LECTURE NOTES 9 THE GLOBAL CITY

The Global City (1990s-2008)

Instructor Information

  • Instructor: Roberto Damiani, Ph.D.
  • Position: Assistant Professor Teaching Stream
  • TAs: Ai Liu, Malak Wael Ezzeldin Saeed, Pablo Vasquez Segura, Jordan Subaran, Oliver Parsons
  • Course Code: W2026
  • Program: Bachelor of Arts, Architectural Studies

Introduction to Global Cities

  • Question: Do you see Toronto as a global city?
    • Considerations: The indicators or factors demonstrating the interpretation of Toronto as a global city.

General Context Post-1980s

  • Key Developments:
    • Urban growth and sprawl
    • Influence of globalization
    • Rise of neoliberalism, characterized by less state-guided development
    • Shift in political and financial dominance, marking the end of Western dominance
  • Concept Introduction: The concept of a global city was developed by Saskia Sassen in the early 1990s, emphasizing the significant role of cities in economic restructuring.
    • Quote: "A space of flows opposed to the space of places" — Manuel Castells (1996)

Key Historical Events and Developments

  • Fall of the Berlin Wall:
    • Year: 1989
    • Significance: End of a polarized political system.
  • Introduction of Euro Currency:
    • Year: 1999
    • Impact: European states faced limitations in spending capacity for public works.
  • Expansion of the World Wide Web:
    • Year: 1993
    • Impact: Virtual space expanded the real space available for social and economic interaction.
  • Rise and Fall of Tech Companies (Dot-Com Bubble):
    • Major Events:
    • Amazon.com: Went public at $18 (1997) with a 31% rise on the first day. Split-adjusted, closing at $64.
    • Yahoo!: Stock doubled on its first public day, closing over $33. Split-adjusted to about $1.38.
    • AOL and Time Warner Merger: Agreement for $156 billion stock acquisition.
    • Stock fluctuations:
      • VA Linux Systems: Went public, gaining 698% on the first day.
      • Theglobe.com: Seen a significant volatile fluctuation, being delisted by 2001.

Current Ideologies

Neoliberalism
  • Definition: Refers to market-oriented reform policies including the elimination of price controls, deregulation of capital markets, lowering trade barriers, and reducing state influence in the economy, especially through privatization and austerity measures.
    • Definition source: Wikipedia
Urban Governance
  • Description: Involves policies that privatize economic sectors or services, deregulate corporations, sharply decrease government budget deficits, and reduce spending on public works.
    • Definition source: Wikipedia

Special Economic Zones (SEZ)

  • Importance and Role: SEZs serve as key economic hubs, facilitating economic growth and attracting investments.

Negative Outcomes of Globalization (Saskia Sassen, 1996)

  • Affordability Issues:
    • Wealthy global companies in cities cater to high-paid professionals, driving up living and service costs for all.
    • Corporate structures rely on low-paid manual workers, often women or immigrants.
  • Inequality:
    • Creates disparate experiences within the same city, leading to socio-economic divides.
    • Wealthy international businesspeople have access to luxury environments ("glamour zones"), while poorer communities struggle to survive.
    • Outcomes may include public anger, protests, or riots as marginalized groups fight for their rights.
  • Research Question Proposed: How does the expansion of the 'urban glamour zone' and the profitable corporate sector drive the 'informalization' of local businesses?

Key Events Related to Urban Democracy and Crisis

  • G8 Summit Street Riots:
    • Location: Genoa
    • Date: July 2001
  • Twin Tower Attack:
    • Location: New York City
    • Date: September 2001
    • Impact: Contested urban space dynamics.

Financial Crisis of 2008

  • Significant News Update:
    • Hewlett-Packard: Announced plans to cut 25,000 jobs amid the financial downturn.
    • Lehman Brothers: Failed and had significant implications for Wall Street.
    • General Impact: Increased public awareness of the effects of globalization and financial structures.

Urbanization Post-1989

  • Overall Changes:
    • Slow-growing urban countries (Europe/North America): Display trends of post-industrial site development, downtown densification, and suburban growth.
    • Fast-growing urban countries (China, India, Africa, South America): Experience urban renewal through the development of dense urban forms and informal settlements.

Historical Context of City Growth Models

  1. Central Business District
  2. Wholesale Light Manufacturing
  3. Medium-Class Residential
  4. Low-Class Residential
  5. High-Class Residential
  6. Heavy Manufacturing
  7. Outlying Business District
  8. Residential Suburb
  9. Industrial Suburb
  10. Commuter's Zone
  • Figures Displayed:
    • Concentric zone, sector, and multi-nuclei models of city growth (1950-1980).

Urban Restructuring and Tokyo's Development

  • Map Observations: New functional zones in Tokyo include financial headquarters, redevelopments, and waterfront areas progressively moving towards a service and information economy.
  • Special Economic Zones in Japan: Enhancements in urban spaces with a focus on creating new urban economic identities and high-tech industry.

Globalization of Arab Cities

  • Analysis by Yasser Elsheshtawy:
    • Cities like Doha, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi are integral parts of global capitals exemplified through megaprojects and uneven urbanization.
    • Key Indicators: Gated communities, urbanization disparities, and exclusionary geographies.

Inequality Research Question

  • Query: To what extent do Elsheshtawy's and Machimura's analyses affirm Sassen's view that the forming of global cities leads to social and spatial polarization?

Formation of Global Generic Urban Forms

  • Visual Comparisons: CBD of Toronto vs. Shanghai showcases similar pathways in global urbanization.

Three Urbanization Models of the 1990s

  1. Shift from industrial to post-industrial economies (1980-1990) led to fast-paced urban decentralization.
  2. Rapid industrialization in China creating extensive urbanization processes.
  3. Economic growth in the West (1980s) produced suburban sprawl and new urban forms called "edge cities."

Toronto's Waterfront Development

  • Historical Evolution: Pre-and post-development changes demonstrate urban revitalization efforts and economic growth in the cityscape.

Bilbao Effect

  • Concept: Utilization of distinctive architecture for the enhancement of economic and cultural dynamics within urban contexts.

New Urbanism

  • Definition: A planning approach that uses pre-industrial cities for design inspirations regarding walkable blocks, housing, shopping accessibility, and public space engagement.
  • First Conference: Held in 1993, laying the groundwork for principles opposed to low-density sprawl.
    • Key Principles:
    • Holistic city organization
    • Smart growth and anti-sprawl initiatives
    • Structuring neighbourhoods around public institutions
    • Implementing human-friendly patterns with walkable urban spaces
    • Designing low-rise, multi-use buildings
    • Establishing car-free areas and streets

Architectural Frontages in Urban Design

  • Types of Frontages Presented:
    • Common yard, porch & fence, terrace or light court, forecourt, stoop, shopfront and awning, gallery, and arcade.

Critiques of New Urbanism

  • Dissatisfaction:
    • Critics argue that New Urbanism is too conservative, overly nostalgic, exclusionary to diverse populations, and not adaptable to contemporary urban needs.
    • Identified issues of repetitive patterns that become more prevalent in wealth-driven suburban developments and lack attention to various governance models.

Takeaways

  • Key Conceptual Understanding:
    • Post-1980 city evolution was marked by economic and spatial restructuring with ideologies of neoliberalism influencing urban growth trends.
    • Positive developments include denser urban layouts with enhanced public spaces; however, affordability remains problematic.
    • Before 2008, globalization was often viewed as advantageous by architects; post-crisis perspectives reveal growing inequality and challenges within urban environments.
    • New Urbanism intended to address urban complications, yet faced reception issues linked to traditional values and ties to global capital contexts.