chapter vi temporal urban planning

Chapter VI. Building the Dooyeweerdian Framework: Principles and Phases for Sustainable Temporal Urban Planning

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Chapter VI

Building the Dooyeweerdian Framework: Principles and Phases for Sustainable Temporal Urban Planning

In Olinda if you go out with a magnifying glass and hunt carefully, you may find somewhere a point no bigger than the head of a pin which, if you look at it slightly enlarged, reveals within itself the roofs, the antennas, the skylights, the gardens, the pools, the streamers across the streets, the kiosks in the squares, the horse-racing

track. That point does not remain there: a year later you will find it the size of half a lemon, then as large as a mushroom, then a soup plate. And then it becomes a full size city, enclosed within the earlier city: a new city that forces its way ahead in the earlier city and presses it toward the outside . . . the old walls expand bearing the old quarters with them, enlarged, but maintaining their proportions on a broader horizon at the edges of the city . . .

and so, on and on, to the heart of the city, a totally new Olinda which, in its reduced dimensions retains the features and the flow of lymph of the first Olinda and of all the Olindas that have blossomed one from the other;

and within this innermost circle there are already blossoming—though it is hard to discern them—the next Olinda and those that will grow after him.

Calvino, 1997, Invisible Cities

1. Introduction

Hermann Dooyeweerd’s philosophy of the law-idea, whose most concrete expression of

which is the structure of the modal order, provides a very useful means for comprehending

reality. The analysis of the fifteen aspects proposed in the previous chapter was aimed at

defining the temporal relations, which regulate the coherence of the modal structure.

This chapter is an attempt to go further, an introduction to a concrete application of

Dooyeweerd’s theories to a practical framework that could support planners and decision

makers in finding the so-called Archimedean Point.

Dooyeweerd has left an important heritage: his philosophy of the law-idea represents a

different way of understanding the complex reality surrounding human beings.

In order to go deeply into the question of time, which is considered as the cause and the

effect of the evolving reality, this chapter points out some specific concepts in the

Dooyeweerdian philosophy. The aim of this chapter is to define those temporal dynamics

and dimensions in which urban planning is grounded.

The present chapter is structured as follows:

• The second paragraph provides the grounding concepts for building the frame.

The founding relation between time, space, change, and motion is further analyzed


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and elaborated in order to define the steps and phases to carry out the urban

analysis.

• Section three provides an introduction to the framework for the evaluation of

the urban planning and design, which has been proposed by Prof. Lombardi, of the

Polytechnic of Turin, in 1999 when she submitted her PhD thesis at Salford

University. The issues related to the built environment that she provided for each

modal aspect are groundings in the building of the framework for temporal

analysis. In subsection 3.1, a definition of a set of temporal issues related to the

issues of the built environment is provided as well as their temporal dimensions.

This chapter is an attempt to define a method—a framework for temporal analysis within

urban structures. It will not be exhaustive. The aim is to give indications, to show possible

directions that could be object of further work.

2. Building the Frame: Grounding Concepts

Aristotle in the Physics asserted that “It follows that time is some sort of number . . .

time, then, is what is counted, not what we count with.” (cited in Irwin, 1995:130). As

suggested in the previous chapter, the theory of the modal order, developed by

Dooyeweerd, is aimed at providing a description of reality that is grounded in temporal

relations and dynamics between the aspects. The origin of the modal system does reside

in the succession of numbers, of temporal moments. Before and after are the forces

giving dynamics to the entire system. In accordance with Aristotle’s thinking,

Dooyeweerd, in his philosophy of the law-idea, considers time not just as a measure, but

rather as the meaning of reality which is counted in the evolution of its temporal

relations. The temporal dimensions, as defined in the previous chapter, are the results of

the tension between number and space, causing movement and change.

The aim of this thesis is to build a frame for the evaluation of the temporal coherence of

an urban system that is based on Dooyeweerd’s philosophy of time. Such a frame should

be, then, based on the following principles:

a) Time originated from succession of numbers. In the succession of before and

after moments defined by Dooyeweerd resides the origin of the tension between

space and time that defines the temporal meaning of reality. The term


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succession indicates that the flowing of time from before to after moments

(through an after moment that has become before, and so on), defines an

evolution that assumes more and more complex characters through succeeding

modalities. It is a creative evolution, since the temporal dimensions are defined

within the coherent order of the aspects. The flowing or succession of time is

then an important concept, and it requires a necessary investigation within the

frame. The succession of temporal periods will be considered both during the

analysis phase and in the planning phase.

b) The concept of change. The concept of change is connected with the succession

of temporal moments. Change is the result of the continuous flowing of time. It

is the visible measure of time. The concept of change originated from the law

side of the modal order (grounding temporal structure), and it is perceived by

human beings through their own sensitive-logical sphere. Change represents the

evidence of the passage of time, and it represents a connection between the law

side and the entity side of the temporal modal order.

c) The concept of motion. The concept of motion is caused by the force generated

by the tension between succession of temporal moments (before and after) and

space. Through motion in its general sense, the temporal coherence of the

modal system is concretized. As Aristotle asserted, “Motion is a process arising

from the continuous action of a source of motion, or a motor, and a thing

moving” (Feigl and Grover 1962:53). The source of motion, as seen in the

previous chapter, is time itself.

Succession of numbers, change, and motion defines the dynamic temporal character of

the modal order. This dynamic character implies that the frame should be flexible in its

structure. It should be able to consider all originating temporal dimensions and

connections between aspects. In order to satisfy this requirement, all the aspects must be

considered and analyzed. No temporal coherence can be fully analyzed if not through an

investigation of the whole modal order. The frame this thesis proposes is structured on all

the fifteen aspects of the modal order.

