Exploring the attractions of city centre living: evidence and policy implications in British cities

The British city centre has been the focus of dynamic housing development and repopulation strategies as a key dimension of the government's urban renaissance programme. Through large scale interview surveys in the provincial city centres of Bristol and Swansea, this paper explores the positive and negative features of city centre living, and how these vary amongst a range of social and physical characteristics. The findings suggest that the practical and mundane attractions of city centre living are more important than the more widely publicised lifestyle and cultural attractions of the city centre commonly emphasised in the gentrification literature. Moreover, the research points to differences in attitudes between age groups, with younger adults placing greater value on the range of social and cultural activities in the city centre, whilst older people express high levels of satisfaction with the attractiveness of the environment. A number of policy implications emerge to encourage inclusive marketing strategies within the continued urban renaissance, particularly to challenge the negative perceptions and promote the varied attractions of city centre living to a mix of social groups.     

Renaissance City Singapore: a study of arts spaces

The study of 'arts spaces' has generally focused on physical spaces for the arts in the form of arts districts, cultural infrastructure and museum spaces. Apart from the provision of such physical spaces, we argue that the study of the arts should also focus on such aspects as the social environments and the creative spaces in which artists operate. Such a holistic approach not only facilitates an understanding of the myriad challenges artists face in society, but also opens greater research opportunities to geographers interested in the arts. Our case study of Singapore as a 'Global City for the Arts' provides insights into physical spaces of the arts as well as the social and creative environments in which the arts operate.     

1990年以来国际新城建设趋势探讨

1990年代以来,世界范围内许多新城随着所在大城市地区发展战略的转变和自身功能定位的调整,而面临着新的历史机遇,并逐渐呈现出一系列新的建设趋势:一是在大城市地区多核心空间重构过程中,谋求成为区域新核心;二是在应对激烈国际竞争的过程中,作为重塑城市竞争力的战略工具;三是面对功能衰落与环境老化的自身状况,致力于新城中心区复兴;四是随着满足居住需求和足够的环境意识成为规划的新焦点,展开了可持续性新社区的建设探索.