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1270 | 332 | Concept, development and planning features of European university cities | Daria Shatilo

The study’ purpose is to clarify the university city’s in Europe concept, to find out what are the unique and typical European university cities features and to comprehend whether the phenomenon itself exists at all._x000D_
There is no clear scientific definition of a university city. Obviously, this is a city in which one or more universities are located, but the university or universities functions in the city (or even in the country) are different. Often state or local authorities determine the city’s status as a university. Nevertheless, the concept turns out to be fragile._x000D_
Based on the plans, maps and available information study, three spatial and planning structure university cities types have been identified:_x000D_
•Monocentric_x000D_
•Polycentric_x000D_
•Mosaic_x000D_
The study of university cities examples showed that each city is unique, and it is problematic to identify common features, except for the one or several universities location on their territory._x000D_
A painstaking city plans study has revealed few common properties. Old campuses are typical of historic centers. If there is a university building in city, then it serves as a dominant and is surrounded by other university facilities. They are being completed, reconstructed, and with distance from the center, the old buildings are usually replaced by modern ones. University zones often expand towards the outskirts, into vacant territories, but at different times and in different architectural styles._x000D_
University is distinguished from other functional cities types in urban planning terms only by the very existence of a university. After all, the abundance of old buildings, beautiful silhouettes, greenery are not rare and attract people not only here. Attention to the city’ appearance and image, to the environment state is characteristics of many post-industrial cities._x000D_

Daria Shatilo
Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences (INION RAN)


 
ID Abstract: 332