Towards a new planning approach; urban strategy framework and strategic design management

In our cities, which are facing fast and dynamic urban transformation processes, it is becoming harder to solve current and future urban problems using the conventional urban planning tools and approaches. Instead of a stable and problematic urban planning approach, production of both innovative and applicable tools and approaches, which are more democratic and socially responsible as well as economically feasible and strategic, must be discussed. The aim of the thesis is to bring two approaches into question of public agenda; 'Urban Strategy Framework' as the new strategic spatial planning approach and 'Strategic Design Management' as the new process management approach. Solving the quality of building and life risks, loss of urban identity, preservation, and character, over use of capacity, participation and spatial problems of our cities, top-down and bottom-up planning mechanisms must be simultaneously conducted. Aiming that, 'Urban Strategy Framework' must comprise strategic priorities, necessities and development strategies of the urban structure, considering the urban vision. Spatial components of the 'Urban Strategy Framework' should be structured in three scales; urban block, neighbourhood and city. In order to solve our complicated urban problems, 'Strategic Design Management' process must be designed. In the process, expectations of different parties should be considered, while the process is open to negotiation. The process must create value by design. Spatial development and regeneration strategies, planning and design principles should be defined in a participatory meetings, strategies and solutions should be developed by common mind and negotiation. Innovative methods and tools for the 'Strategic Design Management' process are analysed under five themes; 'Analysis, Participation, Planning and Design Principles, Organisation, Finance and Implementation'. The thesis aims to provide new planning and management framework for our cities. It is composed of seven sections, in which, understanding the current circumstances of Turkish cities and the international experiences of urbanisation, urban regeneration and new planning approaches were analysed. In the introductory chapter, problem definition, aim of the thesis and the thesis structure is explained. The second chapter called 'Transforming Cities' summarizes rapid urbanisation process the world cities are facing with and the need for developing new planning approaches, methods and new urban models. Three stages or urban regeneration in Turkey, main risks and characteristics of our current urban regeneration process is also defined. 'New Planning Approaches' in Turkey and the world are defined in the third chapter. 'New Urbanism' and 'Urban Renaissance' approaches focuses on density, naighbourhood, transportation, revitalisation, while DESTEK Platform aims to set up voluntary based, on-site regeneration model in Turkey. In the fourth chapter 'Urban Regeneration Experiences', national and international urban regeneretion experiences were analysed. National case studies were grouped according to project development models, while international experiences were defined according to structural change strategies in three scales; block, neighbourhood and city. Lessons learned from the cases for our regeneration processes were also defined. Fifth chapter brings the 'Urban Strategy Framework' approach into question, which is presented as a new planning tool proposal for Turkish cities. 'Urban Strategy Framework' proposes to conduct top-down and bottom-up planning mechanisms simultaneously, to solve the quality of building and life risks, loss of urban identity and character, over use of capacity and spatial problems of our cities. The framework is structured in three levels of spatial hierarchy; urban block, neighborhood and city. Sixth chapter 'Strategic Design Management' defines methods and tools for our urban patterns, where quality of buildingis high and quality of life is low, restrusturing strategies must be developed, considering socially responsible as well as economically feasible strategies. Tools were defined under Analysis, Participation, Planning and Design, Organisation and Implementation topics. In the final chapter, the need for developing a new planning approach is emphasized, evaluating 'Urban Strategy Framework' and 'Strategic Design Management' approaches, main implications and proposals are summarized for the future of our cities. Towards the long and extensive urban regeneration process, new tools and mechanisms must be examined for planning, design and management processes. The thesis aims to offer an insight into new researches in this field. Our cities, in which rapid and big scale urban regeneration processes are being experienced, it is becoming harder to solve current and future urban problems, by means of current planning approach. Planning tools are inadequate, while the advantages of the urban dynamism is not being used properly. Upper scale planning (strategy making) and lower scale design (implementation) processes are disconnected and incompatible in terms of planning, design and implementation tools. Because of that, top-down and bottom-up plannning processes should be conducted simultaneously. City planning and architectural design diciplines should be commonized. Restructuring the urban environment, 'Urban Strategy Framework' should be developed as the new strategic spatial planning approach, considering block, neighbourhood and city scale strategies. Planning and design strategies should be conducted simultaneously to create intersections between city planning and architectural design diciplines. Inability of the current planning approach against urban problems, brings the question of city planning profession's validity into public agenda. Urban development and regeneration creates negative social and spatial affects on people and place. In order to minimize social and spatial affects, planner's role should be analysing planning, design and iplementation processes and to develop innovative planning methods and tools. 'Strategic Design Management', which is developed to manage urban development and change, aims to develop negotiation between stakeholders to minimize negative spatial and social impacts. Methods and tools for 'Urban Strategy Framework' and 'Strategic Design Management' should provide an insight to further studies on new planning approach. In the process of urbanization process, urban planners should look for answer to the question of; 'how should we handle spatial, social and economical dimensions of urban regeneration'. Innovative and local urban planning approaches and tools should be developed considering planning, design and management processes aiming to solve current urban problems in a democratic, social, economic way.