Small and Middle-sized Urbanism as a Resource in Urban Develoment

Abstract

Urbanisation is a strong megatrend that is usually connected to big cities. This trend easily overshadows the more subtle side of urbanisation that shapes small towns and cities. Although small-scale urban transformation is not the primary issue in research agendas, it opens up important aspects into the qualitative change of urban communities. Immigration, digitalization, and bio-economy are popular examples of the drivers for urban transformation. They will change urban life, economy, space and structures in ways we are not very well aware. It is also possible that strong urban growth triggers a counter movement with aspirations to secure, clean and quiet urban settings. Usually these kinds of qualities are sought after in smaller urban communities. For being able to create specific development principles for small and middle-sized towns and cities, we need to redefine the concept of “urbanism”. The target area of our study is the South-Ostrobothnia region in Finland and its urban development.