New Book Offers Global History of Urbanization
Bruno Carvalho’s new book, *The Invention of the Future*, presents a sweeping history of urbanization through case studies of cities from Lisbon and Paris to Rio and Lagos. Released this month in the U.S. and U.K., the book frames city-making as a global process, providing historical context for contemporary urban challenges.
- The Dutch government is actively intervening in the housing market with the goal of building 900,000 new homes by 2030, with two-thirds designated as affordable. This policy echoes historical large-scale urban planning interventions, such as those detailed in the book for Paris and Brasília, but faces contemporary challenges like rising construction costs. - In July 2024, the Netherlands implemented the Affordable Rent Act, expanding rent control to the mid-rental sector and impacting over 300,000 homes to improve affordability. This move to regulate the housing market contrasts with the post-war emphasis on car-centric, market-led development that Carvalho's book explores. - The Dutch government has set a target for a fully circular economy by 2050, with the construction sector playing a key role. Initiatives like promoting circular design and procurement are underway to significantly reduce the industry's raw material consumption, which currently accounts for over 50% of the national total. - Dutch cities are increasingly adopting digital twin technology for urban planning and management. Amsterdam's 3D model is used by architects and developers, while Rotterdam's digital twin helps with proactive flood management, and The Hague simulates crowd flows in areas like Scheveningen. - Generative AI is being tested in Amsterdam's urban planning processes to create design options and streamline workflows. This application of AI in city-making represents a new frontier in the "invention of the future," moving beyond the physical master plans of figures like Le Corbusier to digitally augmented, participatory design. - The Netherlands aims to phase out natural gas for heating in the built environment by 2050 as part of its decarbonization strategy. This energy transition necessitates major building renovations and a shift to renewable sources, presenting a significant urban challenge for the coming decades. - The Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) is actively engaging with EU-level policy, as seen in its position paper on the EU Affordable Housing Plan, advocating for the direct accessibility of EU funding for municipal housing projects. This highlights the multi-level governance context of contemporary European urban development. - In response to the housing shortage, former Housing Minister Hugo de Jonge proposed measures to give the central government more control over allocating building land to accelerate the development of new homes. This move towards centralized planning authority reflects a recurring theme in the history of urbanization, where the state takes a more directive role in shaping urban futures.