The above grounding concepts give origin and meaning to the order of aspects. The

interrelations between these concepts are based on another important concept—temporal

causality, whose meaning resides in the physical aspect, which is one of the five

grounding aspects of the modal order. The concept of temporal causality provides the


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temporal order on which the temporal dimensions within the aspects are based. The

philosopher Leibniz was the first to affirm that time order is reduced to causal order

(Reichenbach 1956/1999), and he introduced the conception of the relativity of space and

time. In Dooyeweerd’s philosophy, the succession of cause and effect, providing the

temporal meaning of the physical aspect, does relate space to time by giving meaning to

movement. The temporal order of the modal structure that is based on the succession of

cause and effect is also manifested in the validity of the analogical moments (anticipatory

and retrocipatory moments). Within the law side of the temporal structure, the succession

of the aspects is not casual. They succeed in a cause-effect order. In fact, the numerical

aspect is at the bottom of the entire system, and it is the cause creating tension with

space. The effect is the necessity for the movement and change of spatial extensiveness

into spatial simultaneity. The same relation of cause and effect can be defined within the

entire modal order.

Another important concept to focus on is that of temporal dimension, which is connected

with the concept of temporal direction. The interrelation between the numerical aspect

and the spatial aspect gives origin to a series of temporal dimensions whose definition has

been provided in the previous chapter. Each temporal dimension indicates the temporal

role that each modality plays within the modal order. The temporal dimensions are

indicators of the elements defining the modal-temporal coherence of the entire modal

system.

Each temporal dimension defines a temporal direction. The analysis of the modal order

that has been provided in the previous chapter has defined the following set of three

temporal directions:

• The direction from T0 to T13. This is a vertical direction, and it is given by the

succession of the aspects. From the bottom (numerical aspect) to the top of the so-

called pyramid of reality, the succeeding temporal dimensions define a linear

evolution of the temporal structure of the modal order. It is the direction of time

creating the coherent temporal structure within the law side.

• The forward and backward temporal direction of the T6 dimension. It provides the

direction of the historical and cultural evolution of the modal order. Past, present,

and future represent the continuous tense and flowing of time. It is the evolution of

the original temporal nucleus giving meaning to all the aspects. The temporal

dimension T6 indicates the evolution of the entire modal order along a horizontal


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temporal line. The central position of the historical aspect with respect to the entire

modal system is an indication of the nuclear role it plays. All modalities before and

after the historical aspect do converge in it.

• The T13 temporal dimension represents the looking forward to the future. It is

contained in the faith aspect that is related to human soul. It encloses all

expectations and needs for the future. Faith is the force giving meaning to human

creatures. The T13 dimension is the temporal force giving meaning to human

action. It is possible to affirm that while T0 represents the origin of the movement

creating evolving dynamics of the modal order, T13 is the last cause creating

future effects. By acting, human beings do intervene in the environment, causing

change. This happens within each modality even if in a different way and with

different consequences. Expectations drive action, and action causes inevitable

change. Within the temporal modal structure, the T13 dimension of the fifteenth

aspect tends to a future configuration of the entire system by intervening in the

previous modalities through a feedback caused by action.

The following figure can help in clarifying the above listed temporal directions:

Figure 1: Temporal directions within the modal order. Source: author’s elaboration.

T0

T13

Feedback on the entire modal system by action

Looking forward to the future

past

present

future T6


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The three temporal directions that have been represented in the above figure provide useful

indications for building the structure of the frame that is defined in the present chapter.

The concepts of temporal dimension and temporal direction are related to that of measure.

Dimensions and directions are general indicators of the consistency of a temporal structure.

They provide terms of description of the state of the art, and they are necessary in

individuating possible future scenarios. To measure the temporal coherence of a system

requires some further considerations.

2.1 Measurement and Evaluation of Time

As introduced in chapter 1 and in chapter 3, the concept of measure of time assumes different

connotations with respect to cultural and historical factors. The oldest method of counting

time was by means of some readily recognizable recurrent phenomenon—for example, the

counting of days in terms of mornings such as we find in Homer, “This morning was my

twelfth since getting back to Ilion” (Homer 1997:405). In this method of time reckoning, it is

not the unit as a whole that is counted, since the unit as such has not been conceived, but a

concrete phenomenon that occurs within that unit. It is the so-called pars pro toto method

(Whitrow, 1989) that is extensively used in chronology. The part or the unit measures the

entire phenomenon. The use of the term dawn by the ancient Egyptians and sunset by the

Babylonians, Jews, and Muslims indicates how the concept of measurement of time is

subjective and related to cultural factors, and it derives from man’s being increasingly time

conscious. It implies that different human societies have different concepts of time and assign

different degrees of significance to the temporal aspects of phenomena. Measurement of time,

as well as the subjective concept of time, should be regarded as a consequence of personal

experience of the surrounding world, the result of a long evolution.

Dooyeweerd does not indicate any measure for time to be applied to the modal order. He

provides a description of the temporal relations between modalities. Modal aspects are spaces

of meaning giving neither questions nor answers, but they represent a valid ground for

analysis.

