‘DiverCity’ and the utopia of symmetric planning

The case of Joensuu

Abstract

This paper examines utopian-geographical thinking as a method for critical urban planning research. By leaning on approaches developed by geographers focusing on asymmetric power settings, a (utopian) framework for symmetric city planning will be presented, which is then applied in the context of Joensuu, a city of 75 000 inhabitants in Eastern Finland. The potentials to increase balanced, and hence symmetric, interaction between various subgroups of the city will be identified. The analysis proceeds along four tensional themes recognized in the theoretical part of our study, namely (non)communication, (de)centralisation, (de)segregation and (trans)local ecological concern. A broad utopian view is sketched in the conclusive chapter which highlights the potentials of socially inclusive and age-friendly planning and which prefers the values of microurbanisation and biodiverCity.