The Urban Fix

Cities are one of the most significant contributors to global climate change. The rapid speed at which urban centers use large amounts of resources adds to the global crisis and can lead to extreme local heat. The Urban Fix addresses how urban design, planning and policies can counter the threats of climate change, urban heat islands and overpopulation, helping cities take full advantage of their inherent advantages and new technologies to catalyze social, cultural and physical solutions to combat the epic, unprecedented challenges humanity faces.

The book fills a conspicuous void in the international dialogue on climate change and heat islands by examining both the environmental benefits in developed countries and the population benefit in developing countries. Urban heat islands can be addressed in incremental, manageable steps, such as planting trees and painting roofs white, which provide a more concrete and proactive sense of progress for policymakers and practitioners. This book is invaluable to anyone searching for a better understanding of the impact of resilient cities in the monumental and urgent fight against climate change, and provides the tools to do so.

Doug Kelbaugh FAIA FCNU, with two degrees from Princeton University, USA, has been an acclaimed educator and practitioner who has won over 20 design awards and competitions over the past four decades. He speaks internationally, publishes voluminously and teaches the largest elective offered by his college at the University of Michigan, USA, where he is a Professor and Dean Emeritus. He has authored and edited six books and many book chapters on livable, lovable and resilient architecture and cities. The AIA and ACSA awarded Professor Kelbaugh the 2016 Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education, the highest award in the field, noting that he has bridged the fields of architecture, sustainability and urbanism as much as any member of his generation.