Urban Challenges: Housing, Environment, and Social Issues

Posted on Mar 6, 2025 in Geography

1. Problems of Cities: Spanish cities face various challenges:

  • Housing Problems: The cost of buying or renting housing is very high due to land prices and speculation. Solutions require urban policy and planning. There’s a strong preference for buying over renting in Spain, which should shift to encourage renting. Renting promotes geographical mobility for work, crucial during economic crises.
  • Supplies and Equipment Problems: Water and energy consumption have increased significantly, requiring expensive facilities and investments. Some areas need improved cultural facilities and healthcare due to imbalances in urban growth.
  • Traffic Problems: Traffic congestion and parking issues are common. Solutions include building roads and expanding parking lots, but also limiting car use and promoting public transport.
  • Environmental Problems: Large cities have microclimates with high temperatures and more precipitation. Air pollution affects health, plants, and buildings. High noise levels cause insomnia, headaches, and deafness. Waste production and disposal are also significant issues. Wastewater needs purification before reaching the sea, but high costs often prevent this. Urban solid waste is buried or burned, causing environmental impact.
  • Crime and Social Exclusion Problems: Cities can encourage marginal behavior. Prevention campaigns targeting young people are essential.
  • Unemployment Problems: A major issue in cities. Prolonged unemployment can lead to social exclusion.

Production and Management of Urban Space

2. The Production and Management of Urban Space:

1- The Production of Urban Space: Creating urban space involves various stakeholders with conflicting interests:

  • Landowners: Want urban growth directed towards their land for profit.
  • Developers and Real Estate: Aim to create urban land and maximize buildable space.
  • Industrial Entrepreneurs: Conflict with landowners and the public due to the disadvantages of industry.
  • Citizens: Want affordable housing, facilities, and amenities.

Political power intervenes through urban planning and conflict resolution among stakeholders.

2- Urban Planning: Urbanism plans urban space, including rural and urban land. It designs new spaces for the future and transforms existing ones based on social needs. There are three stages of urban planning in Spain:

A) The Beginnings of Urbanism (2nd half of the 19th century)

During this time, urban growth exceeded pre-industrial city walls. Actions primarily focused on areas occupied by the bourgeoisie. Key actions included:

  1. Stabilizing the Plane: Geometric plans, street alignment, and building codes.
  2. Plans for Drainage, Sewerage, Water Supply, and Waste Disposal.
  3. Improving Services and Urban Occupations: Creation of public parks, trams, street lighting, and paving.