As exposed in the previous chapters, the connection and interrelation between the law side

and the entity side of cosmic time can be representative of the interrelation of man and his

surrounding environment. In measuring or evaluating time within the temporal modal order,

one should consider objective and subjective factors. The connection of the two basic


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temporal-law structures characterizing the modal order displays itself in the subject-object

relation as well as in the gegenstand relation between the law side and the soul-body act

structure (man-environment). It means that in the pre-theoretical (subject-object relation) as

well as in the theoretical (gegenstand relation) experiences, man and environment interrelate,

exchanging temporal information. With reference to the aim of this chapter—building a

framework to support urban planning that would be based on the Dooyeweerdian philosophy

of the law-idea—the question is what is to be measured? Following Dooyeweerd’s

philosophy, the modal order’s temporal meaning is grounded in the concept of temporal

coherence. The analysis of the fifteen aspects has demonstrated that these aspects form an

organic system whose coherence is due to the mutual temporal relations existing between

them. This temporal coherence is the heart of the modal structure. The answer to the above

question is then the following: A frame that could support sustainable urban planning should

verify the existence of a temporal coherence within a defined urban context and measure it.

What is the meaning of the concept of temporal coherence if applied to an urban context? In

order to answer this question, some further considerations are needed.

The concept of temporal coherence, on which the entire modal order was built, defines a

mutual, unchangeable temporal relation between the aspects within the law side. Temporal

coherence gives harmony to the modal structure by the succession of the so-called analogical

moments. The succession of the aspects is not causal. Aspects are like rings in a chain; the

contact of two succeeding rings provides the transmission of the force in the entire chain. The

modal order is like a chain, the chain of reality where each aspect has a meaning only with

respect to the others. The temporal coherence, as defined by Dooyeweerd, is the force that is

transmitted through the aspects within the entire chain. This force makes the chain strong and

integral. As seen in the previous chapter, within the modal order, the origin of the force

resides in number or more precisely, in the succession of before and after moments.

Urban realities are like chains in tension between past, present, and future. These chains are

composed by the rings called modalities. A dictionary’s definition of the term planning is “the

process of deciding how land in a particular area will be used and designing plans for it”

(AA.VV 2008). By planning, the urban structure is modified, not only in physical, but also in

social terms. If a ring in the chain collapses, the entire chain becomes weak, losing its

integrity. The chain would not react to tension between past, present, and future in the same

way, and something in its configuration would change. How is it possible to test the existence

of the temporal coherence within an urban system and measure it? The verb to measure has


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the following meaning, “If you measure something, you determine the exact size or extent . . .

you decide what value or usefulness it has” (Birmingham, 1987:901). In order to do this, it

would be useful to define what temporal coherence within an urban system means.

The concept of temporal coherence applied to an urban system implies that all the aspects of

the analyzed urban reality are temporally mutually connected. Concretely in the evolution of

the urban structure, evident signs of the harmonic evolution of the pyramid of reality should

come to surface. Urban-temporal coherence means an organic evolution of the urban structure

in all of its aspects with evident signs of relations within the aspects. The analysis can be done

only in temporal-spatial terms as cities are “given only in terms of conversion of time into

space” (Berardi 1995:7). Urban contexts are spatial-temporal structures, as defined by the

modal order developed by Dooyeweerd, within which time is the origin and the evolution of

the structure itself, and space is its shape giving form to all its aspects. This concept defines a

city, as well as a village, as a big box, the case of the chain built upon the aspects that are its

rings. Given that an urban context is grounded on a modal order, the analysis of its temporal

coherence should be based on the mutual interrelations of the aspects, in particular, on the so-

called analogical moments, which define the temporal role of the aspects themselves within

the whole structure. In this phase, the analysis should focus on the interrelations between the

temporal dimensions that have been defined within each aspect.

The definition of the temporal coherence within an urban context provides some important

information on the urban structure itself:

• Its harmonic level is intended as the level of functioning of all modalities.

• The effective role played by each temporal dimension within the modal order of the

context.

• The possible existence of failures within the context.

The harmonic level of the urban structure indicates the existence of mutual interrelations

between the aspects. If an urban structure does evolve in a harmonic way, a perceptible

connection of all the aspects is evident. This harmony is proper for an equilibrate structure. In

thermodynamic terms, an urban structure is an open system based on inputs of low entropy

and output of high entropy (Pulselli and Tiezzi 2008). In order to maintain its equilibrium,

intended as a continuous tension towards levels of complexity that could assure its capability

of reacting to change, it necessarily must interact with the environment. This indissoluble

interdependence indicates that auto-organization and eco-organization are interconnected.


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Urban structures and surrounding natural environment are not separate entities, on the

contrary, they are rings of the same chain.

In the light of the above considerations, it is possible to affirm that one of the parameters

defining coherence within a temporal context is harmony—equilibrium between and among

aspects.

Alfonso Pérez-Esquivel, during the International Conference on Management Resources,

Sustainable Developments, and Ecological Hazards, held in Bariloche, Patagonia, in 2006,

recognized that the equilibrium between man and nature has been broken up. He indicates as

main cause for this separation the increasing acceleration of time speed, in particular the

“different rhythms of technological time, cosmic time and human time . . . .this causes man

being separated from nature” (Ibid., 5).

Sustainable development is a question of time; in particular, it is a question of equilibrium

between time dimensions within the chain of reality.

Because of its temporal-grounding character, the application of the Dooyeweerdian modal

order can be meaningful in the attempt of evaluating the level of temporal equilibrium within

an urban context in terms of coherence. The temporal dimensions that have been defined in

chapter 5 are indicators of the role they play within the temporal system. Quantifying them in

order to pursue practical applications is not an easy work, and it needs some further

considerations.

The interconnected sides of cosmic time (the law side and the entity side) have different

connotations. The law side, as immutable temporal order defining reality, is grounded on

universal laws. The entity side, being related to the subjective awareness of change, cannot be

generalized, as it has a temporally mutable character. The definition of a measure for each

temporal dimension must necessarily take into consideration these aspects.

