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Re-Assembling a City: Applying SCOT to Post-Disaster Urban Change

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Relational Planning

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Abstract

In this chapter, the rebuilding of the Dutch neighborhood Roombeek after a disaster will be analyzed from a social-constructivist STS (Science, Technology and Society studies) perspective. It will be argued that in the post-disaster negotiation process, two technological frames took shape: one in which the disaster was interpreted as offering the potential for exploring urban innovation (rebuilders frame) and another in which the city was seen as vulnerable (survivors frame). Although initially controversial, the “re-assembling” of the neighborhood is at present generally considered quite successful. It will be concluded that the eventual integration of the two technological frames can be seen as a major catalyzer for urban change and as an explanation for the quick and successful rebuilding of this neighborhood.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Technology & Society Studies (FASOS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands

    Anique Hommels

Authors
  1. Anique Hommels
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

    Monika Kurath

  2. ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

    Marko Marskamp

  3. ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

    Julio Paulos

  4. University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Jean Ruegg

Interviews

Interviews

  1. 1.

    Programme manager, Roombeek, 2005-present, Enschede: June 1, 2011.

  2. 2.

    Project manager, Roombeek, 2004-present, Enschede: May 31, 2011.

  3. 3.

    Former director, Project Office, rebuilding Roombeek, 2000–2004, Lonneker: September 27, 2011.

  4. 4.

    Professor of City Marketing, Twente University, Enschede: May 30, 2011.

  5. 5.

    Professor of Public Administration, Twente University, Enschede: May 30, 2011.

  6. 6.

    Archivist and city historian Enschede, Enschede: September 25, 2011.

  7. 7.

    Town planning supervisor, rebuilding Roombeek, Amsterdam: August 19, 2013.

  8. 8.

    Member of the Enschede city board responsible for Roombeek, Tiel: August 14, 2013.

  9. 9.

    Process facilitator, citizen participation , Roombeek, Deventer: June 24, 2013.

  10. 10.

    Community worker, Roombeek, Housing corporation, De Woonplaats, Enschede: September 24, 2013.

  11. 11.

    Former chair of the Association of Victims of the Enschede Disaster, 2000–2003, Enschede: September 24, 2013.

  12. 12.

    Member of the Platform Rebuilding Roombeek, Chair of the Association of Neighbors, Schurinksweide (Roombeek), Enschede: September 24 , 2013.

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Hommels, A. (2018). Re-Assembling a City: Applying SCOT to Post-Disaster Urban Change. In: Kurath, M., Marskamp, M., Paulos, J., Ruegg, J. (eds) Relational Planning. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60462-6_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60462-6_9

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-60461-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-60462-6

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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