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A democratic, equitable and sustainable city

A City of Professions, comes at a time of intense concern when the Covid-19 crisis calls into question some of the prevailing assumptions of recent decades about the role of urban density and its economies of agglomeration. The health crisis comes on the heels of the major impact of the 2008 crisis, so the sum of these two impacts is likely to have important effects on paradigms and theories of urbanization. For its part, the New Urban Agenda that emerged from Habitat III proposes a paradigm shift in urbanization based on a systematic review of the regulatory framework, urban design and financing, in order to achieve socially, economically and environmentally sustainable cities. The two crises mentioned above, in addition to climate change, will challenge the current model towards a more acceptable one, capable of articulating a new social contract. However, this transformation will not be easy given the highly diverse and complex interrelationships inherent in the modern social structure.

Professor Jordi Ludevid’s book describes with special interest the contribution of the professions that contribute directly to urban construction, in its physical, civic and regulatory aspects. With an extensive professional, institutional and intellectual background, Jordi Ludevid has constructed this innovative reflection on the link between the professions and cities, which is undoubtedly of special interest in the current difficult and delicate circumstances, proposing a radical regeneration of the professional fact, betting in a clear way on their commitment and link with the cities, thus promoting the “new social contract”. The knowledge developed and managed by the urban professions, in close relationship with the universities, has been a fundamental part of modern knowledge. If in the Middle Ages, convents were the guardian institutions of classical knowledge, since the 16th century the baton has been taken over by cities. This is how the author’s thesis on the relevance of the professions resonates strongly when it comes to creating and reproducing cultural and knowledge goods and to recognizing their positive impact on urbanization.

By reflecting on the collegiate professions and trades, but also on the professionals linked to municipalism and public institutions, and beyond that, by considering their relationship with universities and educational establishments, this book is of interest to a very broad and diverse public. It will undoubtedly be of interest to the professionals of the world, but also to all citizens committed to social and collective issues and who aspire to a democratic, equitable and sustainable city. A City of Professions will undoubtedly participate in a remarkable and significant way in the existing international debate on the present and future of professions… and cities...

JOAN CLOS

Medicine Doctor

Former Mayor of Barcelona

Former Executive Director of UN Habitat