The measure of the temporal coherence within an urban system must consider that the

required equilibrium within an urban context is not independent from subjective factors.

Urban structures do not evolve separately from citizens’ actions. The law side of the modal

urban structure changes and evolves through time as a consequence of human action.

Anthropical phenomena of the evolution of settlements have irreversibly changed the natural

environment, very often leaving wounds on it, giving origin to cause-effect processes that lead

to a change of the configuration of systems. In order to measure temporal coherence, it is thus

necessary to define all those actions that create feedback on the entire urban system. As

exposed in the previous chapter, action is originated from the subjective search for


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satisfaction. Needs and expectations are the forces for action. Action derives from a

primordial need to be satisfied, that is, the constant human search for harmony. This is but a

subjective harmony, satisfying subjective needs and concretizing subjective expectations

which, very often, are in contrast to the whole order of reality. In the light of this

consideration, it is clear how the concept of harmony can assume a double-sided meaning.

Within the law side, harmony defines the existing temporal coherence within the modal order.

It is a structural harmony, and it indicates that all the rings of the chain are integral. If referred

to the entity side, harmony indicates subjective or collective satisfaction. These two meanings

are but interconnected. As man is part of the modal order (reality), his subjective sphere is

necessarily related to it. Subjective or collective satisfaction (intended as satisfaction of needs,

expectations, related to quality of life) depends on the level of existing harmony within the

temporal order of reality. The interrelation between man-surrounding environment in the light

of Dooyeweerd’s philosophy has been provided in chapter 4 and 5.

The question of measuring time is thus related to the question of subjective-objective

equilibrium. The concept of naive experience, as well as that of theoretical experience, plays

an important role in the definition and understanding of urban-temporal coherence, especially

in terms of man’s action and environmental reaction. Anthropical processes cause change in

the environment. Decision taken, following specific directions, causes responses on the chain

of reality. Perception and awareness of time, important aspects of human life, change with

respect to changing processes in the surrounding environment. Subjective ideas of time are

intellectual constructions resulting from experience and action (Whitrow 1989). The aspect of

language plays an important role in connecting the subjective sphere to the objective

surrounding world. Figure 9 in chapter 5 indicates that the communicative aspect connects the

subjective human sphere to the social context and to the external world. The gradual

acquisition of language increases human’s ability to understand and communicate, enabling

him to grasp temporal relationships and to extend his ability for temporal conceptualization.

By the use of language, subjective awareness of temporal duration related to that of temporal

order (before and after) is shared within a social context. There is a deep correlation between

time, language, and number as “the origin of the concept of number, like the origin of

language, is closely connected with the way in which our minds work in time . . . .our idea of

time is thus closely linked with the fact that our process of thinking consists of a linear

sequence of discrete acts of attention . . . as result time is naturally associated by us with


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counting, which is the simplest of all rhythms . . . the words arithmetic and rhythm come from

two Greek terms which are derived from a common root meaning to flow” (Ibid., 13).

Awareness of time involves also awareness of the difference between past, present, and

future. Horizontal temporal-dimension T6 (see chapter 5) indicates the evolution of the urban

system along the terrestrial temporal line (time as measured by clocks).

Saint Augustine claimed that the human idea of past and future depends on subjective

consciousness of memory and sense of expectation (Ibid.). The question of time measurement

is thus related to that of time awareness and time memory.

The process of measuring time within sustainable development is to be reconnected with the

assumptions on how long a development is expected to be sustainable. The question of

assumed time horizons in urban and environmental planning is at the heart of sustainable

planning.

Local politicians often consider only one-to-five-year timeframe, the period until the next

election. Economists consider a temporal horizon of twenty to thirty years. Citizens want to

be satisfied now. On the other side, natural environment needs a long time to regenerate.

The temporal dimensions that have been defined in the previous chapter could be useful in

measuring time, although they are not exhaustive. The aim is to evaluate, quantitatively or

qualitatively or both, the harmonic level provided by the coherence of the temporal symphony

of reality. Reality is like a melody, a piece of music where all the notes converge in a well-

defined rhythm. It is necessary to recognize it.

3. A Framework for Evaluation in Urban Planning and Design

In 1999, Prof. Patrizia Lombardi, of the Polytechnic of Turin, submitted her PhD thesis at the

University of Salford. The full title of the thesis was “Understanding Sustainability in the

Built Environment: A Framework for Evaluation in Urban Planning and Design.” As she

declared in the first chapter, the main research objective was to find an agreed structure which

could help decision-making processes towards greater sustainability, “An integrating

mechanism or framework which could bring together the diversity of interests necessary to

assess the impact of the built environment and urban design on urban sustainability”

(Lombardi 1999:10). Prof. Lombardi’s research was grounded on the multimodal approach

proposed by Herman Dooyeweerd; in particular, she developed a philosophical framework

structured on the fifteen modalities proposed by the Dutch philosopher, related to the built

environment. In chapter 4, Prof. Lombardi’s thesis takes a cursory look on the fifteen


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modalities and their kernel meanings, with a particular focus on their role within the context

of the built environment, providing a set of sustainability aspects within each modality for the

built environment:

Modalities Issues of the built environment Numerical Population (human), amount of various resources available, number

of species and their population levels, statistical census offices Spatial Layout, shape, building footprint, location, proximity, terrain shape-

flat, mountainous, etc., neighbourhood area, urban area, district area, etc.

