Abstract

The worldwide process of urbanization is ongoing, and since 2007, more than 50% of the world’s population now lives in towns. To characterize the current idea of a town, an integrated approach with sociological, historical, cultural, architectural, spatial planning, juridical, and economic views is necessary. Even though some historical concepts of the early twentieth century like Garden City and the Charter of Athens are still influencing the structure and patterns of the ancient European town, extensive demographic and economic transformations are the main present drivers of their developments. Due to these drivers, different forms of suburbanization and urban sprawl as well as metropolization and regionalization characterize the current urban development on a global scale. Besides this, functional and structural diversifications and future challenges of urban planning will especially result from climate change, more participatory oriented forms of governance and new paradigms for a post oil society in general.