Architects and Urban Planning

This presentation discusses to what degree the architect profession is able to define what counts as relevant knowledge in urban development and urban planning processes, based on material from Norway. Urban planning is a field constituted by numerous actors/stakeholders representing different knowledge traditions implying that they do not always speak the same language. However, in order to handle environmental problems, transport and other infrastructure and land use, multidisciplinary knowledge and cooperation between different sectors are required. In Norway, the architectural profession has long had a key role in urban planning and positions as heads of urban planning administrations have been a power base for architects. However, architects’ judgments and forms of knowledge are no longer hegemonic and their power base is thus weakening. This is partly caused by an increasing proportion of planning propositions (like zoning plans) prepared by private actors. Moreover, local authorities increasingly seem to depend on private funding to accomplish housing and infrastructure projects.