Kinematics Infrastructures, roads, motorway, railways, cycling roads, pedestrian streets, car parking, transport and viability, wildlife movement, mobility, accessibility

Physical Energy for human activity, energy for biotic activity, physical environment, structure of ground on which to build, building materials, components, buildings, districts, settlements

Biotic Food shelter, housing, air and air quality, water and water quality, hygiene, green areas, pollution, soil quality, biodiversity, habitat diversity and quality, resilience of ecosystems (ability to recover from imbalances), health and health services, hospitals, gyms

Sensitive Feelings engendered by living there, feeling of well-being, comfort, fitness, noise, security, safety, privacy, provision of peaceful surroundings (e.g., motorway noise that prevents bird song, counselling services, asylums, houses for domestic animals

Analytical Clarity with which issues are aired in the community, letting people clearly know facts and issues, quality of analysis for planning and evaluation, diversity, functional mix, knowledge, tendency to understand rather than react to issues, schools, universities, education services, research

Formative, cultural, historical, technological

Encouraging creativity in the community, creativity when facing problems, heritage, history of the community and area, technology employed, museums, archives, built heritage

Lingual, communicative

Ease of communication in the community, quality of communication (truthfulness, etc.), lingual networking, symbols transferring, information provision, monuments, signs, advertising, the media

Social Social relationship and interaction, recreational places, social climate, cohesion, plurality, competitiveness, collaboration, authority structures, social register, clubs and societies

Economic (frugality, use and care of resources)

Use of land, use of replacement of renewable resources, use of nonrenewable resources, recycling schemes, attitude to finance, efficiency, financial institutions, offices, banks, stock markets, industrial plants

Aesthetic (harmony) Beauty, visual amenity and landscape, architecture and design, architectonic style, decoration, social harmony, ecological harmony and balance, art galleries, theatres

Juridical (what is due)

Laws and law-making, especially with regard to property, ownership, regulation, and other policy instruments; contracts,


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especially for building, rights, responsibilities, inequities, property market interests, democracy, participation, tribunals, administrative offices, legal institutions, political structures

Ethical General demeanour of people towards each other, goodwill, neighbourliness, solidarity, sharing, equity, health of the family, voluntary centres

Creedal, pistic Loyalty to the community, general level of morale, shared vision of what we are (e.g., I shop therefore I am, I am responsible to God), aspirations (e.g., to car ownership), shared vision of the way to go (e.g., science- technology-economics will solve our problems), religious institutions, churches, synagogues

Table 1: Examples of sustainability aspects within each modality for the built environment Source: Data from Lombardi, 1999, 109

The above list of sustainable issues, related to the built environment, includes both concrete

objects and human and cultural modes of being. All these issues are experienced in everyday

life, both in a pre-theoretical and in a theoretical scientific level of experience. A soul-body

act structure (human being) experiences them both on a single modal sphere and as related to

the whole temporal system. The role played by each of the above-listed issues should then be

analyzed with regard to the whole coherent temporal structure. The above-proposed list is

shared by this research. Although it is not exhaustive, the list of key issues of the built

environment provides clear indications on the field of action related to each aspect. Moreover,

these issues represent a basis for the definition of the temporal issues that is proposed in the

following subsection.

3. 1 Temporal Meaning and Temporal Issues

The temporal meaning of each modal aspect has been defined in the previous chapters. In

order to develop an urban-temporal analysis that could be based on Dooyeweerd’s philosophy

of the law- idea, temporal issues must be defined for each modal aspect. These issues are

grounded on the related temporal meanings, being connected to those of the built environment

as defined by Prof. Lombardi (in the following, these issues are called modal issues in order

to distinguish them from temporal ones).

In the light of what emerged from the analysis and investigation of Dooyeweerd’s philosophy

and thinking, it is possible to define the following temporal issues related to the built

environment. They are grounded on the concept of change as cause and effect of systemic

evolution, with reference to the important role of time flowing defined by the T6 temporal

dimension.


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• Numerical aspect. The temporal meaning of a numerical aspect is before and after,

and it represents a pure succession of moments. As suggested in chapter 4 and chapter

5, this aspect is the temporal origin of the entire temporal modal order, both its law

side and its entity side. It expresses pure numbers, succession of quantities. With

reference to the modal issues and to the temporal meaning and role that the numerical

aspect plays within the modal order, temporal issues could be increasing or

decreasing of population, increasing or decreasing of available resources, variation

of number of species and their population level. This is not an exhaustive list of issues,

they are but definitions of the statistical variation in a specific length of time.

Temporal issues within the numerical aspect define the variation of the modal issues in

a specific length of time that is measured along T6 temporal line. This variation

depends on causes that are related to the following aspects, as, for example, a variation

occurred within the spatial aspect. Within the numerical aspect, census-data numbers

are basic for all the following aspects. They are simple numbers placed at the bottom

of the so-called pyramid of reality. If we use the simile of a pyramid also for a

planning process, it is possible to affirm that census-data numbers are at the bottom of

the planning process. These numbers have to be read in relation to data contained in

the following aspects. By collecting census data, planning processes are at the very

beginning phase.

