Louis Albrechts
Biographic Data
| ID | 5031655 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Louis Albrechts |
| GIVEN NAMES | Louis |
| FAMILY NAME | Albrechts |
| SIGNATURE | ALBRECHTS L |
| AFFILIATIONS | KU Leuven |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-5269-4572 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 19 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 136 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 19 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1991 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2023 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
European planning studies at 30 – past, present and future
This article introduces the 30th anniversary special issue of European Planning Studies. After briefly taking a retrospective look at some of the developments in planning research and practice over the last 30 years the article introduces a set of future-oriented perspectives which were commissioned specifically for this special issue. Each of the contributions contained in this special issue presents a unique perspective on the future prospects …
Practicing transformative planning: The territory-landscape plan as a catalyst for change
This paper advocates the need for transformative planning practices to cope with contemporary crises of climate change and intensifying economic inequality that regions, city-regions, and cities are increasingly confronted with. In-depth examination of planning processes is useful to grasp some crucial promises and problems of transformative planning and open up new possibilities for practice. Accordingly, the paper includes an investigation into…
From stage-managed planning towards a more imaginative and inclusive strategic spatial planning
Planning systems have changed little from the traditional models of the 1970s. They focus mainly on maintaining the existing social-spatial order rather than challenging and transforming it. This is done through a focus on carefully stage-managed processes with subtly but clearly defined parameters of what is open for debate suspending alternative ways of interpretation. These systems fail to capture the dynamics and tensions of relations coexist…
Strategic Planning as Governance of Long-Lasting Transformative Practices
Practicing Strategic Planning: In Search of Critical Features to Explain the Strategic Character of Plans
Strategic planning is “hot” in many places (cities, regions, etc.) today. And, the literature on strategic planning is expanding (Healey Citation2007; Balducci et al. Citation2011; Oosterlynck et al. Citation2011). As in traditional planning, there are different traditions of strategic planning and there is no one way or best way to do strategic planning. But to what extent are the (often self-proclaimed) strategic plans really strategic? To what…
Reframing strategic spatial planning by using a coproduction perspective
There is growing evidence that the problems, challenges and opportunities that our cities, city-regions and regions are facing cannot be tackled adequately by traditional spatial planning. One of the key challenges for planning in this respect is to analyse critically what type of planning is suited as an approach to deal – in an innovative/emancipatory and transformative way – with the problems and challenges developing and developed societies a…
More of the Same is Not Enough! How Could Strategic Spatial Planning Be Instrumental in Dealing with the Challenges Ahead?
The environmental crisis, the energy crisis, the financial crisis, and the subsequent economic crisis—to name only a few of the crucial issues of our times—are causing an outcry for change, even structural change, in our society. Change is the sum of a great number of acts (individual, group, institutional) of reperception and behaviour change at every level. This takes decision makers, planners, institutions, and citizens out of their comfort zo…
Shifts in Strategic Spatial Planning? Some Evidence from Europe and Australia
Clear-cut definitions of strategic spatial planning are rather exceptional. Therefore in this paper I use building blocks from literature (planning and business) and my experience in practice to construct a workable normative definition of the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of strategic spatial planning. Five main characteristics (selective, relational annex inclusive, integrative, visioning, and action orientated) that constitute the hard core of the ‘strateg…
Creativity as a Drive for Change
This article argues that society as a whole and planning in particular need more creative responses to the problems and challenges they face. Planning needs creativity to imagine and to construct (structurally) different futures. First, the article briefly analyses two case studies: the Hasselt case as an example of creative transport planning and creative local governance; and the Perth case as an example of distorted creativity. Then the articl…
Strategic (Spatial) Planning Reexamined
In the 1990s a strategic approach to the organization of space at different levels of scale became more prevalent. Increasingly, it is being assumed that the solutions to complex problems depend on the ability to combine the creation of strategic visions with short-term actions. The creation of strategic visions implies the design of shared futures, and the development and promotion of common assets. Moreover, all of this requires accountability …
Responses to the Graduate Planning School Study
Strategic Spatial Planning and Regional Governance in Europe
