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The Concept of Urban Hibernation

Krzysztofik, Robert ; Dymitrow, Mirek LU ; Kantor-pietraga, Iwona and Spórna, Tomasz (2016) In European Planning Studies 24(2). p.316-343
Abstract
Today, as a result of fast-paced societal transformations, many small towns face severe developmental challenges and an uncertain future. Departing from the broader theory of developmental disequilibrium, we launch the concept of urban hibernation to explain the process of periodic small-town regress. The concept—along with its key stages and turning points—is presented to the background of urbanization processes encountered in Poland. At the same time, the focus on small towns offers an alternative and more context-sensitive explication to eclectic development models inherent to larger cities. As such, we argue that the concept of urban hibernation is apt to serve as a more precise research and planning tool in the context of small towns,... (More)
Today, as a result of fast-paced societal transformations, many small towns face severe developmental challenges and an uncertain future. Departing from the broader theory of developmental disequilibrium, we launch the concept of urban hibernation to explain the process of periodic small-town regress. The concept—along with its key stages and turning points—is presented to the background of urbanization processes encountered in Poland. At the same time, the focus on small towns offers an alternative and more context-sensitive explication to eclectic development models inherent to larger cities. As such, we argue that the concept of urban hibernation is apt to serve as a more precise research and planning tool in the context of small towns, and particularly in the critical moments of rise and recession. By applying a historical perspective, we address the importance of proper identification of the various and ever-changing city-forming factors, including their role for spatial planning at different scales. Urban hibernation should thus be considered as an intrinsic part of the geographic environment, which, due to the volatility of its socio-economic components, transcends the traditional rural–urban divide. Our conceptual contribution may thus serve as a background for a fuller understanding of the variability and dynamics of intra-urban structures. (Less)
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author
; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
settlement geography, urban development, urban geography, urban landscape, settlement history, Poland
in
European Planning Studies
volume
24
issue
2
pages
316 - 343
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:84952299584
ISSN
0965-4313
DOI
10.1080/09654313.2015.1078296
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
5a4e2431-5ccf-43bc-ace0-6b9da904e240
alternative location
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09654313.2015.1078296
date added to LUP
2020-04-02 22:15:09
date last changed
2022-04-11 01:11:00
@article{5a4e2431-5ccf-43bc-ace0-6b9da904e240,
  abstract     = {{Today, as a result of fast-paced societal transformations, many small towns face severe developmental challenges and an uncertain future. Departing from the broader theory of developmental disequilibrium, we launch the concept of urban hibernation to explain the process of periodic small-town regress. The concept—along with its key stages and turning points—is presented to the background of urbanization processes encountered in Poland. At the same time, the focus on small towns offers an alternative and more context-sensitive explication to eclectic development models inherent to larger cities. As such, we argue that the concept of urban hibernation is apt to serve as a more precise research and planning tool in the context of small towns, and particularly in the critical moments of rise and recession. By applying a historical perspective, we address the importance of proper identification of the various and ever-changing city-forming factors, including their role for spatial planning at different scales. Urban hibernation should thus be considered as an intrinsic part of the geographic environment, which, due to the volatility of its socio-economic components, transcends the traditional rural–urban divide. Our conceptual contribution may thus serve as a background for a fuller understanding of the variability and dynamics of intra-urban structures.}},
  author       = {{Krzysztofik, Robert and Dymitrow, Mirek and Kantor-pietraga, Iwona and Spórna, Tomasz}},
  issn         = {{0965-4313}},
  keywords     = {{settlement geography; urban development; urban geography; urban landscape; settlement history; Poland}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{316--343}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{European Planning Studies}},
  title        = {{The Concept of Urban Hibernation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2015.1078296}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/09654313.2015.1078296}},
  volume       = {{24}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}