Urban Sustainability Through Environmental Design : Approaches to Time - People - Place Responsive Urban Spaces

What can architects, landscape architects and urban designers do to make urban open spaces, streets and squares, more responsive, lively and safe?

Urban Sustainability through Environmental Design answers this question by providing the analytical tools and practical methodologies that can be employed for sustainable solutions to the design and management of urban environments. The book calls into question the capability of ‘quick-fix’ development solutions to provide the establishment of fixed communities and suggests a more time-conscious and evolutionary approach.

This is the first significant book to draw together a pan-European view on sustainable urban design with a specific focus on social sustainability. It presents an innovative approach that focuses on the tools of urban analysis rather than the interventions themselves. With its practical approach and wide-ranging discussion, this book will appeal to all those involved in producing communities and spaces for sustainable living, from students to academics through to decision makers and professional leaders.

Sergio Porta is assistant professor in urban planning and design at the Department of Architecture and Planning of the Polytechnic of Milan, Italy, where he holds the ‘Laboratory of Urban Design’ course. He is adjunct professor at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Kevin Thwaites researches and teaches landscape architecture and urban design at the Department of Landscape, University of Sheffield where he is Director of Learning and Teaching. He has worked in private practice and, with Ian Simkins, is co-founder of elp:rdu, a research facility which explores experiential aspects of outdoor space use. Ombretta Romice is an architect heading the Urban Design Masters at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. She is actively involved in IAPS (International Association for People-Environment Studies). Mark Greaves is a professional planner focused on the delivery of exemplary urban design solutions. He is currently working in local authority planning in the UK.