The Role of Urban Morphology in Modeling the Urban Land Use Change

Abstract

This paper aims to explore in terms of land using in urban morphology in the Albanian reality. The distinct lifestyle of an urbanized society create a wide range of market demands to be taken for the developments of transportation, infrastructure, residential and recreational uses. There is a lack of study of the target group and its impacts on housing, in the Albanian reality. Appraising methods, techniques and practices of housing in post-socialist countries, is more difficult than it appears. Because of a socialist system for more than 50 years have been a few experts in urban design. In that periods had been no participation in the decision making. After the ’90, spontaneous development, uncontrolled by the urban policies, has started in the studied area. The problem is that increasing density of urban growth in that area is not matched with appropriate understanding of how urban policies affect the formation of social and spatial patterns. This area cannot be understood as an integrated unit with a singular driving dynamic, nor a defined spatial boundary. This is instead a complex construction created by interaction of actors in a multiple network who invest in the materialization of space and who give meaning to places. Creating a new urban pattern is the process of shaping a new life in a city. What is going to happen with this new spatial pattern? This is a question that gives us the obligation of finding the key how we are transforming the city, are we going to be proud of this transformation? Using the urban network of a selected urban space, describe the spatial pattern of the city. Is it possible to considerably affect the metabolic performance of urban space by urban development policies and planning, and how much? As an important background for the scenario building the following leading questions are formulated. Which types and spatial ranges of urban developments can be considered as a reasonable potential of sustainable urban development policies and planning, to be applied in order to improve existing urban forms?