• Spatial aspect. The temporal meaning of the spatial aspect is spatial extensiveness,

and it defines the static character of space. Space is described in a fixed moment in

time. As emerged from the proposed investigation, Dooyeweerd considered space in

its general meaning as grounding aspect for all following modalities. Under this point

of view, if related to the built environment, space defines not only specific characters

of layout and shape, but also social space in its wider meaning (including economic,

juridical, and faith ones). Modal issues defined by Prof. Lombardi provide a range of

possibilities that describe urban space in terms of form and layout. These issues are

important in order to understand the spatial identity of a certain urban context. They

represent a sort of container for all further meanings and functions defined by the

following aspects, but at the same time, they contain echoes of past actions and

change, measured on T6 temporal line. The spatial aspect represents the urban

structure, expanding and changing through time, like the hidden cities define Olinda,

as described by Italo Calvino. Temporal issues are related to the concept of change of


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spatial boundaries through time, as related to evolution of urban areas with respect to

population growth, changing boundaries between natural environment, and built

environment. These issues anticipate the concept of movement and the temporal

meaning of the following aspect. Within the spatial aspect, the built environment

issues indicate specific characteristics related to location, proximity, terrain shape. The

related temporal issues provide a description of the spatial characteristics of a certain

area that will gain in meaning through the succession of modalities (for example, a

certain area that is a social, economic, and juridical space, like an urban district).

• Movement aspect. Movement aspect’s temporal meaning is succession of pure

movement in space. Modal issues are related to infrastructures, roads, accessibility,

mobility, and wildlife movement. In a wider sense, movement indicates simply

change, both a change of location and a change of way of being or succession of stages

of life. Movement anticipates the temporal meaning of the physical and biotic aspects.

It is the kernel meaning for evolution in all its aspects. Temporal issue related to the

built environment within the movement aspect is time needed to go from A to B with

respect to means of transportation. Infrastructures play an important role in everyday

community life. Granted accessibility to everybody, even disabled people, is necessary

for a good quality of subjective and collective community life. Movement and spatial

configuration are deeply linked. Within the movement aspect, space is described in

terms of mobility and accessibility. Roads, infrastructures, transport, and viability

define the spatial dynamics. The temporal meaning, succession of movement, indicates

that kinematic relations have started. Time to go from A to B (T1), which are points in

a certain space, is an indication of the speed of means of transports, not only of the

distance to be covered, but also of the rhythm of perception of space itself.

Infrastructures inevitably change space, influencing it for a long term. Within the

movement (kinematic) aspect, space is going to be structured in terms of movement.

Data collected within the numerical aspect can have a more defined meaning if located

in a more defined space. Kinematic relations provided by infrastructures built in a

specific spatial context will cause changing relations within all the following aspects.

• Physical aspect. The temporal meaning of the physical aspect is succession of causes

and effects, and it provides a description of change as related to specific causes and

having specific effects. Modal issues of the built environment are related to energy,

building materials, and structure of the ground on which to build. Temporal meaning


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within this aspect indicates that the conditions of the ground, of the physical

environment, as well as materials used in building, depend on what happens within all

the other aspects. Causes related to action and change produce effects on the entire

modal order. The physical environment changes, causing further effects. Temporal

issues should define the variation and evolution of energy available for human and

biotic activity, buildings, districts, and settlements. Temporal issue within the physical

modality could be defined as time needed for energy to increase or to decrease by

consequence of a certain cause (waste disposal). This introduces the concept of time

needed by nature to regenerate, which is contained in the biological aspect. Within the

physical aspect, the temporal issue indicates the existence of a length of time (T2) for

response (effect) of a certain system subjected to change (cause). Issues of the built

environment (energy, structure of ground, building materials, etc.) are very important

in describing human and biotic activity. They are descriptive of the state of urban

environments in terms of physical activity that is grounding in urban-system

functioning. Succession of causes and effects, in particular time between a cause and

its effect, is an indication of the dynamic character of natural and built environment.

• Biotic aspect. Biotic aspect is related to natural environment. Its modal issues are air

and air quality, water and water quality, green areas, pollution, soil, etc. They describe

aspects of the environment that are connected to anthropical activity (pollution). The

temporal meaning defined by Dooyeweerd is succession of life stages, and it is a clear

reference to the evolution of natural species. The biotic aspect is the superstratum

sphere of the physical aspect. Temporal issues are then grounded on the concept of

succession of causes and effects as time needed for a certain specie (animal or

vegetal) to develop or to regenerate. Anthropical activity and the increasing use of

cars as means of transportation (instead of cycles) also to cover short distances are

cause of pollution. At the same time, urban areas are interested by industrial activity,

commercial- or military-related enterprises. These aspects cause a spatial, biotic, and

physical configuration that has influence also on social activity. Issues of the built

environment within the biotic aspect (food, shelter, air and air quality, water and water

quality, green areas, pollution, soil quality, biodiversity, resilience of ecosystems, etc.)

are indications of all those green aspects of urban environments. Urban systems are

not just built environments, they enclose human systems and their relations with

natural environment. Temporal issue within the biotic modality describes the dynamic


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character of the evolution of these aspects. In fact, a good functioning of the biotic

aspect depends mainly on the existence of all those life species characterizing natural

and urban environment.

• Sensitive aspect. The temporal meaning of sensitive aspect, which is duration of

feelings, is related to the subjective human sphere. Feelings engendered by living

there—feelings of well-being, as well as comfort, security, and safety—define the

relation between man and his surrounding environment. The temporal issues to be

defined within this modality are related to human needs and expectations, even on a

sensitive level. As asserted and exposed in the previous chapters, the sensitive

modality describes human naive attitude toward surrounding environment, natural and

built one. At the sensitive level, man and environment are connected. Man is “in” the

environment. Temporal issues to be defined are perception of surrounding

environment related to movement, perception of natural environment, sense of well-

being deriving from satisfying use of energy, health related to physical and natural

environment, sense of orientation in space, and sense of identity. Duration of feelings

is a flowing sense, whose interruption (expressed by subjective and collective

discontent) can define the existence of a problem within the other aspects. The

sensitive aspect describes the human sphere. Issues related to the built environment

within this modality (feelings engendered by living there, feeling of well-being,

comfort, security, safety, provision of peaceful surroundings) provide indications on

the relation man-environment through a sensitive point of view. The temporal issues

within this modality are defined by the temporal dimension T4, which introduces the

subjective sphere. This dimension can be represented by a length of time, although its

value cannot be a priori established because of its not objective character.

