This document discusses definitions of urban transformation and analyzes case studies of city transformations. It explores how both the physical/material and social/immaterial aspects of cities interact and change over time through urban transformation. The document examines perspectives on urban transformation as changes to a city's physical structure, culture, and population growth. It also considers how the intentions of urban design projects may have unintended consequences and how cities are constantly changing systems that are difficult to exert control over.

1. CITY
TRANS
FORM
ATION
an analysis of the concept of urban transformation

2. Various definitions have been given to what a city is, in terms of what
it’s perceived to be. Definitions from, Manuel Castells perceived the
city as a dual city (social-spatial reality). David Harvey saw the city to
be an ever changing system in which spatial form and social process
interact at the same time. Recently cities have been perceived
to be a system of subsystems which are interdependent on each
other and run simultaneously as one system (Dixon &, Eames, 2012).
Although, the definitions aren’t the same, we gather, that the city has
aspects, dynamic, complex and these features somehow interacts
simultaneously.
Inam (2012) suggests that it is a severe thorough fundamental change
in the structure of a place. Thorns (2002), looks into the physical form
of city transformation. He suggests that urban transformation means
changes over time and thus an acknowledgement of the history of a
particular city’s development. Condoning this, Ian Bentley (1999), sees
physical form of urban changes as a process through which new types
of development close to the production culture, generate in relation
to an inherited, connected, stable and long-lasting morphological
elements. Elbendak (Elbendak, 2008) looks at urban transformation
from another point of view. He suggests urban transformation can
be the transformation of the local culture of people in a particular
city, to a global culture (way of life). From this few, theories, we see
two aspects, which is the physical form (material) and social form
(immaterial) aspect of urban transformation. Does this imply that
these two aspects of the city interact and transform in time, leading
to urban transformation.
What is a City?
What is CIty Transformation?
First, how do we know when urban transformation has occurred? Thorns
(Thorns,2002)suggeststhatthepresenturbanformseentodayisasresult
of succeeding generations of settlers influencing both the physical
structure and the political, economic and social institutions. In terms of
spatial transformation, Inam (2012) suggests one common realization
of urban transformation is observed through major “shifts in patterns”
of the material city (physical form). Looking into a case study of the
evolution of Public space in Barcelona from 1982 to 1992 (Marshall,
2004) which marks the urban revolution period, the development of
Public spaces was used as an instrument to control densities in certain
areas of Barcelona; causing an influence on mobility patterns (Inam,
2012). It was also used as a tool for urban intervention in re-establishing
the identity of places such as Rambla del Raval which was prestigious
for prostitution, drugs and various anti-social activities (Marshall, 2004).
We will proceed directly with two goals: to make
spaceofqualityandatthesametimecreateafocus
that can generate spontaneous transformations....
(Bohigas, 1985)
“ ”
medieval Oxford, (Mumford, L., 1961)
Anthenian form , (Mumford, L., 1961)
Grids patterns (Bentley, 1999)
New Open Space, Gracia, 1980s (Marshall, 2004)

3. Another understanding of urban transformation is in terms of rapid and
large scale population growth as currently seen in African cities. An
example is Lagos city (Metz, 1991) which presently is still undergoing a
rapid transformation in terms of progressive extension of the city. Rapid
urbanization due to the colonial period in the 19th century and modern
industrialization 20th century followed by Information age in the early
2000s; reflects social and economic transformation (Cultural Institute,
2014). Of recent, due to overpopulation and economic competition
for resources in Lagos, the government has collaborated with urban
planners to extend the metropolitan area. The Eko Atlantic marks a
major transformation in Lagos city (CNBC, 2013).
Most importantly, solving overpopulation issues such as; Green house
gas emissions through the ideology of dispersion of population over
time and space development. In the design field, is much attention
really given to the ideas and intention of the project than the impact
this would cause on the city and the people (Inam, 2012)? Although,
urban transformation like this, upgrades the city into a global scale,
what can possibly suffer is the local culture of the ancestral traditions of
the people. Would the ancestral traditional values go extinct or survive
generation after generations? Only time would tell.
So far, urban transformation has been discussed in terms of spatial
change. The theories above have focused on the material aspect
of the city, but can urban transformation occur in the material
city and not in the immaterial aspect of the city? Or does it occur
together as a synchronized system? Can we say one aspect
pushes the other to transform? Inam (2012) suggests that, another
understanding of urban transformation can be measured through
the quality of life indicators such as public health, water, sanitation
(especially in developing countries), education, employment and
infrastructures. But still, some rural places have quality water, much
trees, the point is what is regarded as quality of life is different for
people in the rural area. Furthermore, an even deeper quality
judgment of city transformation can be achieved through what the
urbanist Kevin Lynch refers to as “performance dimensions”. Such
as vitality, sense, access, control, efficiency, and justice (Lynch,
1981).
The urban area together with people deals with a variety of
material or immaterial, fixed or moving, enduring or short-lived
(Guggenheim and Söderström, 2010). Buildings and urban form
are generally thought-out as material, fixed and enduring entities.
“However, over emphasis on change primarily in the material city
can lead to a relatively superficial understanding of what urban
transformation actually is” (Inam, 2012). Urban transformation has
influenced urban life and to a degree, urban life influences urban
transformation (Montgomery, 2013); In terms of climate change,
city growth, health, birth and death rates. Other interrelated factors
entangled with urban transformation influence the perception
of cities in the modern world today; in terms of personal relations
between individuals and communities, and their relationship with
nature, culture and heritage; immaterial entities.

