Centrality in the Age of Dispersion on September 25-27, 2024 in Wrocław, Poland

We invite you to take part in the International Conference "Centrality in the Age of Dispersion" that will take place in Wrocław in 25-27 September 2024.

Human settlement has always evolved around centres. Be it ancient Greek polis or 20th century neighbourhoods – each of them focused various human activities and formed a specific node in the geographical space. Changes in settlement structures were considered to be hierarchical and evolutionary. Those natural concentration mechanisms are undermined by various dispersion processes, having multiscalar and temporal character, and thus undermining the well-established settlement structures.

Network society, demographic transitions, global economy, instant communication, teleworking, online services – among others – challenge the urban planning paradigms all over the world.

What is special about centrality and dispersion today?

What is the current centrality/dispersion balance in urban development?

How does urban governance respond to those complex phenomena?

The conference addresses the demand for a new approach in territorial governance, and gathers experts from various scientific disciplines to present their research on urban centres and discuss dispersion occurrences.

CENTRAL THEMES

MEASUREMENT

The concept of centrality in the urban planning discourse

Quantifying concentration and dispersion

Complex centre–periphery relations in various scales and temporalities

The role of the ICT in evaluating and managing central functions

MODELS AND PARADIGMS

The paradigm of polycentric development

Urban centres as an inherent component of the Compact City concept

Implementing Transit-Oriented principles in urban centres

Self-contained communities and Urban Villages

URBAN AND SUBURUBAN DESIGN

Design styles in urban and suburban centres

The role of public spaces in providing livability

Promoting historical and cultural heritage in urban centres

Transforming urban centres: between depopulation, renewal and gentrification

SPATIAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

Urban and suburban housing in relation to urban centres

Policy solutions for preventing dispersion

Neighbourhoods and districts – in the search for functional self-containment

Urban mobility on the way to urban centres

GEOGRAPHY AND ECONOMY OF URBAN CENTRES

Services distribution in urban areas

Divided centres and trans-border regions

Market versus planning: finding the balance in urban centres

Mitigating traffic congestion

THE POWER OF COMMUNITIES

Urban planning stakeholders: conflicts and synergy effects

Distribution of power in urban centres: expertise, authority, democracy, lobbying

Community involvement in urban centres development

Quality of central spaces: functionality and perception

GLOBAL CHALLENGES

Continental, national, regional, district and local service centres

Glocality as a driving factor for development of urban centres

Urban resilience: global warming, demographical crisis, water supply, war

Urban/rural division: expansion, annexation, dissolution, decision-making

CENTRALITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Local consequences of concentration and dispersion

Neighbourhood agency and its spatial effects

Community centres: activation, integration and networking

Placemaking initiatives in the perspective of large urban structures

More information: https://centrality-dispersion.pwr.edu.pl