Redefining Urban Regeneration

Perhaps one of the events most important for 2010 urbanism was the Toledo Declaration, a political document with an extraordinary scientific substantiation, approaching the issue of urban regeneration, often discussed during the recent period. It is very likely for the anniversary of 100 of European urbanism to coincide with a scientific re-thinking of the output of urbanism activities. Among others, the document underlines the importance of integrated inter- and trans-disciplinary approaches. Furthermore, the most important documents governing European urban development are reiterated – e.g., Lille Program, Leipzig Charter, Bristol Accord, Territorial Agenda of the European Union, Europe 2020 Strategy, Marseille Declaration, Lisbon and Göteborg Strategies), while the principles substantiating them are systemically integrated in a unitary framework, basis for an integrated approach to urban regeneration: territorial cohesion, governance, sustainable communities. This paper aims to synthesize the concepts and conclusions of the main documents referent to the issue of urban regeneration, underlining the trends in approaching it and placing them in the broader framework of sustainable spatial development, integrating nationally-relevant documents as well.