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ABSTRACT
The urban fabric can be characterised as an ever-evolving assemblage operating on multiple scales; constantly being constituted and reshaped by internal and external elements, not making it possible to regard any place as an isolated entity at a specific scale. Through an overview of relational place theory, this paper aims to theoretically discuss how local planning practices need to include a relational and multi-scalar approach to cope with complex urban and rural realities if they wish to create development in local places. To unfold this, the paper reveals some of the empirical implications of such a multi-scalar urban reality, by analysing how two selected Danish municipalities seek to relate to, respond to and comply with the networked and relational reality of place in their planning practices. The empirical work builds among others on students’ field work and the cases expose the importance of working with totalities, relations and networks on multiple scales; however, they also reveal the challenges related to the manifestations of such a practice. The paper argues that, despite the challenges associated with this practice, the current complex global interconnectedness of places calls for an increased focus on strategic municipal planning approaches that are both multi-scalar and place-sensitive.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 Cities in Denmark are generally smaller than cities in other countries. There are only four cities over 100,000 inhabitants, and most of the Danish population lives in cities between 5000 and 100,000 inhabitants. Hence, a city of, for example, 6000 inhabitants might sound like a small town to an international reader, in this context, it is a city that has some significance in the Danish urban hierarchy.