Explore and re-imagine the future of non-growing cities.
About lecture series ‘Shrinking Areas: Causes, Consequences & Coping'
Depopulation. The world as a whole is experiencing fast population growth, so what is going on if some places are confronted with population decline at the same time? What might first come to mind are images of deserted villages and abandoned countryside. But did you realise that in this era of large-scale urbanisation, shrinking cities are a reality as well? How can we understand rural and urban shrinkage, and what are its consequences? Are we simply talking about quantitative demographic decline or is more going on? Does it actually matter and, if so, why and for whom? Discover the mechanisms behind dynamics of shrinkage, explore its implications, and discuss perspectives on how to deal with it.
Rethinking Stagnating Cities
It is a myth to believe that all cities take advantage of the growing global popularity of cities in general. On a closer look it seems that small and mid-sized former industrialized cities have more difficulties to adapt to new challenges than their older and bigger counterparts. As a consequence these cities often face economic and demographic stagnation or decline. How to deal with this? Is there a perspective for such cities beyond growth? In this lecture, researchers Maurice Hermans and Sabine Meier argue that small and mid-sized cities without growth demand different strategies, actors and spatial interventions than growing cities. What kind of strategies do these cities need? And which place-specific aspects keep them attractive for old-established people as well as newcomers from abroad? Explore and reimagine the future of non-growing cities.
About Sabine Meier
Prof. dr. Sabine Meier studied architecture and urban planning in Aachen and Zurich and sociology in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Between 2012-2015, she was professor of Demographic Change and Built Environment at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen. Since November 2015, she is Professor of Spatial Development and Social Inclusion at University Siegen (Germany). She conducts research on social inclusion of asylum seekers in small and mid-sized cities. Other research interests include the urbanization of mid-sized cities and the meaning and planning of inclusive public spaces and neighbourhoods.
About Maurice Hermans
Maurice Hermans is researcher at NEIMED, centre of demographic expertise at ZUYD University. Cities without growth are is his main research topic. In 2016 he published his first book titled De Antistad. This work explores strategies and challenges regarding ‘growing’ cities smaller.
Besides his research endeavours Maurice is social entrepreneur and founder of multiple companies.