Regenerating Cities

This book sets out the discussion on how cities can contribute solutions to some of the challenges the urbanised world is facing, such as the pressure of growing populations, mitigation of effects of, and adaptation to globally changing environmental, climate and public health conditions.

Presenting a detailed explanation of the causes behind the current state of modern cities, the book advocates for a paradigm shift to improve the quality of life of ever-increasing urban inhabitants whilst nourishing the natural systems that sustain human and non-human life in the planet. Recognising the precious role that nature plays in the functioning of cities, it delves into the study of biophilic design and regenerative development. The book argues that these social-ecological design approaches can act as catalysts to develop conditions in urban settings that are beneficial for natural and human systems to thrive and flourish, both in ecosystem services and social-cultural systems. This is particularly relevant for the design of new quality precincts or the regeneration of degraded urban spaces to promote health, wellbeing and urban resilience. A framework is proposed to guide the process of thinking about, designing and building healthier, more liveable and resilient urban environments that raise the quality of life in cities. The method can be used by researchers, practitioners -urban designers, urban planners, architects and landscape architects- interested in developing their work within a social-ecological perspective. It can also be used by local governments and agencies to underpin policy making, and by educational institutions to prepare graduates with necessary skills to respond to current and future built environment challenges.

Contenu

1 Addressing current challenges

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Background to regenerative sustainability

1.3 Shifting worldviews

1.4 Incorporating social-ecological approaches to urban design and planning

1.5 Framing the problem

1.6 Research questions and objectives

1.7 Research design and methodology

1.8 Research scope and limitations

1.9 Book structure

1.10 Use of terms

References

2 The Anthropocene and the urbanising world

2.1 The challenges of the Anthropocene

2.1.1 The anthropogenic world and the planetary boundaries

2.1.2 The Great Acceleration 2.1.3 The planetary boundaries paradigm

2.2 Cities in the Anthropocene

2.2.1 Urban utopias of the great Acceleration

2.3 Conclusions

References

3 A shifting paradigm for an urbanised world

3.1 The importance of worldviews and paradigms

3.2 The shifting worldview and paradigms

3.2.1 The mechanistic worldview

3.2.2 The ecological worldview

3.2.3 Understanding the built environment as a socisl-ecological system

3.3 Conclusions References

4 Two social-ecological approaches to regenerative sustainability

4.1 Regenerative sustainability paradigm

4.2 Biophilia, biophilic design and biophilic urbanism 4.2.1 Biophilia at the urban scale

4.3 Regenerative development and design

4.3.1 A brief historyof regenerative development and design foundational theory

4.3.2 Regenerative Development & Design framework and methodology

4.3.3 Core principles of the regenerative methodology

4.3.4 Main concepts to sustain practice

4.3.5 Regenerative sustainability theoretiical underpinning

4.4 Conclusions References

5 An integrated framework for regenerative sustainable urbanism **5.1 &...