17th IPHS Conference International Planning History Society

Topic

Over many centuries, cities around the world have demonstrated an astounding resilience as they have prepared for, responded to and recovered from natural and man-made disasters. In view of current challenges from earthquakes and tsunamis, from climate change and sea level rise, from migration and demographic transformation to war and terrorism, this conference invites papers that engage with the theme of resilience and the diverse tangible and intangible structures that support it.

We particularly welcome contributions that investigate urban form, urban visions, comprehensive planning, adaptive design, governance structures or policy making as related to danger, destruction and rebuilding in the modern era. This includes research on physical rebuilding, as well as economic restructuring, governance, and related social, ethnic, migratory, religious, and issues and implications.

Location

The Netherlands is an ideal location to address this topic. Spatial planning, regional planning and urban planning have a long history; in fact, many Dutch cities wouldn’t exist without extensive preventive planning strategies many of which can be adapted in the face of rising sea levels. Delft for example, the conference venue, is two meters below sea level.

Submission Process

  • Single paper proposals, pre-organized sessions, discussion-focused roundtables, and other modes of presentation are invited.
  • Proposals should be prepared in the form of an abstract of no more than 500 words exclusive of references. Links between the paper and proposed conference theme should be indicated if possible. A short biographical statement (500 words) or an abbreviated CV needs to be submitted with the abstract, including full contact information (address, email, phone).
  • Proposals should be submitted via email. Mail should be used only as a last resort (if reliable email is not available). Use of email for abstract, biosketch and paper submission will aid in preparation of the conference proceedings in a timely manner. Abstracts and biosketches/CVs may be submitted as a PDF.
  • All proposal abstracts will be refereed by the program committee.
  • Authors who would like to have their full papers in the conference proceedings (available with conference registration) have to go through a refereeing process.
  • Papers submitted for consideration in the refereed proceedings will need to be in Word or a software that allows editing.
  • Send proposals through the conference website

Proposals for other topics in planning history 

  • We also invite proposals on other topics relevant to the modern history of urban, regional and environmental planning generally. 
  • We encourage papers with a comparative and cross-disciplinary approach by historians, academic and practicing planners, geographers, environmentalists, preservationists, public policy makers, and graduate students.
  • Only peer-reviewed papers by presenters attending the conference will be included in the conference proceedings.

Convener: Prof. Dr. -Ing. Carola Hein, Head, Chair History of Architecture and Urban Planning, TU Delft