Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy
for Development: Experiences from China

Prof. Hongyang WANG
School of Architecture & Urban Planning, Nanjing University, China | hongyang@nju.edu.cn

1. Deteriorating Development Context, Impotency ofNormal Spatial Planning (SP)
2. Dissipative Totality vs. (Optimal) Holistic
Integrity/Synergy: True Rationale underlying Good/BadDevelopment
3. Paradigm Shift from Atomism to Non-mechanical,
Relational, Synchronical Logic & Holistic Structural
Holism Perspective of SP, and Evidences from China
4. Innovative SP for Optimistic Development of Global
South in a Tougher Time
Hongyang WANG_Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy for Development

1. Deteriorating Development Context, Impotency of Normal SP
1.1 2023 & near future, threating developing world in particular• Global shrinking;• Deteriorating competition;• More and more knowledge, high-tech & capital intensive economy;• Trade protectionism rather than opening;• Confrontative/divided world, China-USA competition;• Antagonistic/fighting world, Russia-Ukraine war & many others;• Impact and aftermath of covid-19: public health instability, readjustment of financial & monetary system following global inflationand easy monetary policy, re-adjustment of supply-demand chains;• …

Hongyang WANG_Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy for Development

1. Deteriorating Development Context, Impotency of Normal SP
1.1 2023 & near future, threating developing world in particular• Global shrinking;• Deteriorating competition;• More and more knowledge, high-tech & capital intensive economy;• Trade protectionism rather than opening;• Confrontative/divided world, China-USA competition;• Antagonistic/fighting world, Russia-Ukraine war & many others;• Impact and aftermath of covid-19: public health instability, readjustment of financial & monetary system following global inflationand easy monetary policy, re-adjustment of supply-demand chains;• …

Can SP solve these threats?
Hongyang WANG_Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy for Development

1. Deteriorating Development Context, Impotency of Normal SP
1.2 SP seems hardly potent in meeting macro development challenges,
with very few exceptions …
• Relevant records of SP in global south … though quite some
exceptions particularly in Asia Pacific including China (though results still
controversial), and of course, global north;• 40 years of Habitat Movement: achievement not meeting expectation

Hongyang WANG_Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy for Development

1. Deteriorating Development Context, Impotency of Normal SP
1.2 SP seems hardly potent in meeting macro development challenges,
with very few exceptions …
• Relevant records of SP in global south … though quite some
exceptions particularly in Asia Pacific including China (though results still
controversial), and of course, global north;• 40 years of Habitat Movement: achievement not meeting expectation• Is general development NOT vocation of SP? NO. General development
is both the eventual objective and the supportive conditions for SP.
• How should SP be like from the experiences of countries where SP
seemed to have successfully re-shaped development? Is SP really thedecisive factor for development?  True rationale underlying
good/bad development!
Hongyang WANG_Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy for Development

2. Dissipative Totality vs. (Optimal) Holistic Integrity/Synergy:
True Rationale underlying Good/Bad Development
2.1 Common sense cognition of critical factors for development• Capital/investment？
• Resources？
• Infrastructure？
• Technology/high-tech/technical human capital？
• Administrative system？
• ……

Hongyang WANG_Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy for Development

2. Dissipative Totality vs. (Optimal) Holistic Integrity/Synergy:
True Rationale underlying Good/Bad Development
2.2 Right answer to critical factors for development① Ideal development is NOT determined by any one factor. It is by the TOTALITYof all factors, by all relevant factors to be in cooperative integrity/synergy.
② Nor is the ideal development itself goodness of any one or a few aspects. It isthe development aspects IN TOTAL that are in an integrated/synergetic shape.
In all, development is the improvement of the totality of development.

③ But in the totality of development, the ultimate connotation, origin and result
is PEOPLE’S LABOR, TOTALITY OF PEOPLE’S LABOR… After all,development is the transformation of people’s laboring from dissipative
towards integrative/synergetic totality.

