Project description
The connection between urbanism and the environment
The term 'environment' in the context of the urban question is unclear and debated on. Shedding light on this, the EU-funded URBENV project will investigate the urbanism-environment relationship from the 1960s until today. From the perspective that the term is a combination of an ecological condition, a technological interface and a political metaphor, the project will uncover how the environment is understood, designed and governed by urbanists. The work of the project will provide insights into whether the environment can transform the urban question beyond the technological solution, leading the way for more democratic urbanism.
Objective
Over the past half century, urbanism has become the cornerstone of global environmental action. Yet the term environment is ambiguous, multi-layered and contested. This is especially so when it is linked with the urban question, expressing a sense of collective urgency, but also demands for urban environmental justice that are irreducible to the greening of cities.
This research project explores the urbanism-environment nexus historically and today. Building on a premise that environment is at once an ecological condition, a technological interface and a political metaphor, I examine how professional urbanists understood, designed and governed the environment. This transdisciplinary project focuses on three areas of urbanismpolicy, design and researchand examines the genealogy of three interconnected fields, in which the environmental problematic has been central: urban regeneration, landscape urbanism, and urban science. This research spans the period between the 1960s and today, and analyzes the circulation of ideas, policies and practices among institutions, projects and individuals situated in the US, Europe and the former Eastern Bloc.
What could environmental urbanism mean in the future? My research is underpinned by a sense of contemporary socio-environmental challenges, and aims to build bridges between historical, critical and strategic approaches in urban studies. By developing and departing from Michel Foucaults concept of environmentality, this research draws attention to affinities and tensions in the urban arena between solution-focused ecological urbanism, demands for environmental equity and forms of environmental governmentality. While the concept throws into relief power relations associated with environmental action, it needs to be updated with respect to concrete ecological, technological and political dilemmas that the field of urbanism faced in the past and faces today. Could environment transform the urban question in ways that exceed technological solution, and become a signpost for more democratic urbanism?
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
10412 Tallinn
Estonia
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.