How Are Cities Actually Made? Insights from Dr. Tuna Taşan-Kok on Spatial Governance
On May 28th 2026, we hosted the final webinar of the Housing Commons Research Centre’s inaugural season. Dr. Tuna Taşan-Kok, joined by co-authors Sara Ozogul and Andre Legarza, introduced key ideas from their new book Spatial Governance Landscapes: Regulation, Property, and Planning.
A recurring theme was the question of power: where it resides, how decisions get made, and where opportunities exist to shift the relationship between markets, governance, and the public interest. Drawing on extensive research in the Amsterdam metropolitan region, the conversation explored the complex relationships between planning regulation, property markets, investment flows, and governance systems. Rather than treating planners, developers, governments, and communities as separate actors operating in isolation, the discussion examined how cities are shaped through ongoing negotiation, adaptation, and sometimes conflict between interconnected interests.
Our pannelists shared valuable reflections on how planning regulation, property markets, investment flows, and governance systems interact, in ways often invisible to those seeking to influence outcomes. Making these systems legible, the speakers argued, is itself a precondition for meaningful change. The conversation offered a practical framework for understanding the forces that shape housing outcomes and urban development, while highlighting the importance of making these systems legible for practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and communities seeking more equitable and collective futures.
More programming is on the way for fall 2026 – stay tuned.