Barrie Maguire's image of a woman stitching together the Irish landscape reflects the central question behind this Longer View: What will recent strategic spatial planning efforts in Europe give us? In the case of Northern Ireland, the quilt sewn from separate pieces of the landscape might represent that state's desire to establish cohesion while respecting diversity. Albrechts, Healy, and Kunzmann show that there and elsewhere, spatial planning …
Reconstructing Decision-Making: Planning Versus Politics
The purpose of this article is to explore the role of politics in planning and the highly political role of planners. The structure planning process for Flanders illustrates that planners are an active force in enabling change and that political decision-making is a process of its own with its own actors. Interviews with key political actors allow unravelling the planning process from the perspective of the political class. The case brings powerf…
Megacorridors: Striking a balance between the space of flows and the space of places
How to Proceed from Image and Discourse to Action: As Applied to the Flemish Diamond
For several polynuclear urban areas (Randstad, Ruhr, Flemish Diamond), (loose) visions, images and planning discourses have been conceived. Nevertheless, one has to conclude that no or very few of these visions, images, discourses have led to actions. This paper explores some lines of thought to bridge the gap between idea and action in polynucleated urban areas. The focus is on the type of planning needed, the kind of issues that could be tackle…
How to Proceed from Image and Discourse to Action: As Applied to the Flemish Diamond
For several polynuclear urban areas (Randstad, Ruhr, Flemish Diamond), (loose) visions, images and planning discourses have been conceived. Nevertheless, one has to conclude that no or very few of these visions, images, discourses have led to actions. This paper explores some lines of thought to bridge the gap between idea and action in polynucleated urban areas. The focus is on the type of planning needed, the kind of issues that could be tackle…
Politics, Institutions and Regional Restructuring Processes: From Managed Growth to Planned Fragmentation in the Reconversion of Belgium's Last Coal Mining Region
Politics, institutions and regional restructuring processes: from managed growth to planned fragmentation in the reconversion of Belgium's last coal mining region, Reg. Studies 33 , 247-258. Taking the example of the contested closure of Belgium's last coal mines in the Province of Limburg and the subsequent tumultuous attempts to reconvert the region's economic base, the paper assesses the importance of the political armature in structuring proc…
Genesis of a Western European Spatial Policy
Economic and social cohesion, sustainable development, and balanced competitiveness of the European territory are the arguments traditionally used in favor of a European spatial policy. This article focuses on documents and projects designed to lead toward an overall European Union spatial policy. It provides an overview of the content and the leading principles and indicates strengths and weaknesses of the emerging spatial policy as reflected in…
Changing Roles and Positions of Planners
The crisis of the 1970s resulted in major and structural changes in the spatial and politico-economic organisation of society. These changes can be explained by the transition from a Fordist mode of development toward a new, more geographically open and market-based mode of production founded on a growing and all-encompassing flexibility. As planning is not an abstract analytical concept but a concrete socio-historical practice, these changes had…
Reframing strategic spatial planning by using a coproduction perspective
There is growing evidence that the problems, challenges and opportunities that our cities, city-regions and regions are facing cannot be tackled adequately by traditional spatial planning. One of the key challenges for planning in this respect is to analyse critically what type of planning is suited as an approach to deal – in an innovative/emancipatory and transformative way – with the problems and challenges developing and developed societies a…
Shifts in Strategic Spatial Planning? Some Evidence from Europe and Australia
Clear-cut definitions of strategic spatial planning are rather exceptional. Therefore in this paper I use building blocks from literature (planning and business) and my experience in practice to construct a workable normative definition of the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of strategic spatial planning. Five main characteristics (selective, relational annex inclusive, integrative, visioning, and action orientated) that constitute the hard core of the ‘strateg…
Politics, Institutions and Regional Restructuring Processes: From Managed Growth to Planned Fragmentation in the Reconversion of Belgium's Last Coal Mining Region
Politics, institutions and regional restructuring processes: from managed growth to planned fragmentation in the reconversion of Belgium's last coal mining region, Reg. Studies 33 , 247-258. Taking the example of the contested closure of Belgium's last coal mines in the Province of Limburg and the subsequent tumultuous attempts to reconvert the region's economic base, the paper assesses the importance of the political armature in structuring proc…
Reconstructing Decision-Making: Planning Versus Politics
The purpose of this article is to explore the role of politics in planning and the highly political role of planners. The structure planning process for Flanders illustrates that planners are an active force in enabling change and that political decision-making is a process of its own with its own actors. Interviews with key political actors allow unravelling the planning process from the perspective of the political class. The case brings powerf…
Creativity as a Drive for Change
