The Eco-City as Urban Technology: Perspectives on Caofeidian International Eco-City (China)

Date

Apr 23, 2013

Time

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Speaker

Professor Simon Joss, PhD

Affiliation

University of Westminster, London

Language

en

Main Topic

Umwelt

Other Topics

Informatik, Elektro- u. Informationstechnik, Maschinenwesen, Materialien, Bauing., Architektur, Verkehr, Gesellschaft, Philos., Erzieh., Wirtschaft, Umwelt

Host

Leibniz-Institut für ökologische Raumentwicklung

Description

Technology is an integral part of contemporary eco-city initiatives, in China and elsewhere: most typically, in the form of various ‘green’ socio-technical solutions aimed at reducing environmental impact and transitioning cities to a lowcarbon era. Less visible but just as pervasive, various ‘smart’ technological systems are envisaged to structure, steer and monitor the modern eco-city, from infrastructure to public life. Interestingly, the role of socio-technical systems and solutions in fashioning eco-city initiatives ideologically, conceptually and practically has been relatively under investigated to date. Yet, viewing Caofeidian International Eco-City, an exemplar of Chinese (and wider Asian) efforts in the field, the centrality of technology becomes abundantly clear, revealing various tensions and contradictions that define the nature of this ecocity in key ways. This lecture highlights the relationship between the city and its hinterland, discusses the focus on science and technology driving the city’s concept, and explores the international, modernist design language used. In doing so, the analysis points to a disconnect between the city’s green technology focus and the high-carbon heavy industry of the surrounding area, and a lack of engagement with local culture and community. Caofeidian eco-city exhibits several features of 20th century techno-cities, although these are re-cast within the 21st century context of global climate change policy and China’s ongoing rapid urbanization processes. Professor Simon Joss is the Director of the Graduate School at the University of Westminster, London. He gained his PhD from Imperial College (University of London). His current research interests are in the governance of (environmental, economic and social) sustainability and socio-technical systems. He codirects – together with Johns Hopkins University and the Smithsonian Institution – the International Eco-Cities Initiative (www.westminster.ac.uk/ecocities). In 2013, Professor Joss was appointed Chair of the Researcher Development Advisory Group of Vitae, the UK’s national organisation championing doctoral and staff research development. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. The lecture is part of the Dresden-Columbus International Lecture Series on Sustainable Urban Development (DCI): The new lecture series addresses topics of high actuality regarding sustainable urban development, that are relevant to the development of the two sister cities of Dresden and Columbus (USA). The lectures address students and PhD candidates as well as senior researchers and practitioners from both sides. They may contribute to the inter-continental academic discussion and to the practical interchange of ideas and experience. The lectures are a follow-up of the successful and longstanding joint program of IÖR, TU Dresden and OSU.

Last modified: Mar 21, 2013, 8:07:35 PM