High density, high liveability
Future Cities Laboratory
Navigating urban complexity with a holistic vision generates insights, methods, and tools that empower decision-makers to defuse conflicting goals.
The good news: a holistic, data-driven, and innovative approach to urban planning can effectively address global challenges by harmonising the ecological, economic, and social dimensions of sustainability. Research comparing case studies across Europe, Asia, and the Americas provides not only context-specific results, but – despite local differences in climate and culture – also reveals globally applicable insights and generalisable findings.
The knowledge and the tools derived from them, both locally and globally, can be a valuable aid to policymakers, authorities, public entities, and planners in addressing complex urban issues. The innovative, interdisciplinary view of complex urban contexts also opens new perspectives for decision-makers.
Social interaction without wasting resources
Urban densification is only viable if it enhances quality of life and fosters acceptance among residents. The module Resource-Efficient Urban Intensification (EFF) investigates how the spatial organisation of cities can intensify socio-spatial interactions – essential for liveability and local economies – while minimising resource use.
The researchers aim to identify urban forms that sustain and enhance social interactions while optimising land and energy use. Their work integrates urban complexity science, modelling, and bottom-up surveys in order to develop real-world solutions for vibrant urban environments. EFF is divided into three main work packages:
- Work package 1 uses urban data analytics to assess how urban functions are organised in spatial clusters and analyses how different degrees of clustering are related to social spatial interactions.
- Work package 2 further analyses the influence of spatial distribution of urban functions on efficiency from the perspective of quantitative urban economics.
- Work package 3 investigates, using an online survey, the personal experiences and well-being of citizens in densifying urban environments in different cultural contexts.
The results underscore the importance of an integrated and holistic approach to urban development, both in planning and design. By harmonising efficient land use with ecological and social considerations, these insights offer actionable strategies for creating more sustainable, vibrant, and resilient cities.
Adaptable and sustainable districts
Enhancing liveability in dense urban areas is at the heart of the module Dense and Green Cities (DEN). This research examines district models that successfully integrate sustainability’s three dimensions. It presents a comprehensive analysis of strategies for achieving high-density, high-quality urban development through case studies in cities including Singapore, Zurich, London, Amsterdam, and Toronto – both historically evolved and newly planned – and identifies best practices.
- Environmental issues: efficient land use, green infrastructure, renewable energy, low-carbon transport, and climate resilience strategies.
- Social issues: affordable housing, diverse communities, accessible amenities, vibrant social spaces.
- Economic issues: innovation hubs that attract to businesses and create job opportunities.
In Zurich, the analysis examines an urban transformation process aimed at balancing population growth with the creation of a dense, liveable city. In Singapore, the research focuses on the performance of sustainable integrated districts (SIDs), an urban model that integrates cutting-edge systems and solutions. Key findings reveal that SIDs outperform conventional urban districts in pedestrian connectivity, urban vibrancy, ecological sustainability, and thermal comfort. Contributing factors include human-scale design, mixed land use, well-planned walking routes, and diverse visual environments.
The research synthetises insights to provide a multidimensional perspective on urban development, addressing building and urban design, community engagement, environmental sustainability, ecological balance, and governance.
Read more:
EFF
Resource-Efficient Urban Intensification
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siew Ann Cheong
Prof. Dr. Peter Egger
DEN
Dense and Green Cities
Prof. Sacha Menz
Prof. Dr. Thomas Schröpfer
ACP
Architectural Cognition in Practice
Prof. Dr. Christoph Hölscher
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zdravko Trivic
Understanding and acting: human-centred design
Anticipation is key to sustainability. The module Architectural Cognition in Practice (ACP) investigates how architectural and urban features foster positive human behaviours, translating these insights into design tools for architects and decision-makers. By combining behavioural studies with design and by integrating architectural cognition into design through collaboration between scientists and practitioners, it improves design processes and outcomes. ACP focuses human-centred research questions.
- Fundamental research: How do built environments affect cognition and behaviour? For example, ACP studies how the design of emergency care units at Zurich University hospital affects staff interactions and healthcare performance.
- Reflective research: How can designers use these insights to improve spatial design? One approach involves researcher placements within international design firms – observing design workflow, interviewing architects, and introducing new methods for user-centred design.
- Translational research: How can design teams be equipped to create spaces that support complex user needs? For example, ACP developed the Spatial Cognition Thinking Cards, to interactively convey key concepts and tools from cognitive sciences.
Analysing the interplay between people and their environments, ACP aims to empower designers to create spaces that enhance daily life, from districts to ultra mixed-use buildings.
