Sociologický ústav AV ČR, v.v.i.

There are precarious relations between growth and shrinkage in European regions and cities. Some are affected by an overall downward spiral of economic decline and population decrease, while others are under the continuing pressures of growth. But even in the latter there are pockets of decline and shrinkage, while declining cities and regions are also growing in specific sectors. Macro developments, based in the economy, demography and migration are strongly reflected in neighbourhoods. Large homogenous parts of the housing markets are more vulnerable when demands are changing. The large post war housing estates seem to be especially problematic, but increasingly also other housing typologies are influenced by demographic and economic changes, turning many certainties – i.e. the value of home-ownership as a socio-political asset – upside down. Problems vary locally, but the older housing stock, or the more recently built large areas of single-family homes can be affected. These typologies also need careful observation with respect to demand and their ability to adapt to a changing social environment – in Western Europe as well as in the post-socialist states.In this workshop, we want to discuss key elements of these changes and what their consequences are for different housing typologies.

• What are the economic, demographic and other macro or global trends that effect changes in demand on the housing market?
• What are vulnerable housing areas, and why? What are effects on issues such as demand, satisfaction, image, housing market position and the value of housing?
• Does size matter? Do large housing estates have a weaker position on the local housing market? Are there better and worse large estates?
• How are national, regional and urban policies reacting to the consequences of growth and decline? Has the development of the housing market led to a congruence of public strategies and support for specific housing stocks ‘in trouble’?
• Do policies help? Are policies able to counteract, or to mitigate the global / macro trends? How ‘smart’ are policies? Are results measurable?
• What types of regeneration strategies provide the best opportunities for a better adaptability of different housing stocks to a changing society?

We invite research papers as well as research-based policy papers and case studies about these questions to be presented and debated at the Prague workshop. The intention is to publish the proceedings that deal with the topic as a special issue or book that can be used for policy implementation and the research agenda for the next decade in the various countries of the European Union.
All enquiries about the workshop should be sent to Thomas Knorr-Siedow or Frank Wassenberg.

Papers to download bellow: