The Polycentric Urban Region: A Closer Inspection

Abstract

Parr J. B. (2004) The polycentric urban region: a closer inspection, Reg. Studies38, 231-240. The concept of the polycentric urban region (PUR) is one that has gained considerable currency over the last decade. Nevertheless, a certain vagueness continues to surround the concept. A set of conditions is outlined that would need to be satisfied before a PUR could reasonably be said to exist. The PUR is contrasted with other types of region, and various forms of the PUR are then briefly reviewed. Consideration is next given to the supposed economic advantages of the PUR. This is followed by a discussion of the extent to which the concept of the PUR has emerged as a focus in urban and regional policy. Parr J. B. (2004) Un examen plus approfondi de la region urbaine polycentrique, Reg. Studies38, 231-240. Pendant la derniere decennie, la notion de region urbaine polycentrique s'est repandue. Toujours est-il que cette notion s'entoure d'une certaine imprecision. On esquisse ici un ensemble de conditions qu'il faut satisfaire avant que l'on puisse legitimement confirmer l'existence d'une region urbaine polycentrique. On compare la region urbaine polycentrique aux autres typologies de regions et, ensuite, on reexamine brievement diverses formes de region urbaine polycentrique. Puis on considere les avantages economiques presumes de la region urbaine polycentrique. Il s'ensuit une discussion de la question suivante: jusqu'a quel point la notion de region urbaine polycentrique est-elle devenue le point central de la politique d'amenagement du territoire? Parr J. B. (2004) Die polyzentrische Stadtregion: eine eingehendere Untersuchung, Reg. Studies38, 231-240. Der Begriff der polyzentrischen Stadtregion (Polycentric Urban Region - PUR) ist ein Konzept, dessen Gebrauch im letzten Jahrzehnt betrachtlich zugenommen hat. Trotzdem bleibt ihm eine gewisse Unbestimmtheit anhaften. Es werden eine Reihe Bedingungen umrissen, die erfullt werden mussten, bevor man ernstlich behaupten kann, dass es tatsachlich eine PUR gibt. Die PUR wird anderen Regiontypen gegenubergestellt, und dem schliesst sich eine kurze Besprechung verschiedener Formen der PUR an. Sodann wird uberlegt, was fur wirtschaftliche Vorteile den PUR zugeschrieben werden konnen. Der Aufsatz schliesst mit einer Diskussion des Ausmasses, in dem der Begriff der PUR zu einem Kernstuck der Stadt-und Regionalpolitik geworden ist. Parr J. B. (2004) La region urbana policentrica: un examen mas detallado, Reg. Studies38, 231-240. El concepto de region urbana policentrica (RUP) es un concepto que se ha puesto considerablemente de actualidad en la ultima decada. No obstante, este concepto continua rodeado de una cierta vaguedad. Se enumeran una serie de condiciones que necesitarian ser satisfechas antes de que se pudiera afirmar de forma razonable que existe una RUP. La RUP se contrasta con otros tipos de regiones, y varias formas de la RUP son luego brevemente revisadas. A continuacion se examinan las supuestas ventajas economicas de la RUP. Se prosigue con un examen de hasta que p...

Questioning Polycentric Development and its Effects. Issues of Definition and Measurement for the Italian NUTS-2 Regions

“…At the same time, the effects of polycentricity in terms of social cohesion, economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability are still ambiguous and not widely confirmed (Davoudi, 2003;Parr, 2004). For this reason, it is worth providing some underlying notions of polycentricity, by describing how it can refer to different spatial scales and, at the same time, how it can be described from different perspectives.…”

“…More precisely, if a set of conditions are fully satisfied -about centres separation and distribution and about specialisation and interaction among centres -the region may be called Polycentric Urban Region (PUR) (Parr, 2004). Hence, the PUR is more a morphological concept, given the emphasis put on the physical separation and jobs distribution and the smaller role played by interaction among nodes.…”

“…In addition, polycentricity can be conceptualised from two different perspectives: the morphological and the functional. Some studies approach polycentricity from a morphological perspective (Lambooy, 1998;NordRegio, 2004;Parr, 2004;Meijers, 2008), while others adopt a functional perspective ( Van der Laan, 1998;Hall and Pain, 2006;Limtanakool et al, 2007). As a consequence, different approaches lead to different measures, which in turn could differ in many respects .…”

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“…Region zdolny ukształtować się jako upodmiotowiona przestrzeń może traktować własną przyszłość w kategoriach zobowiązania i odpowiedzialności. Może kreować własną przyszłość, a nie tylko dostosowywać się do ewolucji otoczenia [Parr 2004]. Jest tak nawet w sytuacjach, gdy uwarunkowania zewnętrzne jawią się jako szczególnie niekorzystne i niesprzyjające pożądanym zmianom i procesom rozwojowym.…”

Postsuburban Spatial Evolution of Vienna's Urban Fringe: Evidence from Point Process Modeling

“…At present, myriad metropolitan areas are undergoing an evolution from a monocentric to a polycentric structuring, which is documented in recent research (Getis, 1983;Dieleman and Faludi, 1998;McMillen and McDonald, 1998;Hall, 1999;Kloosterman and Lambregts, 2001). Today, many metropolitan regions in advanced economies possess several spatially separated centers consisting of large populations and employment clusters (Parr, 2004). 3 Because of this new intrametropolitan structure, Anas et al (1998), Clark (2000), and others have proposed a reformulation of traditional models and conceptualizations of urban form.…”