• Logical aspect. Logical aspect is related to theoretical experience. Man and

environment stay one in front of the other, defining a sort of gegenstand relation. The

temporal meaning of the logical aspect is prior and posterior, and it defines human

analytical processes. Modal issues are clarity with which issues are aired in the

community, quality of analysis for planning and evaluation, knowledge, tendency to

understand rather than react to issues. Temporal issues define ordinate succession of

events, subjective and collective priority, and attitude to choice. This is the action

sphere for humans, and it depends on subjective and collective sense of satisfaction,

deriving from perception and sense of well-being that is provided in the sensitive


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modality. Within the analytical aspect, the relation of man-environment is

characterized as a human attempt for a logical investigation of surrounding reality.

• Historical aspect. The historical aspect provides the formative temporal line (T6

temporal dimension). This aspect is central within the modal order, and it defines

ongoing time, days, years, and centuries, through which urban structures and

communities evolve. Heritage, history of the community and area, and built heritage

are all issues describing evolving situations within all aspects through time. Temporal

issue within the historical formative aspect is the definition of temporal phases with

respect to changes occurring within the modal order.

• Lingual communicative aspect. The temporal meaning of the lingual communicative

aspect is tempo of a speech, of a gesture. This aspect defines, under a temporal point

of view, the kind of communication that is normally used in order to share information

in the community. Temporal issues are time spent to communicate with respect to

distance (verbal communication, technological communication), temporal identity,

and evolution of symbols and signs for one’s sense of direction. Communication

means are very important in defining space. They connect, in a logical and emotional

sense, man with his surrounding environment, encouraging his sense of being part of a

place. The lingual modality, related to the built environment, provides issues that

introduce the concept of sharing information (ease of communication in the

community, quality of communication, symbols transferring, information provision,

monuments, signs, advertising, the media) within a community. The subjective sphere

turns into collective one, and communication is necessary for social intercourse. Ways

for communicating and sharing information are characterized by social intercourse, as

they indicate how communities interact and develop.

• Social aspect. Social aspect represents community life. Its temporal meaning is social

intercourse, social forms of time. Temporal issues are time spent to socialize, time

spent to share. With respect to the implied means of communication, these issues

describe community attitude to meet in private or public places. With reference to

urban planning discipline, it defines public participation in decisional processes. Issues

related to the built environment provided within the social aspect (social relationship

and interaction, recreational places, social climate, cohesion, plurality, clubs, and

societies) are related to the temporal meaning, social forms of time, by the temporal

dimension T8, which indicates time spent in sharing and/or in socializing. This


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dimension can vary with reference to T7 rhythm of communication. Verbal

communication and dialogues can allow social experience based on personal

intercourse; on the other side, technological communication makes social distances

wider while increasing rhythm for sharing information.

• Economic aspect. The temporal meaning of the economic aspect is forecast, time

related to value. Dooyeweerd pointed his attention to the concept of frugality and

care of resources. This aspect is deeply related to the previous ones, as a good use of

resources will ensure their availability for future generations and give to the natural

environment the time it needed to regenerate. Temporal issues are time spent to

recycle, time spent for recovery, time forecast for economic return of a specific

activity, long or short term for jobs. These issues indicate the economic attitude of a

community, containing echoes of subjective and collective sense of satisfaction.

Issues related to the built environment within the economic aspect are use of land, use

of replacement of renewable resources, recycling schemes, attitude to finance, etc.

They provide indication of the role played by the economy within a community.

• Aesthetic aspect. The temporal meaning of the aesthetic aspect is harmony,

equilibrium. This aspect is defined by modal issues as beauty, amenity and landscape,

and social harmony. They are all important issues indicating the existence of a good

level of quality of life, a satisfying and equilibrate relation man-environment. The

temporal issues are time spent in theatres and art galleries, time spent for the natural

environment (private and public green areas, gardens, open spaces, trekking, outdoor

activities). The aesthetic aspect indicates harmony within all modal aspects.

Satisfying outdoor activities or cultivating the fine arts or literature depends on the

existence of a satisfying economic and social life and a preserved natural

environment. This could be encouraged by juridical activities.

• Juridical aspect. Juridical aspect regards the sphere of law and law-making,

regulation and policy instruments, ownership, contracts for building, property market

interests. Its temporal meaning, which is lateness or delay and temporal issues related

to the built environment, can be defined as expiry date for planning instruments,

prescribed time within which to start and to end buildings, expiry dates in building

and planning office procedures, time horizons for programmes and plans. With

reference to the built environment, the juridical aspect is related to all planning and

building, office procedures, and defining the bureaucratic machine. Time terms and


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expiry dates are fixed in order to organize and control building and planning activity.

This helps offices in following procedures more clearly, but on the other hand, they

imply working fast, very often at paid attention’s expense. Owners and builders are

subjected to the same situation—if they are not able to finish within term dates, they

very often go on without planning permission.

• Ethical aspect. The temporal meaning of ethical aspect is time required for all forms

of love, and modal issues proposed are general demeanour of people towards each

other, goodwill, solidarity, equity, etc. Temporal issues within this aspect, related to

the built environment, are time spent in one’s neighbourhood and statistical variation

of number of voluntary centres. The ethical aspect is grounded on the juridical one.

