Building the extensive city: processes of metropolisation in European second-tier urban regions

摘要: This research project investigates whether second-tier urban regions in Europe have functional, spatial, socio-economic and institutional characteristics which differentiate them meaningful ways from primate regions. Based on the argument that can particularly profit integration at scale, it then explores specific features detected may provide with a greater ability to pursue goal. The study fills two important gaps, as we do not know what differentiates regarding aspects above, those affect their processes. also helps reveal new yet unexplored set of strategic options for cities, whose urgency is proportional extent they are neglected or hampered national systems. At moment when cities turned into large regions, size, functional mass diversity city-regional governance been argued major drivers economic development, European policy climate favours strategies work more effectively existing assets rather than adding ones, only an ongoing territorial process but relevant approach proposes original interpretative lens observe namely concept metropolisation, perspective spatially selective acknowledges different forms urbanity, making conceptual transition notion dissolving one consolidating ‘extensive cities’. appropriateness this read contemporary urbanisation modes find fitting response spatial applies comparative methods gradually focusing three main cases studies: Porto, Portugal, Bristol, UK Antwerp, Belgium.