Green Urbanism

Science of Sustainable DesignOctober 7, 2010

Goals

• Understand principles of green urbanism

• Become familiar with urban design history of the U.S.

• Understand how sustainable design principles can be applied in the urban environment

• Understand the impacts of green urbanist projects on the carbon cycle, water cycle, etc.

Green Urbanism Principles

• Apply green building principles, processes, and technologies at the neighborhood scale.

• Make connections between buildings, infrastructure, and natural systems.

• Retrofit existing urban areas to accommodate green buildings and infrastructure.

• Build catalytic projects.

green buildingAcros Fukuoaka, Japan

green buildingAcros Fukuoaka, Japan

Green Alleys

Water is allowed to enter the soil through the pavement, which consists of permeable concrete or porous asphalt

The water, filtered through stone beds under the permeable surface layer, recharges the underground water table

Water does not end up as polluted runoff in rivers and streams

The cost of construction is offset by what it would have paid for maintenance and sewer improvements for the old ones

green building

Permeable Pavers green building

Permeable Concrete green building

Permeable Concrete green building

Grasscrete green building

Chicago’s Alleys

2,000 miles of small service streets- the paved equivalent of five midsize airports

Prone to flooding Need to be resurfaced

periodically

green building

Emerald Necklace, Boston linkages

Emerald Necklace, Boston• Many sites were connected

through a system of green infrastructure

• Accessibility by all classes of citizens by all means of transportation

• Entire system designed to filter and absorb stormwater

• Led to economic development of the surrounding areas

linkages

linkagesRailways, Europe

linkagesRinstrasse, Vienna

Gas Works Park, Seattle retrofit

Gas Works Park, Seattle retrofit

Urban Agriculture, Detroit retrofit

Urban Agriculture, Detroit retrofit

Urban Agriculture, Detroit retrofit

Green Lanes, New York retrofit

IBA Emscher Park, Germany

• Former German center for industry and production

• Emscher River had been channelized and used for the transport of industrial and human waste

catalysts

IBA Emscher Park, Germany

• Restoration of the river

• Creation of seven green corridors to link prominent redevelopment projects

• Corridors parallel historical development of the region

• “Buffer zone” between the parks acts as riverside recreation space

Visible evidence of ecological process stands as a symbol of the improvement of the region

catalysts

Duisburg-Nord Park, Germany

• Attention to how people can interface with remediation

• Creative recreational opportunities

• Spaces between building used for new uses

catalysts

Hudson River Park, New York catalysts