• Faith aspect. The temporal meaning of the faith aspect is eternity, and it indicates

subjective and objective tendency towards future. The faith aspect is the highest one

within the pyramid of reality. Leading concepts are aspirations, expectations, which

make people hope into the future and move human’s actions and decisions. Temporal

issues are time spent for religious activities, time horizon for subjective expectations,

and time horizon for collective expectations. These temporal issues are important

indications in planning. Expectations derive from needs that are expression of lack of

subjective and collective equilibrium and satisfaction.

The above-defined temporal issues could be useful if used together with the ones related to

the built environment. They provide the dynamic character of each modal aspect, and they can

be supported by temporal dimensions.

3.2 Temporal Dimensions

In chapter 5, a set of temporal dimensions has been provided for each modal-temporal

meaning. With reference to the above-defined temporal issues, it is possible to better specify

the temporal dimensions related to each aspect:

Modal aspect Temporal meaning Temporal issues Temporal dimension NUMERICAL Before and after -increasing or decreasing

of population -increasing or decreasing

of available resources -variation of number of

species and their population level

T0 Quantity, it expresses the

difference between, before, and after

quantities with respect to a certain length of time

SPATIAL Spatial extensiveness -change of spatial No proper temporal


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boundaries through time -evolution of urban areas with respect to population

growth -changing boundaries

between natural environment and built

environment

dimension, it contains the temporal evolution of the

whole modal system

MOVEMENT Succession of pure movement in space

-time needed to go from A to B with respect to

means of transportation

T1 Length of time

quantity and rhythm (long time for a slow

rhythm, or short time for a quick rhythm). It

introduces the concept of speed.

PHYSICAL Succession of causes and effects

-time needed for energy to increase or to decrease

as consequence of a certain cause (waste

disposal)

T2 Length of time

quantity

BIOTIC Succession of life stages -time needed for a certain specie (animal or vegetal)

to develop or to regenerate.

T3 Length of time

quantity

SENSITIVE Duration of feelings -perception of surrounding environment

related to movement -perception of natural

environment -sense of well-being

deriving from satisfying use of energy

-health related to physical and natural environment -sense of orientation in

space -sense of identity

T4 It is related to the

subjective human sphere (entity side).

Temporal issues are not measurable in terms of

quantity. T4 determines variations in the continuous flowing

of emotion (change in emotional

state).

LOGICAL Prior and posterior -ordinate succession of events

-subjective and collective priority

-attitude to choice.

T5 Related to the subjective

sphere, it is not measurable by quantities. T5 indicates an ordinate

succession. FORMATIVE Development of culture,

tension between past, present, and future

-temporal phases with respect to changes

occurring within the modal order

T6 Length of time

quantity in terms of years

COMMUNICATIVE Tempo of a speech, of a gesture

-time spent to communicate with

respect to distance (verbal communication, technological

communication) -temporal identity and

evolution of symbols and signs for one’s sense of

direction.

T7 Quantity expressed in terms of hours spent in

communication, the temporal identity of signs

and symbols is represented by their age

and traditional role.

SOCIAL Social intercourse, social forms of time

-time spent to socialize -time spent to share

T8 Quantity in terms of


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hours spent in social activities

ECONOMIC Forecast, time related to value

-time spent to recycle -time spent for recovery

-time forecast for economic return of a

specific activity -long or short term for

jobs

T9 Quantity, length of time

AESTHETIC Harmony -time spent in theatres and art galleries

-time spent for natural environment (private and

public green areas, gardens, open spaces,

trekking, outdoor activities)

T10 Quantity, amount of

hours

JURIDICAL Lateness or delay -expiry date for planning instruments

-prescribed time within which to start and to end

buildings -expiry dates in building

and planning office procedures

-time horizons for programmes and plans

T11 Length of time

quantity

ETHICAL Time required for all forms of love

-time spent in one’s neighbourhood

-statistical variation of number of voluntary

centres

T12 Amount of hours

quantity

FAITH eternity -time spent for religious activities

-time horizon for subjective expectations

-time horizon for collective expectations

T13 Quantity

amount of hours length of time

Table 2: Table of issues. Source: author’s elaboration.

The above-listed time dimensions provide useful indications as to the nature of the related

temporal issues within each modality. Defined temporal dimensions for the sensitive and

logical modalities are not measurable in terms of quantity, as they are related to the subjective

human sphere.

4. Conclusions and Further Work

In this chapter, a set of philosophical and environmental concepts have been provided. They

are derived from the investigation of Dooyeweerd’s philosophy and from the study conducted

by Prof. Lombardi. Concepts like change, motion, and succession of numbers have been

indicated as leading in the building process of the proposed framework. In chapter 5, three


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main temporal directions have been defined. They indicate how time affects reality. In this

chapter, the contribution given by Prof. Lombardi’s thesis has been focussed; she proposed a

set of issues related to the built environment which, although not exhaustive, provides a valid

basis for the definition of the temporal framework, that is proposed by this thesis.

In the next chapter, all the concepts developed in chapter 4 and chapter 5, and summed up in

this chapter are aimed at defining a practical framework that can support sustainable urban

planning. The defined set of temporal meanings are placed into a table- the Temporal Table,

that is proposed as a support for planners. This table is aimed at analyzing an urban context as

fixed in a temporal moment. The Temporal Table provide a description of the urban context

as result of a long process of evolution. It is meaningful both in the historical temporal

analysis and in planning for the future.

chapter vi temporal urban planning

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