Ljubljana was the first post-socialist city awarded with the title European Green Capital. The title awarded by the European Commission is given to a city that is achieving high environmental ...standards, is setting ambitious goals for further environmental improvement and sustainable development, and can act as a role model to inspire other cities and promote best practices to all other European cities. The article is based on a hypothesis that at the moment when Ljubljana applied for (and was awarded) the European Green Capital title, it had strong strategic spatial planning and successful territorial governance, as well as the interweaving of both. To prove the hypothesis, the timetable and characteristics of the strategic spatial planning and territorial governance in Ljubljana are presented in this article and critically evaluated. Critical evaluation and analyses are also assessed using a qualitative research method, i.e., semi-structured in-depth interviews among experts from four professional fields including spatial planning, urbanism, architecture, and management. The results confirmed the hypothesis: Ljubljana’s sustainability-oriented strategic spatial plan prepared by a variety of stakeholders, experts, and citizens, as well as the effective governance system established by the mayor, a manager by profession, were two factors that coincided at a crucial moment. This was recognized by the European Commission and Ljubljana was awarded a prestigious title. Ljubljana can therefore serve as an excellent sustainable example for other post-socialist cities in terms of strategic spatial planning and governance.
The Slovenian population is aging. In order to best adapt to this demographic change, it is necessary to face this issue and to study it from the perspective of various disciplines, including ...geography. This article therefore especially focuses on the spatial characteristics of population aging in Slovenia in addition to general characteristics. The findings show that population aging in Slovenia is not uniform; instead, there are large differences in population aging in Slovenia. In addition to general social processes such as falling birthrates and increasing life expectancy, these are primarily the result of spatial movement of the population. The conclusion presents some consequences that will arise in Slovenian territory and society in the future due to population aging.
Airbnb has become a fixture in the development of global cities. It especially impacts cities’ residential characteristics. The company works with the concept of the sharing economy, the essence of ...which is the exchange of services or goods between individuals who set the rules of operation without generating profits, but together generate more revenue. It insists that it does not represent a form of direct competition with other urban accommodation services and that it merely seeks to expand the tourism market. Nonetheless, this article proceeds from the assumption that Airbnb is influencing and transforming the housing market of the cities it operates in. It focuses on Ljubljana, which until 2019 had a record number of international arrivals and overnight stays. The findings confirm that short-term Airbnb rentals have affected the long-term rental market in Ljubljana. They also show that a very large share of rentals through Airbnb take place in the grey economy. However, the analysis of cases from selected European cities showed that, in addition to the drawbacks described, Airbnb also has positive effects on the development of cities. It is therefore necessary to accept and adapt appropriately to this global phenomenon through specific measures, such as those proposed in the conclusion for Ljubljana.
Despite the development of various housing options across Europe, older people often face the choice of staying at home with the support of family and/or formal services or moving to a care home, but ...how people vary regarding these preferences and how newer cohorts will be different is under-researched. This study explores the housing choices of older people under the condition of liminality, which is defined as the hypothetical condition of high care needs. The most common choices available are compared; that is, staying at home (with social home-care support or visits to a daycare centre) or moving to supported housing or a care home. Cluster analysis revealed five distinct groups of older people that were differentiated in their choices between various options of moving versus staying at home, either by using home care or daycare. Differences between the clusters along three dimensions that influence decisions to move or stay, namely levels of attachment, satisfaction with housing and availability of support, which often function as limits on the options that are preferred, were explored. The results present the complexity of the decision-making process under imagined conditions of liminality and show a great diversity among people’s preferences. They also indicate that a significant share of older people have a strong preference for only one option (two of the cluster groups).
A poor person-environment fit may bring various negative effects to older people's independence and physical and psychological well-being. The presented study is especially valuable as it explores ...the challenges of living in cities in a country located in central and eastern Europe; namely, a less researched area when it comes to the quality of life of older people dwelling in an urban environment. The research questions that were explored are (1) what environmental pressures have people identified in the urban environment in Slovenia; and (2) what strategies have they used to deal with them? The study is based on 22 interviews with older people and three focus groups, that were then analysed using a thematic analysis approach. The study results identify a number of environmental pressures, which were divided into structural housing pressures, structural neighbourhood pressures, and formal and informal pressures. The analysis shows important behavioural responses, such as strategies of using formal and informal help, moving away from environmental pressures, mobility, actively involved in changing the environment, as well as attitudinal adaptation strategies, such as acceptance, resilience, using distraction, modesty and planning for the future. We further emphasize how these coping strategies are linked to individual and community capabilities, which function as a conversion factor.
The Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia and the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Social Protection, together conducted a research project entitled Measures for the ...realisation of the rights of the disabled to barrier-free access which was concluded in December 2008. The research was funded jointly by the Slovenian Research Agency and the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs. The main aim of the research was to conduct an extensive analysis of the state of care for persons with disabilities in Slovenia. This involved analysing the accessibility of the built environment and accessibility of communication and information, as well as investigating the efficiency of implementation of the policies and measures that were adopted at the national level for guaranteeing disabled persons barrier-free movement and social inclusion. The main part of the research is constituted of two field surveys, one conducted among individual disabled persons and the other conducted among the major disabled people’s organisation in Slovenia. On the basis of a preliminary literature review and a review of the current legislation and policies concerning the disabled, the guiding hypothesis for the survey was that very little has been done, so far, towards the realisation of the rights of the disabled which are declared in the various national documents. The results of the empirical research provide evidence in support of this hypothesis. In this paper, we present the results of both field surveys, give a summary of the major findings and, in conclusion, suggest some measures that need to be implemented in order to ensure greater efficiency of the realisation of the rights of the disabled to barrier-free access.
HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY IN SLOVENIA Kerbler, Boštjan
Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management,
05/2014, Letnik:
9, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Due to ageing of the population, the issue of suitable housing provision for the elderly is becoming increasingly critical. Several types of housing are available to the elderly in Slovenia, and this ...article focuses on the two most widespread forms: eldercare facilities and owner-occupied housing. It presents their features, critically analyses the problems connected with both types of housing and presents solutions to these problems. The article is based on an analysis of relevant research literature, statistical data and the findings of studies dealing with this topic. It discusses and introduces new findings on possible ways of ensuring an adequate level of housing provision for the elderly in Slovenia in the future.
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