Speaker
Description
In this paper I look back on the process of writing a handbook, intended to introduce the discipline of urban planning to bachelor’s and master’s students in Flanders and Brussels (Belgium). For many of these students, particularly those enrolled in programmes of architecture or geography, this handbook serves as their sole introduction to the field within their curriculum. The challenge was therefore to cover the breadth of topics that constitute the field in an exceptionally compact format, while maintaining minimum standards of theoretical framing, and staying attuned to the territorial, cultural and institutional peculiarities of the context of Flanders and Brussels. The book draws inspiration from classic handbooks, including those by Peter Hall and Mark Tewdwr-Jones, as well as Chris Couch, while aligning to a local tradition of reflecting on the built and non-built environment. Its intended audience extends beyond students to include local policymakers and civil society, and it is therefore written in Dutch. The present paper reflects on the considerations that shaped the book and aims to stimulate discussion on creating and updating teaching materials.
References
• Boussauw, K. (2024). Ruimtelijke planning: Denken over omgeving in Vlaanderen en Brussel. Gent: Owl Press.
• Couch, C. (2016). Urban Planning: An Introduction. London: Palgrave.
• Hall, P., & Tewdwr-Jones, M. (2020). Urban and Regional Planning. London: Routledge.
| Keywords | planning education; textbook; Flanders |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | No |