This article argues that society as a whole and planning in particular need more creative responses to the problems and challenges they face. Planning needs creativity to imagine and to construct (structurally) different futures. First, the article briefly analyses two case studies: the Hasselt case as an example of creative transport planning and creative local governance; and the Perth case as an example of distorted creativity. Then the articl…
Changing Roles and Positions of Planners
The crisis of the 1970s resulted in major and structural changes in the spatial and politico-economic organisation of society. These changes can be explained by the transition from a Fordist mode of development toward a new, more geographically open and market-based mode of production founded on a growing and all-encompassing flexibility. As planning is not an abstract analytical concept but a concrete socio-historical practice, these changes had…
How to Proceed from Image and Discourse to Action: As Applied to the Flemish Diamond
For several polynuclear urban areas (Randstad, Ruhr, Flemish Diamond), (loose) visions, images and planning discourses have been conceived. Nevertheless, one has to conclude that no or very few of these visions, images, discourses have led to actions. This paper explores some lines of thought to bridge the gap between idea and action in polynucleated urban areas. The focus is on the type of planning needed, the kind of issues that could be tackle…
Megacorridors: Striking a balance between the space of flows and the space of places
From stage-managed planning towards a more imaginative and inclusive strategic spatial planning
Planning systems have changed little from the traditional models of the 1970s. They focus mainly on maintaining the existing social-spatial order rather than challenging and transforming it. This is done through a focus on carefully stage-managed processes with subtly but clearly defined parameters of what is open for debate suspending alternative ways of interpretation. These systems fail to capture the dynamics and tensions of relations coexist…
Responses to the Graduate Planning School Study
Genesis of a Western European Spatial Policy
Economic and social cohesion, sustainable development, and balanced competitiveness of the European territory are the arguments traditionally used in favor of a European spatial policy. This article focuses on documents and projects designed to lead toward an overall European Union spatial policy. It provides an overview of the content and the leading principles and indicates strengths and weaknesses of the emerging spatial policy as reflected in…
Changing Roles and Positions of Planners
The crisis of the 1970s resulted in major and structural changes in the spatial and politico-economic organisation of society. These changes can be explained by the transition from a Fordist mode of development toward a new, more geographically open and market-based mode of production founded on a growing and all-encompassing flexibility. As planning is not an abstract analytical concept but a concrete socio-historical practice, these changes had…
Genesis of a Western European Spatial Policy
Economic and social cohesion, sustainable development, and balanced competitiveness of the European territory are the arguments traditionally used in favor of a European spatial policy. This article focuses on documents and projects designed to lead toward an overall European Union spatial policy. It provides an overview of the content and the leading principles and indicates strengths and weaknesses of the emerging spatial policy as reflected in…
Politics, Institutions and Regional Restructuring Processes: From Managed Growth to Planned Fragmentation in the Reconversion of Belgium's Last Coal Mining Region
Politics, institutions and regional restructuring processes: from managed growth to planned fragmentation in the reconversion of Belgium's last coal mining region, Reg. Studies 33 , 247-258. Taking the example of the contested closure of Belgium's last coal mines in the Province of Limburg and the subsequent tumultuous attempts to reconvert the region's economic base, the paper assesses the importance of the political armature in structuring proc…
How to Proceed from Image and Discourse to Action: As Applied to the Flemish Diamond
For several polynuclear urban areas (Randstad, Ruhr, Flemish Diamond), (loose) visions, images and planning discourses have been conceived. Nevertheless, one has to conclude that no or very few of these visions, images, discourses have led to actions. This paper explores some lines of thought to bridge the gap between idea and action in polynucleated urban areas. The focus is on the type of planning needed, the kind of issues that could be tackle…
How to Proceed from Image and Discourse to Action: As Applied to the Flemish Diamond
For several polynuclear urban areas (Randstad, Ruhr, Flemish Diamond), (loose) visions, images and planning discourses have been conceived. Nevertheless, one has to conclude that no or very few of these visions, images, discourses have led to actions. This paper explores some lines of thought to bridge the gap between idea and action in polynucleated urban areas. The focus is on the type of planning needed, the kind of issues that could be tackle…
Strategic Spatial Planning and Regional Governance in Europe
Barrie Maguire's image of a woman stitching together the Irish landscape reflects the central question behind this Longer View: What will recent strategic spatial planning efforts in Europe give us? In the case of Northern Ireland, the quilt sewn from separate pieces of the landscape might represent that state's desire to establish cohesion while respecting diversity. Albrechts, Healy, and Kunzmann show that there and elsewhere, spatial planning …
