| Perspectives on Planning and Urban Development in Belgium 1992 Edition Contributor(s): Dutt, Ashok K. (Editor), Costa, F. J. (Editor) |
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ISBN: 0792318854 ISBN-13: 9780792318859 Publisher: Springer OUR PRICE: $104.49 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: August 1992 Annotation: This book is the first comprehensive overview in the English language of Belgian Planning and Urban Development. As such it satisfies a void in the planning literature about developments in a unique and increasingly important country of northwest Europe. Belgium and its capital, Brussels, are the administrative heart of an emerging European Community. The physical impact of this administrative centrality will be enormous -- especially for Brussels. The planning response to these new functions by the Belgian government and people is given great attention by several of the authors of this book. The book also describes the unique cultural and political circumstances of Belgium, a nation which combines both Latin and Germanic cultural strains. The impact of linguistic divisions on the content of planning legislation and the content of planning is another major theme of the book. The special issues of urban development in Brussels and Antwerp, the nation's two largest cities, are discussed as well as the planning issues of smaller cities including Brugge with its vast historic patrimony, Liege and Louvain-la-Neuve, a new academic town for the French-speaking segment of the population. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Political Science | Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Development - Technology & Engineering | Environmental - General - Architecture |
| Dewey: 307.121 |
| LCCN: 92022979 |
| Series: Geojournal Library |
| Physical Information: 0.56" H x 6.14" W x 9.21" (1.10 lbs) 210 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Belgium is a small country, but its planning traditions are rooted in a heritage which has been greatly enriched by its central location in the West European community of nations. Medieval, Renaissance and industrial age planning and urban design gave Belgium many examples of architectural masterpieces especially in the city centers. During the post World War II period, Belgian planners and politicians legislated national planning laws that divided the country into 48 planning regions (also called sub-regions and sectors) and empowered the municipalities (communes) with potent legal instruments to direct land development in accordance with their plans. Preparation, amendment and execution of these plans in a democratic society with a strong laissezJaire tradition have been painstaking, but nonethe- less, significant tangible results have been achieved. The purpose of this book is to explore and assess the successes and failure of Belgian planning and make this record available in English so that they may remain facets of Belgian planning. The general socio-economic and historical background is provided with a view to understanding the theoretical, legal, physical and selected topical aspects of Belgian planning. In doing so a multi-disciplinary approach has been taken and the authors have been selected from a variety of disciplines. Professor Louis Albrechts of the University of Leuven is a planning theorist. Ms. Brigitte Beernaert and Mr. Karel Vroom are practicing planners. Beernaert is also a planning historian. Legal and administrative backgrounds are represented by the planning experts, Dr. |