The Speculative City: Emergent Forms and Norms of the Built Environment

The Speculative City examines the role of property speculation in reshaping the contemporary built environment through a series of case studies in various cities. It highlights how planning and policy frameworks, as well as the historical roles of the state and private sector, have influenced the outcomes of these developments. The book emphasizes that the built environment has played a significant role in shaping new values and collective aspirations, while also facilitating the spread of financial logics in urban governance.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 282 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2022
Publisher: University of Toronto Press

The Speculative City delves into the realm of property speculation as a vital component of financialization and its profound impact on the modern built environment. Through a series of comprehensive case studies, the book explores the transformative effects of property development across various cities, highlighting the diverse trajectories and social outcomes resulting from these changes. While these developments may exhibit similar characteristics, their progression and societal implications were contingent upon the interplay of existing planning and policy frameworks, as well as the historical roles played by the state and private sectors in housing and welfare provision. By closely examining the intricate forces and actors involved in property development, this book underscores the crucial role that the built environment has played in shaping new values and collective aspirations, while also facilitating the proliferation of financial logics in urban governance. The essays compiled in this collection shed light on a broader shift in politics and culture that underpins the ongoing production of urban space, prompting thoughtful reflections on the potential future trajectories of finance-led property speculation.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781487524883