Reconstructing Decision-Making: Planning Versus Politics
The purpose of this article is to explore the role of politics in planning and the highly political role of planners. The structure planning process for Flanders illustrates that planners are an active force in enabling change and that political decision-making is a process of its own with its own actors. Interviews with key political actors allow unravelling the planning process from the perspective of the political class. The case brings powerf…
Megacorridors: Striking a balance between the space of flows and the space of places
Strategic (Spatial) Planning Reexamined
In the 1990s a strategic approach to the organization of space at different levels of scale became more prevalent. Increasingly, it is being assumed that the solutions to complex problems depend on the ability to combine the creation of strategic visions with short-term actions. The creation of strategic visions implies the design of shared futures, and the development and promotion of common assets. Moreover, all of this requires accountability …
Responses to the Graduate Planning School Study
Creativity as a Drive for Change
This article argues that society as a whole and planning in particular need more creative responses to the problems and challenges they face. Planning needs creativity to imagine and to construct (structurally) different futures. First, the article briefly analyses two case studies: the Hasselt case as an example of creative transport planning and creative local governance; and the Perth case as an example of distorted creativity. Then the articl…
Shifts in Strategic Spatial Planning? Some Evidence from Europe and Australia
Clear-cut definitions of strategic spatial planning are rather exceptional. Therefore in this paper I use building blocks from literature (planning and business) and my experience in practice to construct a workable normative definition of the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of strategic spatial planning. Five main characteristics (selective, relational annex inclusive, integrative, visioning, and action orientated) that constitute the hard core of the ‘strateg…
More of the Same is Not Enough! How Could Strategic Spatial Planning Be Instrumental in Dealing with the Challenges Ahead?
The environmental crisis, the energy crisis, the financial crisis, and the subsequent economic crisis—to name only a few of the crucial issues of our times—are causing an outcry for change, even structural change, in our society. Change is the sum of a great number of acts (individual, group, institutional) of reperception and behaviour change at every level. This takes decision makers, planners, institutions, and citizens out of their comfort zo…
Reframing strategic spatial planning by using a coproduction perspective
There is growing evidence that the problems, challenges and opportunities that our cities, city-regions and regions are facing cannot be tackled adequately by traditional spatial planning. One of the key challenges for planning in this respect is to analyse critically what type of planning is suited as an approach to deal – in an innovative/emancipatory and transformative way – with the problems and challenges developing and developed societies a…
Practicing Strategic Planning: In Search of Critical Features to Explain the Strategic Character of Plans
Strategic planning is “hot” in many places (cities, regions, etc.) today. And, the literature on strategic planning is expanding (Healey Citation2007; Balducci et al. Citation2011; Oosterlynck et al. Citation2011). As in traditional planning, there are different traditions of strategic planning and there is no one way or best way to do strategic planning. But to what extent are the (often self-proclaimed) strategic plans really strategic? To what…
Strategic Planning as Governance of Long-Lasting Transformative Practices
From stage-managed planning towards a more imaginative and inclusive strategic spatial planning
Planning systems have changed little from the traditional models of the 1970s. They focus mainly on maintaining the existing social-spatial order rather than challenging and transforming it. This is done through a focus on carefully stage-managed processes with subtly but clearly defined parameters of what is open for debate suspending alternative ways of interpretation. These systems fail to capture the dynamics and tensions of relations coexist…
Practicing transformative planning: The territory-landscape plan as a catalyst for change
This paper advocates the need for transformative planning practices to cope with contemporary crises of climate change and intensifying economic inequality that regions, city-regions, and cities are increasingly confronted with. In-depth examination of planning processes is useful to grasp some crucial promises and problems of transformative planning and open up new possibilities for practice. Accordingly, the paper includes an investigation into…
European planning studies at 30 – past, present and future
This article introduces the 30th anniversary special issue of European Planning Studies. After briefly taking a retrospective look at some of the developments in planning research and practice over the last 30 years the article introduces a set of future-oriented perspectives which were commissioned specifically for this special issue. Each of the contributions contained in this special issue presents a unique perspective on the future prospects …
Political science (18 works) · Sociology (17 works) · Engineering (14 works) · Urban Planning and Governance (13 works) · Computer Science (12 works) · Business (11 works) · Law (10 works) · Economics (8 works) · Spatial planning (8 works) · Geography (7 works)