The development of guiding principles in spatial planning (raumplanerische Leitbilder) in the Greater Zurich Area

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Type and Duration

PhD-Thesis, September 2013 until February 2018 (finished)

Coordinator

Institute of Architecture and Planning

Main Research

Sustainable Planning and Construction

Field of Research

Architectural Design Theory

Description

Guiding principles in spatial planning (raumplanerische Leitbilder) are a noncommittal instrument in spatial planning that achieves its effect by the persuasion and consensus-building in a discussion process. They act as a mediator between government ministries, authorities and other stakeholders like the public.
The research project deals with the development of guiding principles in spatial planning (raumplanerische Leitbilder) in the Greater Zurich Area since the 22nd of 1979 June, when the Article 4 of the Federal Law on Spatial Planning (Eidgenössischen Raumplanungsgesetz) 'information and participation of the population' (Information und Mitwirkung der Bevölkerung) entered into force.
Based on selected case studies in the Greater Zurich Area the various functions, usages and ways of mediation of guiding principles in spatial planning are studied and analysed. For that the four phases of a development process (idea generation, elaboration, stabilization, reorientation) are examined.
Initial investigations show that the production of guiding principles in
spatial planning (raumplanerische Leitbilder) in the in the Greater Zurich Area has grown steadily in the last decades. As one of Europe's fastest-growing regions the the Greater Zurich Area will have an expected population growth of 250,000 inhabitants and an increase in traffic of 20% by 2030. This implies an increasing pressure on land use and suggests the development of more guiding principles in spatial planning (raumplanerische Leitbilder).
The aim of the investigation is to gain knowledge that contributes to a better understanding of the planning tools - guiding principles in spatial planning (raumplanerische Leitbilder) - at the interface with the public.

Reference to Liechtenstein

Raumplanerische Leitbilder sind ein nicht bindendes Instrument in Planungsverfahren, das seine Wirkung durch Überzeugungskraft und Konsensbildung im Diskussionsprozess erreicht. Ziel der Untersuchung ist eine bewusstere Auseinandersetzung mit dem Planungsinstrument Leitbild. Der Erkenntnisgewinn über die Entstehung und Funktion von raumplanerischen Leitbilder am Beispiel Metropolitanraum Zürich soll einen Beitrag zur Entwicklung zukünftiger Planungsverfahren an der Schnittstelle zur Öffentlichkeit in anderen benachbarten Regionen, wie das Fürstentum Liechtenstein, leisten.

Keywords

Regional Planning, Mission statement, Participatory methods