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Module Description

Building nature and climate sensitive cities is critical for environmental preservation, climate adaptation and mitigation, resilience against natural disasters, and overall human health, wealth, and well-being. However, the current trend in city design often falls short of these ideals, necessitating a transformative, multidisciplinary approach that integrates sustainable practices seamlessly into urban planning and development processes. This module will explore nature and climate-sensitive tools for urban design and construction, emphasizing innovative technologies, sustainable materials, successful implementation of green and blue infrastructure, and the principles of landscape architecture, which integrates ecology, climate resilience, aesthetics, and societal benefits. Through a combination of lectures, seminars, and on-site visits, students will gain practical insights into applying these approaches, with industry practitioners providing valuable perspectives on challenges and opportunities at every stage of the urban development process—from conception to delivery and long-term impact, equipping students with problem-solving skills applicable to real-world scenarios.

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Module Aim
This module aims to bridge the gap between ecology, urban engineering and architecture to advance your practical knowledge of current and emerging sustainable technologies and solutions in urban design, planning, and infrastructure that can be incorporated into sustainable development across the world.Ìý

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Learning Objectives

At the end of the module students will be able to:

• Explain the theoretical background to the design and construction of nature and climate sensitive urban environments, and their practical deliveryÌý
• Summarise the opportunities and challenges that sustainable technologies pose across time and space.ÌýÌý
• Assess primary scientific literature, reports, and other pertinent materials to extrapolate the benefits and shortcomings of different technological approaches designed to mitigate impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity, making recommendations for their improvement.Ìý
• Devise problem solving methods from complex ecological and technological systems.Ìý
• Explain complex information, ideas, and their significance to a lay audience.Ìý

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Each week the module will cover an aspect of sustainable urban design in lectures, seminars and site visits of real-world case studies. Topics will include:

• Sustainable materials and resources. Introducing the variety of sustainable materials (e.g. reclaimed wood, bamboo, recycled plastic) and their properties, which can be used in the construction of nature and climate sensitive urban environments.
• Green infrastructure. Examining the various options available for the introduction of green infrastructure (e.g. parks, gardens, living streets, green roofs) in urban environments and the opportunities and challenges that they pose spatially and temporally.Ìý
• Blue infrastructure. Examining the various options available for the introduction of blue infrastructure (e.g. ponds, canals, river restoration, SuDS) in urban environments and the opportunities and challenges that they pose spatially and temporally.Ìý
• Bioremediation. Introducing the use of sustainable technologies (e.g. phytoremediation, hydroponic water treatment) for remediation of terrestrial, aquatic and atmospheric waste and contamination, their effectiveness and limitations.Ìý
• Cutting-edge monitoring technology. Understanding how the success of implementation can be monitored with new sensor and AI technologies.Ìý