Which circularity for urban design and planning? A compass to navigate circular economy research knowledge and methods

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe circular economy (CE) has taken hold among urban development plans and programmes, yet research on the application of the concept in urban design and planning is still in its infancy. This paper provides a systematic review of the literature related to CE, urban planning, and design. It investigates how the literature is clustered by subject area as well as the epistemological positioning and methodological approach of different research clusters. Results suggest that objectivist and conceptual approaches are most widespread, although practical and constructivist approaches are emerging. Planners and designers are being called upon to lead more integrative research.KEYWORDS: Circular economycircularityurban planningurban designurban agenda Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Credit author statementA. Bortolotti and G.C. Verga contributed to the conception and design of the study. A. Bortolotti and G.C. Verga performed the literature review and qualitative analysis. A. Bortolotti wrote a significant part of the first draft of the manuscript and performed the bibliometric analysis. G.C. Verga wrote sections of the manuscript. A.Z. Khan supervised part of the study. A. Bortolotti, G.C. Verga and A.Z. Khan reviewed and edited the final draft.