Shrinking cities: rethinking landscape in depopulating urban contexts

Abstract

This paper presents a general introduction to the role that landscape as a concept, and landscape architecture as a discipline, can have in the academic discussion on Shrinking Cities. This editorial explores and presents a general overview of the causes and impacts of urban depopulation in different world contexts, presenting a brief literature review on this topic. Moreover, it also explores recent population trends around the world and their expected evolution in the next decades, confirming that urban depopulation is worth exploring, especially in certain macro regions such as Europe, North America, and Japan. The paper concludes by focusing on the multiple roles that landscape can have under such pressured urban conditions. The collection of research papers presented in this special issue are the result of a conference that took place at the University of Edinburgh in November 2013, co-chaired by the guest-editors of this special issue.

Keywords:

• Shrinking cities
• depopulation
• landscape

Acknowledgements

This special issue presents papers developed from selected presentations given at the Shrinking Cities | Expanding Landscapes conference co-chaired by the special issue guest editors in November 2013 at the University of Edinburgh. The work presented in this special issue by Filipe Condado was part of a group exhibition held in the Sculpture Court at the Edinburgh College of Art during the conference. The special issue guest editors wish to thank Landscape Research Editor Anna Jorgensen for her tireless direction and guidance in helping to compile this special issue, as well as Landscape Research Editorial Assistant Crista Walshaw for her solid and steady support.