Urban Evolution: Developmentalism's Impact and Post-Industrial City Shifts

The Impact of Developmentalism on Urban Growth

From the second half of the 1950s, an era of strong economic growth and rapid industrialization, known as developmentalism, began. This change had a profound impact on cities.

During this period, initial policies promoted massive state housing subsidies, which fostered the growth of numerous neighborhoods in most cities.

Councils initiated modern municipal urban planning through the General Urban Plan. Land was classified into distinct zones:

• Urban land
• Developable land
• Rustic or undeveloped land

It was a time marked by a significant lack of urban services. While a large number of houses were constructed, the parallel development of essential services lagged behind.

Traffic congestion and circulation issues also began to emerge.

Urban areas and metropolitan areas consolidated. Cities like Madrid and Barcelona had already been experiencing growth since the beginning of the twentieth century.

The outskirts of cities, during these years, experienced some of the worst slum conditions of the contemporary era.

Many nearby towns transformed into “bedroom communities,” so-called because their inhabitants commuted to work in the central city, returning to their residences only at night.

Rise of Tourist Cities

This era also saw the birth of the tourist city. In these locations, the garden city model was combined with large hotels and apartment blocks. Benidorm, Torremolinos, Ibiza, and Maspalomas, among others, were part of the first boom in Spanish tourism.

The Post-Industrial City Transformation

1979 marked the first democratic municipal elections, ushering in a new phase for urban management.

Legacy for New Democratic Councils (1979)

The new councils inherited cities that had often grown too rapidly, resulting in urban sprawl characterized by inadequate staffing and insufficient public facilities and equipment.

Proposals of the New Councils

The new councils proposed to:

• Redirect urban growth and ensure the orderly provision of necessary infrastructure and amenities.
• Recover and redevelop built-up areas, including renewing old town centers, widening streets, and improving the inner periphery.

Urban Population Growth Patterns

Regarding urban population growth:

• The urbanization rate stabilized at around 75%.
• Medium-sized cities experienced significant growth, leading to new urban phenomena.
• Metropolitan areas saw an increase in their populations, while central cities grew little or even lost population.

Changes in City Size and Structure

In terms of physical expansion:

• Cities underwent major territorial expansion, resulting in what is known as the sprawling city.
• Many single-family housing developments and “second homes” were built, particularly in tourist-attractive areas such as coastal regions.
• Large shopping and entertainment centers with ample parking facilities were created.
• Modern industrial estates, business parks, and technology parks were established.
• Road infrastructure was significantly improved, notably with the construction of ring roads, and public transportation systems were enhanced.

Other Urban Landscape Changes

Other notable changes in the urban landscape included:

• A strong emphasis on rehabilitating city centers to restore their value as living and recreational areas, thereby boosting their commercial and tourist appeal. A common strategy involved the pedestrianization of streets and plazas.
• The construction of landmark buildings, distinguished by their height or architectural design, often created by renowned architects for public or private use.