EcoCities : Rebuilding Cities in Balance with Nature

B kR i Book Review

EcoCities : Rebuilding Cities in Rebuilding Cities in Balance with Nature (Revised Edition) (Revised Edition) By: Richard Register g Prepared by : p y

Research and Development Division Federal Department of Town and Country Planning Malaysia

Reviewed By:

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Nor Zaliza Mohd Puzi Ydira Ibrahim Ydira Ibrahim Asmahan Abdullah Mohd Fahrurazi Ahmad Suleiman Shamsul Azlan Mohd Anuar Shamsul Azlan Mohd Anuar Maizura Madzalan

About the Author:  One of the world’s great theorists and g authors in ecological city design and planning.  The founder of Urban Ecology and Ecocity Builders.  He convened the first International Ecocity Conference in 1990, and has authored two previous books, as well as h d i b k ll an earlier edition of EcoCities.

Main Structure A As we build, so shall we live b ild h ll li The city in evolution The city in nature The city in history The city today Access and Transportation d What to build Plunge on in !!

Personal odyssey Tools to fit the task Wh h f What the fast‐breaking news may mean b ki Towards strategies for success

Preamble 

Re-building cities and towns based on ecological principles.

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Focus on accessibility and transportation, and design principles.

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Tools to accomplished the ecocity. ecocity

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Full of author’s own illustrated inspired visions of ecocity.

Chapter 1 :

As We Build, So Shall We Live

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Cities crisis.

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Car dominated cities.

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Urban sprawl, p , creates more commuting time

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Buildings design - not reflected and served the synthesis of ecological and social needs.

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Cities need to be rebuilt upon ecological principles.

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G t down Get d t basics to b i

Chapter 2 :

The City In Evolution

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Understand the relationship between : o extinction and evolution; extinction and evolution; o role of cities; and o city based civilisations in y evolution

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Understand the City’s ecological footprint.

Key factors of city’ss evolution: Key factors of city evolution: o density, diversity, form and function of cities and the awareness of their citizens.

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City as living organism.

City as living organism.

Chapter 2 :

The City In Evolution

Chapter 2 :

The City In Evolution

ecocities

Closing the street and adding more pedestrian – oriented buildings and activities Same location as last illustration, but with allweather arcades and more shop, businesses and housing

Chapter 3 :

The City In Nature

A composite house for two or three families in the country. This illustration assumes home-based work and considerable food production for it to amount to a community it with ith some economic i vitality, justifying the term “community�. Featured in addition to solar greenhouses greenho ses and terraces is a fun treehouse, bridge and slide into the small lake.

ecocities

Chapter 4 :

The City In History

ecocities

Chapter 4 :

The City In History

ecocities

Chapter 5 :

The City Today

 Understand city evolution through Rebuilding and Rethinking processes.

Mixed Use  High Density Model Mixed Use Urban Sprawl  Development  Improvised high density model – bringing nature with appropriate t h l technology.

Solution : Understanding the city : Understanding the city  Solution a whole living system.

Chapter 6 :

Access and Transportation

Chapter 7 :

What To Build

 Recommended “ecocities principles” o o o o o

build the city like the living system. b ild h i lik h li i make the city’s function fit with the patterns of evolution. follow the builder’ss sequence follow the builder sequence – start with the foundation. start with the foundation reverse the transportation hierarchy. build soils and enhance biodiversity. y

 The The ecologically cities should build in high density walkable ecologically cities should build in high density walkable centers and follow the rules of “the city is the people”. o Complex building C l b ildi o harmonious with nature

Chapter 8 :

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Plunge On In !!

Chapter 8 : Plunge On In

4 Steps To An Ecology Of The Economy : o Map o List o Incentives o People

Chapter 9 :

Personal Odyssey

• ‘Arcology’ = architecture + ecology

ECOLOGICAL CITY = ECOCITY

Chapter 10 :

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Tools To Fit The Task

7 Steps To Produce Ecocity Zoning Map: p y g p o Local natural history map; o Establish walkable centers; o Adjust the circular zones ; o Show the limits; o Prepare sample vertical cross sections; P l ti l ti o Provide keys for the maps; and o Add scenario maps.

Chapter 11 : What The Fast Fast--breaking News May Mean

Chapter 11 : What The Fast Fast--breaking News May Mean

Chapter 11 : What The Fast Fast--breaking News May Mean

Chapter 11 : What The Fast Fast--breaking News May Mean

Chapter 12 :

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Towards Strategies For Success

5 strategies to build ecologically healthy cities : o Follow the builder’s sequence; o Pursue the four steps to an ecology of the economy; o Move steadily and as vigorously as possible away from M t dil d i l ibl f automobile sprawl and toward the pedestrian compact city; o Take small steps as needed but move on to bigger things when you can keep and those only; o Be flexible about ecocity changes.