Different approach to forming sustainable cities: Cittaslow

Abstract

Today, many cities can not adapt to 'urban deformation' escalated by globalisation and to the changes that develop accordingly. 'Fast' evolving lifestyles of the people bring a new identity and structure to cities. In the meantime, these lifestyles also deteriorate basic structural identities quite rapidly. While global processes force the whole world to follow a fast lifestyle, they also affect local lives and give rise to the rapid disappearance of urban differences and authenticities. 'Areas of poor quality with no identity and distinct characteristic features' have thus become the biggest problem of cities. Various urban approaches have started to be shown to solve these problems. One of these approaches is 'sustainable cities' that has emerged for a better environment and social life for the communities. Within the scope of this study, 'Cittaslow' is addressed as a different approach to building sustainable cities. Within this context, by ensuring the notion of 'Cittaslow' is clearly understood, urban parameters suggested by 'Cittaslow' within the framework of sustainability as a solution to modern-day urban problems have been determined. This urban movement, which strives for the protection of authenticity against the impact of globalisation, resists and scrutinises fast lifestyle and its effects on cities and the quality of urban life.