Thesis supervisor: Melinda Benkő
co-supervisor: Annamária Orbán
belső konzulens: Annamária Orbán
Location of studies (in Hungarian): Budapest University of Technology and Economics Abbreviation of location of studies: BME
Description of the research topic:
The city – as a laboratory - represents the whole society. Therefore the aim of this interdisciplinary research (architecture: urban design and planning /regional studies: economic and social process of urban development) is to find and analyse those contemporary socio-economic fields and factors – such as social economy, socio-cultural innovations, urban green, bottom-up civil and community development initiatives - which have a particular effect on urban housing and urban well-being in general. A special attention is paid to social relations and social capital, effecting the present and future physical conditions of urban housing. Our aim is to explore the motivations of bottom-up initiatives and potential alternatives of spatial occupation and to describe, explain the project process and the architectural and urban results with the help of quantitative and qualitative comparative research methodologiesrelated to the contemporary international literature. On the other hand, modern cities have become quite stressful, many times unhealthy living habitat both in a physical and metaphysical sense with their crowdedness, densely built areas full of ‘unnatural’ materials, polluted air, unbearable traffic and noises of urban way of life. In such circumstances citizens can become depressed, antisocial, unhappy and less satisfied with their whole life even if materially they are much better than their ancestors. Therefore we would like to find those ‘healing solutions’, socio-cultural innovations, innovative architectural and housing forms, etc. which make our cities more sustainable, the citizens more satisfied with their life, that is happy.
Significant bibliography of the topic:
- Cameron J., Odendaal N. & Todes A. (2004). Integrated Area Development Projects: Working Towards Innovation and Sustainability, Urban Forum, 15 (4), 311-339.
- Deakin M. & Allwinkle S. (2007). Urban Regeneration and Sustainable Communities: The Role of Networks, Innovation, and Creativity in Building Successful Partnerships, Journal of Urban Technology, 14 (1), 77-91.
- DeFilippis, J. & Saegert, S. (Ed.) (2012). The Community Development Reader. New York: Routledge.
- Gerometta, J., Haussermann, H. and Longo, G. (2005). Social Innovation and Civil Society in Urban Governance: Strategies for an Inclusive City, Urban Studies, 42 (11), 2007-2021.
- MacKerron, G. & Mourato, S. (2013). Happiness is greater in natural environments. Global Environmental Change 23, 992-1000.
- Montaner, J. M., Muxi, Z. & Falagán, D.H. (2011). Tools for Inhabiting the Present: Housing int he 21st century. Barcelona: UPC.
- Moulaert, F. and Ailenei, O. (2005). Social Economy, Third Sector and Solidarity Relations: A Conceptual Synthesis from History to Present, Urban Studies, 42 (11), 2037-2053.
- Pisano,U., Lange, L. and Berger.G. (2015). Social Innovation in Europe. An Overview of the Concept of Social Innovation in the Context of European Initiatives and Practices, in ESDN Quarterly Report, No.36, 3-25, Vienna: ESDN.
- Sanoff, H. (2000). Community Participation Methods in Design and Planning. New York: Wiley
- Sennett, R. (2016). Building and Dwelling: Ethics for the City. London: Penguin
Significant periodicals:
- Architektúra & Urbanizmus / WoS, Scopus
- Építés-, Építészettudomány / Scopus
- Utóirat, az Régi-Új Magyar Építőművészet Melléklete
- Journal of Place Management and Development / Scopus
- Periodica Politechnica Architecture
- Community Development Journal, Oxford University Press / WoS, Scopus
- Indian Journal of Social Work / Scopus
- Corvinus Journal of Sociology and Social Policy/ WoS ESCI, Scopus
- Századvég
- Society and Economy / Scopus