(2009)
Patrick Geddes (1854-1932) was an eminent European planner, environmentalist and educationalist who recognised the relationships between cities and their surrounding areas and between urban activities and their environmental impact. He conceived the concept of the synoptic view.
He maintained,”To plan is a basic human need”.Europe will shortly add Territorial Cohesion to its existing objectives ofSocial and Economic Cohesion. The concept of Territorial Cohesion, by definition, must have spatial expression.The European Community now has an opportunity to show how the basic human need to plan can be interpreted at the European level.
This publication is a contribution by METREX to the debate on the form and content of a possible Vision and Framework for Europe to give spatial expression to the concept of Territorial Cohesion.A Vision and Framework are seen a leadership tools through which theEuropean Community can orchestrate both the collective activities of national, regional and urban players and its own powers and responsibilities.