Hongyang WANG_Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy for Development

2. Dissipative Totality vs. (Optimal) Holistic Integrity/Synergy:
True Rationale underlying Good/Bad Development
This explains the status quo of SP, but still facing frustration inpromoting development…
① “Partial SP” can hardly promote development.
More and more, planning tends to become “everything”, but enormous efforts
hardly receive symmetrical rewards because——② IMPOSSIBLE totality③ CONTRODICATORY rather than integrative/synergetic totality④ Even the “totality>parts” consensus is so hard to build……

What problems else haven’t been solved？
Hongyang WANG_Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy for Development

3. Paradigm Shift from Atomism to Non-mechanical,Relational, Synchronical Logic & Holistic Structural Holism
Perspective of SP, and Evidences from China
Atomism
Goals ofthinking andpracticeHolismPrimarily points(elements/parts/atoms), totality=Σparts

Totality & holisticity

New SP methodologyPlanning survey, analysis
and goal being totality &holisticity

Thing,
unconditioned/fix
attributes of ed/objective
thing/parts/t
otality

relational/contextual, Knowledge

unconditioned/fix
ed/objectiveconjecture in new
relations/totalities

Confirmed afterrelational/holistic
verification

Linear vs.
Synchronicallogic

Atom-based linear 
logic, e.g.
partswhole;analysingsynthes
izing,

Synchronical logic

modeling, evaluating
and comparing all
possible holistic
scenarios

Independentpoint
thinking vs.
Holistic
structural
thinking

Independent point
thinking

Understanding partpart & part-whole
effects + holistic
structure, protoholistic structureHolisticity, optimal
holisticity and limited
partial intervention
practicable

accepting changes,dynamic,reform(relationalobjective, relativeabsoluteness)

Hongyang WANG_Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy for Development

3. Paradigm Shift from Atomism to Non-mechanical,
Relational, Synchronical Logic & Holistic Structural Holism
Perspective of SP, and Evidences from China
Atomism
Goals ofthinking andpracticeHolismPrimarily points
 Totality &(elements/parts/a
holisticitytoms),
totality=Σparts

New SP methodology
 Planning survey,
analysis & goal being
totality & holisticity

Thing,
unconditioned/f  relational/cont  accepting
extual,attributes of ixed/objective
changes, dynamic,
reformthing/parts/t
otality
Knowledge

unconditioned/f  conjecture inixed/objective
new relations/totalities Confirmed after
relational/holistic
verification

Linear vs.
Synchronicallogic SynchronicalAtom-based
logic
linear logic, e.g.
parts whole;analysingsynthesizing, modeling,evaluating andcomparing all
possible holistic
scenarios

Independent
point
thinking vs.
Holistic
structural
thinking

Independent
point thinking

 Holisticity, optimal
holisticity and limited
partial intervention
practicable part-part &part-whole
effects +holistic struc,proto-holistic
structure

SP in China• Consensus on building holistic
integrity/synergy. Dissipation no good.
Building/strengthening such consensus 1stfunction of SP. But what is holistic synergy isa difficult q, e.g. integrating collective order &individual subjectivity.
• Holistic recognition, building, verification &comparison. Development-holistic concept as
 the goal, expansion of SP category & type: space, productivity, culture, ecology,
 governance, quantity, structure…
 • Parts & holisticity dynamic, changeable following context. Conservativism,radicalness, manufacture, service, expansion,stock, big structural planning, micro-structuraldesign/renewal, city, region (megalopolis), rural• Optimal holisticity. Most difficult. Often seemingly
no answer. Holism thinking and proto-holisticstructure• Strategic partial intervention.
• ……

Hongyang WANG_Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy for Development

3. Paradigm Shift from Atomism to Non-mechanical,
Relational, Synchronical Logic & Holistic Structural Holism
Perspective of SP, and Evidences from China

Hongyang WANG_Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy for Development

3. Paradigm Shift from Atomism to Non-mechanical,
Relational, Synchronical Logic & Holistic Structural Holism
Perspective of SP, and Evidences from China
 市域城乡发展与规划管控总图

Hongyang WANG_Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy for Development

3. Paradigm Shift from Atomism to Non-mechanical,
Relational, Synchronical Logic & Holistic Structural Holism
Perspective of SP, and Evidences from China

Hongyang WANG_Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy for Development

3. Paradigm Shift from Atomism to Non-mechanical,
Relational, Synchronical Logic & Holistic Structural Holism
Perspective of SP, and Evidences from China
自然物

空间中的物质 人造物
人

土地水|淡水 咸水 …
大气|氧气 氢气 二氧化碳 …
矿物|石油 天然气 煤 铁 金 银 铜 硅 锂 钾 稀土 锑 …
生物|微生物|细菌 真菌 病毒... 原核生物 真核生物 植物|藻类 苔藓 蕨类 种子植物|裸子
衣 食 住 行 文 教
植物 被子植物 动物|无脊椎 脊椎动物|鱼类 两栖动物 爬行动物 鸟类 哺乳动物 …
体 卫用品 商品 货币农产品 工业品 第三产业品|艺术作品 服务 教学 符号 …
市政设施
耐用品 易耗品
公共设施 民用设施 … 建筑 …
农业原料/机械/设施
通用品 订制品 …
精品 创新品 普通品 …
工业原料/机械/设施
…

