The idea of a distinct identity has been raised as an important part of small towns maintaining their liveability - particularly those in areas experiencing population growth. I'm interested in views on how identity is reflected and developed in small towns, testing the relationship between a community's identity and how liveability it is and case studies on initiatives that have been taken to bolster/develop the identity of small towns (population
I think it can be seen in a bigger scale. There must be some national and regional policies for that and presumably there are some organizations(governmental or non-governmental) monitor it which differs from country to country. In smaller scale e.g. the town, the visible attempts to protect the identity could be by conserving the architectural style and urban environments as well as the activities in them (local markets, traditional festivals,...) and regeneration projects to bring the vitality and economic viability to the fabric. Small towns and rural areas in UK are very good examples, as they definitely could keep their identity such as Cotswold with all of their tarditions. You can have a look at NPPF and CABE publications to see examples of UK's policies and guidelines to achieve good design.
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110118095356/http://www.cabe.org.uk/about-cabe
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2
Dear Professor,
For a long time I was thinking to execute a study on small Indian towns where real estate prices are aggravating while no amenities.These town offers its dwellers a lot of consumer goods but not the happiness and well being.
Hi, my take on this is to reverse your question. Another way of looking at this is to consider how places are impacted upon and/or influnced by the processes of globlisation and how they respond to this if indeed they are able to do so. There has been for far too long the view that globalisation is the scale of power and that the local is disempowered before and by it. Such a notion is being pushed back on by a powerful and emergent litertaure. I'd suggest you have a look at some of the research around rural placemaking, tourism and fesitvals. While the case studies may not be appropriate to your own interests the way that this literature goes about constructing its argument I think you'd find interesting.
Have a look at the work of Profs Chris and John Connell. I've also published in this space.
All the best.
Really it is interesting, not sure if someone is willing for collaborative research on the topic.
Best
I would suggest looking into the sense of place literature which discuss identity. here are a few links that might be helpful:
1) Small town sustainability.
2) Identify and sense of place in the new cities: http://future-megacities.org/fileadmin/documents/El-Gauna_Symposium/2-2-Hashempour.pdf
3) Tourism and place identity: http://fama2.us.es:8080/turismo/turismonet1/economia%20del%20turismo/turismo%20rural/TOURISM%20AND%20PLACE%20IDENTITY%20RURAL%20CASE%20IN%20IRELAND.PDF
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ZzZO8wtdTb0C&pg=PA78&lpg=PA78&dq=sense+of+place+identity+small+town&source=bl&ots=6EuDpODgok&sig=BSwNBTeeI95HCaYrDpHlphzbIDA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=sOJ-VOSwOavXyQPZ8oG4CA&ved=0CCEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=sense%20of%20place%20identity%20small%20town&f=false
Interesting question. Recently we did a rather big study of the development of small towns (1000-5000 inhabitants - some would call that villages I guess) in Denmark.
One conclusion was, that some towns (not all though) located in peripheral and declining areas still have many more services to offer than similar towns located in metropolitan areas - which typically cannot compete with all the services offered in the regional surroundings. This might be especially attractive for those less mobile. Also, they seem to have more active local assiociations (sports, local retailers, citizens, etc.) sometimes engaging even in more strategic questions regarding the general development of their town.
Our project report/book is only available in Danish (called 'Stationsbyer i dag' meaning 'small service towns today'), but we are currently working on an international publication.
http://issuu.com/realdania.dk/docs/stationsby_mailvers/0
Hi. I have provided some suggestions in the last two chapters of my book on urban identity, please refer to: https://www.springer.com/cn/book/9789811539626#bibliographic
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