 2011 or Keil 2013), while the German-speaking realm followed only recently (Sieverts 1997; Schenk/Kühn/Leibenath et al. 2012); only the debate of the “Zwischenstadt” or ‘in-between city’ has found some recognition in the international community since then (Keil/Addie 2015).

  3. The “Laufende Raumbeobachtung” raw data for the years quoted is available from the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR).

  4. For further details see BMVBS (2013b: 74 ff.).

  5. The data on the district level regarding demographics, economy, settlement structure, and building trajectory were drawn from official planning documents of the municipalities such as settlement area analyses and development concepts (such cases are provided with citations).

  6. Data from Laufende Raumbeobachtung BBSR (1997/2009).

  7. Data from Laufende Raumbeobachtung BBSR (1997/2009).

  8. Data from Laufende Raumbeobachtung BBSR (2009).

  9. Data from Laufende Raumbeobachtung BBSR (1997/2009).

  10. The source BMVBS (2013a) is classified information. However, the report can be obtained from the authors upon request. [please check if this is possible or explain how others can assess the raw data].

  11. Statistical data from the Registry Office at Borsdorf City Hall, years 2002-2011, partly amended 2014.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning, Campus Belval/Maison des Sciences Humaines, University of Luxembourg, 11, porte des Sciences, 4366, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

    Markus Hesse

  2. ILS – Research Institute for Regional and Urban Development, Built Environment Division, Karmeliterstraße 6, 52064, Aachen, Germany

    Jan Polívka

  3. Fakultät Raumplanung, Fachgebiet Städtebau, Stadtgestaltung und Bauleitplanung, Technische Universität Dortmund, August-Schmidt-Straße 10, 44221, Dortmund, Germany

    Christa Reicher

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Correspondence to Markus Hesse.

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Hesse, M., Polívka, J. & Reicher, C. Spatially Differentiated, Temporally Variegated: The Study of Life Cycles for a Better Understanding of Suburbia in German City Regions. Raumforsch Raumordn Spat Res Plan 76, 149–163 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13147-017-0511-2

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