Speaker
Description
Small and medium-sized towns and cities represent the very important elements of the polycentric urban structure of the European Union. They have a crucial role in regional economic development and social well-being while providing jobs and sustaining local and regional services. Those entities have the possibility to offer good living and working conditions, helping the local community to attain a good quality of life. They demonstrate intrinsic value for European environmental and cultural heritage. Research on small and medium-sized towns provides insight into unexplored potential for shaping sustainable urban-rural relations. Based on comprehensive spatial planning different integrated and place-based policy measures should be suggested in order to make the most of their development assets.
In order to choose the most suitable development direction for small and medium-sized towns, it is necessary to consider besides regional development plans, the possibilities and potentials of the space at the local level taking into account the long-term needs of the inhabitants.
The aim of this work is to emphasize the importance of the scenario method in planning the future development of small and medium-sized towns and cities that is used in the education of future spatial planners in order to be able to choose the best possible scenario for long-term development of the selected area.
For this research, Labin and Raša in Istrian Peninsula were chosen as a case study, due to their specific historical significance in the economy of the region and rich potential for future development. The city of Labin and the municipality of Raša are located in the eastern part of Istria between Plomin and Raša bays covering the area of 152,7 km2 with a population of 13 233 inhabitants (2021). The administrative area of the city of Labin (72,3 km2 with a population of 10 424 inhabitants) today includes the central settlement of Labin and 16 other settlements, and the municipality of Raša (80,4 km2 with a population of 2 809 inhabitants), along with the central settlement of Raša includes another 22 settlements. The settlements are characterized by a variety of spatial, cultural and socio-economic specificities. In the 19th and 20th century the area was known for its mining activities as a basis of its economy. Planned mining settlements were built in both central settlements: Arsia (today Raša) in 1936/1937, designed by the Trieste architect Gustavo Pulitzer Finali, and Pozzo Littorio (today Podlabin) as a suburb of the historic core of Labin, built in 1940-1942, designed by the Roman architect Eugenio Montuori. At the end of the 20th century, all coal mines were closed, which led to the need to change the economic orientation of the area. The city of Labin has focused on small and medium-sized enterprises, the opening of economic zones and tourism, while the municipality of Raša sees its potential, besides the cement factory in Koromačno, in agriculture especially in the Raša valley, in fishing, and in tourism thanks to two camps and large number of private accommodations.
Project made within the Spatial Planning Workshop at the master’s Study of Architecture and Urbanism proposed the vision for the future development of Labin and Raša. The development vision is the result of the elaboration of five different possible scenario - "Karbona", "Kulturizam", "Koza Nostra", "Dystopia" and "Dispersion", and their valorisation according to the set development goals and related criteria. For the purposes of vision realisation, necessary activities in the form of different development project for a period of 25 years were proposed.
References
Abou Jaoude, G., Mumm, O., and Carlow, V.M. (2022). An Overview of Scenario Approaches: A Guide for Urban Design and Planning in Journal of Planning Literature, 37(3), 467-487.
ECTP-CEU (2013). The Charter of European Planning. Available at: https://ectp-ceu.eu/2013-the-charter-of-european-planning/ (Accessed: 13 January 2025).
ESPON (2024). Small and medium-sized towns and cities: policies strengthening their role in achieving active, inclusive, and functional territories. ESPON, Luxemburg.
Jelić, T. (2025). Development Vision of Labin and Raša in Istria, Workshop 3 – Spatial Planning, University of Zagreb, Zagreb.
Karač, Z. (2010). Newly Established Planned Company Towns in Croatia between the World Wars: Borovo – Uble – Raša – Podlabin in Đekić, V. and Palinić, N. (Eds.) 4th International Conference on the industrial heritage dedicated to Rijeka's shipbuilding heritage yesterday - today - tomorrow: Conference Proceedings, Pro Torpedo Rijeka, Rijeka.
| Keywords | development vision; former industrial towns; scenarios; tourism |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