自然界 乡村 小城镇 城市 区域 国家 …

都市区 城市群 …

空间 海 空 山 水 林 田 居住区 工业区 文化区 商贸区 休憩开敞空间 中心区

生活资料
生产资料
…

生态的空间 人性的空间 集约经济的空间 有文化的空间 有特色的空间

不平衡的空间 不充分的空间 无疮疤的空间 分工统筹共赢的空间
混合空间 道路 站场物流区 市政设施 … 轴线 视廊 区域 节点 地标 …
公平正义的空间 真正现代化的空间 增量空间 存量空间 大空间 小空间网络空间 虚拟空间 思维空间 社会空间 日常生活公共空间 后现代空间 …
精明精准生产的空间 良性自组织的空间 有机的空间 …

尺度|规模 区位 功能 品质 结构 生产模式 动态

本体论/认识论

实践论/方法论

目的论

物质环境

生产(供给) 分配 流通 消费 结构 部门内结构通货 定价 是否得
到定价部门间结构 结果/制度

宪法 法律
法律 行政法 地方法规行政规章
政府-社会权力、
资源配置模式规划部门权力、资源
配置和运行模式

管理中央 省 市 区县
乡镇街道 村居教育

个体|社会货币 总量 结构 利率（储蓄 贷款） 金融市场 (债券 基金 股票 期货)财政 税收 工资 投资

教育文化 科技研发

政策

组织手段

交换价值

经济(定价/价格/货币/财税/投资/分配…)
医疗 社会保障对结果的组织

粮食、经济作物、畜牧、水产养殖…
资源采集、石化、冶金、能源、新能对原因|人/社会自然资源 人居环境 公共设施
国防 外交 公共安全部门 源、装备制造、电子、汽车…军工、信息…建筑…教育、医疗、运动……

局部性组织 关系/生产关系/
整体性组织劳动结构的组织

分类领域

一/二/三次产业大/中/小型企业
上/中/下游产业市场/国有|公共投资/外资/混合所有制/股份制企业跟随 改良 原始学习 创新 创新
健康/良性 vs思维能力 实践能力不良/异化/虚假个体能力 规模
动态性/易变性

组织(整体性 目标)起来部
门生态、符号、幸福感…

最优整体性组织

政府自身组织监管……

非通货）
人|社会能力“通货生产关系”/分配/获得感“非通货生产关系”/分配/获得感价值观/理想/正义/理性/创新等高层次需求…

组织/激励 教育/培养 工具 资源 持续成长/优化生产(供给) 分配 流通 消费 结构 结果/结算需求经济

天赋 本能 身体 心理 年龄 性别 种族 …
成长 实践 教育 阅历 主体性积累 …
主体性 强且正确 强但多误区 弱/个别/依附 …
(思维/主观+行为) 模式 工具 能力

思维行为

局部性解决
动机 幸福感|价值观好+最优整体性 具体解 机械与积决/规划 为变而变 朴素整体性解决
理性一致性穷尽一致性
理性自由 科学整体性解决极性模式
思维行 机械封闭整体 有机开放整体 …
行为范畴 专业行为 一切行为为对象 简单 复杂
盲目/失措 做就是对 做对才是对行为模式 局部干预 包罗一切 整体效应最优局部干预
个体类型多 乌合之众自组织/ 机械他 良性自组织+样性/完备性 隐蔽低质他组织 组织良性他组织

个体

局部

其它质性|
关系质性

穷尽一致性

好整体性

一致性

整体
•一般元整体

•

特定元整体

•

特定整体

整体主义思维同时性逻辑创新/传统产品|产业一般品质/高品质产品|产业存量/增量产品|产业
高/中/低收入人群产品|产业婴童/成人/银发/男性/女性产品|产业…

使用产品/服务/价值 能否以增进人类福祉/整体福祉的方式持续有效扩张

组织/政府

最优整体性

结算货币的数字化知识/文化 真实意义|真实主观 符号意义

质性|原意
识质
性/意识 意识 原意识
质性|
关系
质性

(体系)

“事物”本身元世界观与方法论/底层范式

世界观与方法论/
一般哲学
基础理论
应用理论
具体知识/实践方案…

社会
符号(体系)

