Urban Transformations: Morphology and Environmental Impact
This document examines the morphological transformations of cities, focusing on internal imbalances and the environmental consequences of urbanization. It covers various urban zones, including segregated neighborhoods, central business districts (CBDs), gated communities, gentrified areas, and degraded peripheries. Additionally, it analyzes the environmental impact of urban sprawl.
There are also the Canary and Balearic Islands; Palma de Mallorca is on the Mediterranean axis.
Transformations in the Morphology of Cities
Inside every city, there have always been imbalances. Therefore, a city cannot be considered homogenous; alongside prosperous areas, there are also marginal or disadvantaged areas. In the 1980s, these divisions were accentuated. The city is divided into different parts: *sanomena* city and Duval.
Urban Zones
- Segregated Neighborhoods (Ghettos):
Some neighborhoods are segregated or even *ghettos*. In these districts, the population is separated by nationality, race, country of origin, or social class. This segregation and *ghettoization* in Spain is not as common as in other countries.
It is important to note that segregation is not the same as ghettos. Ghettos are not necessarily slums where the state is uninterested; etc.
- Areas of Over-Centrality (CBDs):
These areas are the focal points for large companies. They sometimes coincide with the historical center of the city, having a symbolic character. These areas have more infrastructure and services and are the best-connected in the city. In other words, they correspond to the Central Business District (CBD).
- Gated Communities:
These are exclusive residential areas typically built with private capital. They are physically separated from the rest of the city with walls or fences and have private security and services. Only a minority can live in such neighborhoods.
- Areas of Gentrification:
Gentrification is the process where people with high economic resources or activities with high added value (art galleries, design stores, luxury restaurants, etc.) move into previously degraded neighborhoods. Sometimes, when residents of these neighborhoods resist leaving, episodes of real estate mobbing occur; that is, the inhabitants are pressured to leave.
- Degraded Peripheries (Duval):
These are degraded suburbs or neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city. They may be areas of self-construction or former working-class residential estates. Over time, the original residents have left, and these neighborhoods are now increasingly inhabited by immigrants and people with few resources. Consequently, these neighborhoods are becoming increasingly neglected and degraded. Social problems such as uprooting (prostitution, drugs, etc.), high unemployment, and other issues are prevalent, and these neighborhoods may eventually become ghettos.
The Environmental Impact of Urbanization
In recent years, significant changes have occurred in cities. There has been a shift from a compact city model, which was very efficient, to a very diffuse or dispersed city model. This diffuse or scattered city extends horizontally and is separated into mono-functional and specialized areas, typically differentiated by price or social group.
The first environmental impact of this diffuse city model is accelerated land use. The city has also increased individual movement or mobility. Increased individual mobility leads to increased pollution and greater energy expenditure. Therefore, this diffuse urban model is very costly from an ecological viewpoint. Besides, it is very difficult to implement public transport efficiently.