Form Follows Function? Linking Morphological and Functional Polycentricity

Abstract

Empirical research establishing the costs and benefits that can be associated with polycentric urban systems is often called for but rather thin on the ground. In part, this is due to the persistence of what appear to be two analytically distinct approaches in understanding and measuring polycentricity: a morphological approach centring on nodal features and a functional approach focused on the relations between centres. Informed by the oft-overlooked but rich heritage of urban systems research, this paper presents a general theoretical framework that links both approaches and discusses the way both can be measured and compared in a coherent manner. Using the Netherlands as a test case, it is demonstrated that most regions tend to be more morphologically polycentric than functionally polycentric. The difference is largely explained by the size, external connectivity and degree of self-sufficiency of a region’s principal centre.

Megaregions: foundations, frailties, futures

“…As a consequence there is an unwitting tendency for form-dominated approaches to infer and/or assume the functional coherence of the megaregional spaces they identify (cf. Burger and Meijers, 2012;Schafran, 2014Schafran, , 2015. functionally-dominant cartographic representations are able to account for the unevenness of megaregionality processes within the megaregional spaces they identify (Figure 1.4).…”

Assessing the Functional Polycentricity of the Mega-City-Region of Central Belgium Based on Advanced Producer Service Transaction Links

“…In doing so, POLYNET assumes an interpretation of functional polycentricity as described and defined by BURGER and MEIJERS (2012). In their paper, the authors initially distinguish between multicentricity and polycentricity in that the latter concept -apart from the obvious existence of multiple centres -also involves a certain balance in importance of these centres.…”

Sensing Spatiotemporal Patterns in Urban Areas: Analytics and Visualizations Using the Integrated Multimedia City Data Platform

“…For instance, we detect regional activity nodes that are not necessarily structural or persistent in nature either morphologically or functionally in the sense of Burger et al (2012) but are rather seasonal or episodic depending on the time of the year and the offerings at different attractions. Specifically when we consider the time of tweet generation, patterns other than space and location start to appear.…”

“…Urban spatial structures are becoming more polycentric in structure as new clusters and hotspots emerge within urban areas (Zhong, et al 2014). Prior research has examined both 'polycentrism' and 'polycentric development', as well as on a morphological approaches centering on nodal features of urban structure, and on functional approaches focused on relations between centers (Burger, et al 2012). Emerging forms of data have given a new impetus to detecting polycentricity (e.g.…”