4. Where do we go from here? Are we restricting ourselves to definitions
of each wonderful classification of Post-modern city for sustainability as
adapted from Daffara (2004) (Dixon &Eames, 2012)? (The table from
handbook) Due to resulting change, we look to one of these ideal cities
as a vision for the future of our cities; the Smart city, the sustainable city,
the Techno-city, the green city and the resilient city. Should we think out
of the box? Can we go back to the drawing board and fix the past in
order to deal with restrictions that come along in each ideal city? Can
we re-invent cities and transform cities to whatever we want? This leave
an open and unwritten book filled with possibilities, yet but also negative
influence. A city without a defined vision may keep diverting its goals
and never have an ideal vision as to what it is desired to be.
Envisioning transformation without barriers, Inam (2012) proposes three
fundamental shifts in the concept of urban transformation. This paper
adopts two;
I. Beyond material object :City in a flux
II. Beyond intentions: Consequences of design
Beyond material object: City in a flux
The city undergoes dimensional shifts of all kind; hence the city should be
more appropriately conceptualized as a “flux”, constantly changing. As
time goes by, our conceptual understanding of and interaction with the
city is also changing. Urbanists require a conceptual grasp of flux in order
to shift design to be flexible and adaptive to change. Rotmans (2006)
suggest that “there is structural uncertainty and intrinsic unpredictability
in the dynamics of cities” (Dixon & Eames, 2012). Therefore, control over
the city is impossible. In a city that’s constantly changing, how can
urbanists develop flexible and adaptive environments? Or the current
solution would be to develop a certain design on demand.
Beyond intentions: Consequences of design
What kind of consequences are there on both material and immaterial
entities in the city? is there an ideal city algorithm? Is there an ideal city
design? As places differ in culture and perception of place and space,
so does designs differ (Picture of landscape with houses, mountain, sea
etc) as well as consequences. Inam (2012) argues that in the design
field much attention given to the design itself than the impact this would
cause on the people. But isn’t designs developed with the objective
to solve an issue? Although positive outcomes have resulted, negative
ones have also resulted. Hence, more attention needs to be given to
the degree to which the design of the city is adaptable or flexible.
In conclusion, there is a probability that thinking outside the box is the key
to unlocking possible strategies in developing a flexible and adaptive
city to urban transformation. Therefore, allowing more to be discovered
in urban transformation in preparation for the future. The unknown can
be a solution.
Eco-City
Gaian City
Smart-City Techno-City
(Dixon &Eames, 2012)
New-York, New years eve
Intention of design
versus
impact

5. References
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3. Bohigas, O.1985. Reconstruccio de Barcelona, Barcelona: Edicions 62.
4. Castells, M. (1989) The informational city: Information Technology, Economic Restructuring and the urban-regional process.
Blackwell.
5.CNBCAfrica.2013.EkoAtlanticCityHalfWayToComplete.[online]Availableat:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GknxEm5zXzY
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6. Cultural Institute. 2014. n.d. Colonial Footprints: Lagos, Then and Now - Google Cultural Institute. [online] Available at: http://
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