对知识/文化的理解：点/机械/线性 vs 关系/可变/相对/同时性/整体……

有机开放整体 机械封闭整体
哲学 伦理学 政治学 社会学 文学 历史 艺术 数学
物理 化学 天文 地理 生物 医学 建筑 规划 ……
传统文化 现代科技
交叉/综合/整体科学 专门科学
突破性知识 规范/常规/主流知识理论知识

社会行为规范/道德

世界的元整体示意物质环境内涵文化

1. Deteriorating Development Context, Impotency ofNormal Spatial Planning (SP)
2. Dissipative Totality vs. (Optimal) Holistic
Integrity/Synergy: True Rationale underlying Good/BadDevelopment
3. Paradigm Shift from Atomism to Non-mechanical,
Relational, Synchronical Logic & Holistic Structural
Holism Perspective of SP, and Evidences from China
4. Innovative SP for Optimistic Development of Global
South in a Tougher Time
Hongyang WANG_Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy for Development

Deteriorating development context, for developing world in particular• Global shrinking;• Deteriorating competition;• More and more knowledge, high-tech & capital intensive economy;• Trade protectionism rather than opening;• Confrontative/divided world, China-USA competition;• Antagonistic/fighting world, Russia-Ukraine war & many others;• Impact and aftermath of covid-19: public health instability, readjustment of financial & monetary system following global inflationand easy monetary policy, re-adjustment of supply-demand chains;• …

Hongyang WANG_Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy for Development

4. Innovative SP for Optimistic Development of Global South ina Tougher Time
Global North ChinaOwn models for different
countries, habitats, plans

Post-mid development stage. Infinite• Consensus for holistic synergy INSTEAD OF
general supply capacity. Saturated
dissipation. Understanding the primary
general demand. Past model of dev
function of SP is to build synergetic consensus.
can’t…
sustain:deteriorating competition,
特定整体——全球南方
有需求的地方供给有效；盈余的再生产
1的颠覆；任何地• Open-minded …
insteadof mechanical thinking.
room of general growth greatly reduced,
Willing to accept appropriate changes.
方，都是自己的人民要构成有机整体协同的系统：（1）最优整体性！不能光想着“扩polarization easy to accelerate.
•Holistic SP in category INSTEAD OF partial SP.
Understanding this, accepting much of
张”，“结构”现在重要；不能光想着“局部”，彼此不耗散、“和谐整体”也是价
International conditions have to be wellthis, and thinking new model.
considered. National & regional conditions
值；（2）不是耗散，协同是基础。当然，程度有不同，协同也非都是自上而下他组织• Avoid over-involution. Polarized
shall also be well-taken. To achieve holisticmanufacture, taking seriously secondarysynergy, there
should be national SP either as-而是可能包含一定自组织的统一-基于理念、认识的统一；（3）自己的劳动，而不是
allocation. Guarantee
decent social
national policy or a plan for local plans towelfare for all people. Service sector.
5）——极其他人的劳动；（4）不仅是自我劳动，同时也有必要的自我利益保护；（conform.
Re-shaping competitive spirit. Paving• LOCAL CAPACITY BUILDING as the primegoal.
…越是这种情况下，越要强调…与这困难的整体，找到希望！学习、必要的自我保护
path for absolute innovation.
Thisisalsoa“holisticconcept”:
its
prime
Understanding the real origin ofmeaning is the healthy synergy of the society,——低碳也是如此！高效率、高质量整体协样的价值观的合作；不是局部，而是整体
absolute innovation.
and then the capacity of individuals. It also同结构，对降低排放的贡献要远远大于绿色技术
…
• Relative innovation room forincludes other capacities including production
development: supplies to places withchain, transportation and other infrastructure,
demands are effective. Rural, lower
and governance etc. International conditions
tiers of cities, international market.
provide enormous opportunity for local• Structuraland qualitative improvement
capacity building. Again, this is a holistic<具SP规划范式转型：内容+方法（元整体）+目标（建立共识、改变思维、安排具体
rather than quantitative expansion.
schemes design and comparison, to find out…否则，问题早就解决了>、优化整
体是无穷的，不存在能够绝对解决问题的“局部”
optimal holisticity.
• ……
• ……
• Truly commanding holism体）。
epistemology & methodology…
• After all, holistic thinking and planning.
•••

Hongyang WANG_Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy for Development

Thank you!

Hongyang WANG_Spatial Planning to Build Holistic Integrity/Synergy for Development