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Densifying the City? Global Cases and Johannesburg

Densifying the City?

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Book URL: https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/catalog/product/view/id/16726/s/densifying-the-city-9781789904932/
Cheltenham: Edward Elgar
Extent: 304 pp
ISBN: 978 1 78990 493 2
Editors: Margot Rubin, Alison Todes, Philip Harrison and Alexandra Appelbaum.

Description:

Providing an in-depth exploration of the complexities of densification policy and processes, the book brings the important experiences of densification in Johannesburg into conversation with those of a range of cities in Africa, the BRICS countries, and the global north. Moving beyond the divisive debate over whether densification is good or bad, the book adds nuance and complexity to the calls from multi-lateral organisations such as UN-Habitat for densification as a key urban strategy. The book examines how densification policies and processes have manifested often in unanticipated or contrary ways in Johannesburg. It also offers important accounts of resident-led densification and the processes and motivations that drive these activities. In dialogue with other cities, the Johannesburg case is instructive to government policy-makers, multi-lateral organisations and academics in a variety of urban-related fields. The book is divided into three sections. The first explores the densification experiences of some eight cities: Sao Paulo, Curitiba, Nairobi, Beijing, Maputo, Sydney and Delhi. The second section reflects on how densification has unfolded in Johannesburg, while the final section explores Johannesburg’s key Transit Oriented Development and densification strategy, the Corridors of Freedom