Professor Mike Jenks

The CityForm consortium’s latest book, Dimensions of the Sustainable City, is the first book to report on an empirical multi-disciplinary study specifically designed to address urban sustainability. Drawing together the various dimensions of sustainability – economic, social, transport, energy and ecological – the book examines their relationships both to each other and to urban form.

The book investigates the sustainability dimensions of cities through a series of projects based on a common list of elements of urban form, and which draw on the consortium’s latest research to review the sustainability issues of each dimension. The elements of urban form include density, land use, location, accessibility, transport infrastructure and characteristics of the built environment. The book also addresses issues such as adapting cities, psychological and ecological benefits of green space and sustainable lifestyles, each presenting a critical review of the relevant literature followed by an empirical analysis presenting the key results.

Based on studies across five UK cities, the book draws out findings of relevance to sustainable cities worldwide. As well as an invaluable reference to researchers in sustainable planning and urban design, the book will provide a useful text for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses and for policy makers dealing with these issues. -- Provided by publisher.

This book presents new research and theory at the regional scale showing the forms metropolitan regions might take to achieve sustainability. At the city scale the book presents case studies based on the latest research and practice from Europe, Asia and North America, showing how both planning and flagship design can propel cities into world class status, and also improve sustainability. The contributors explore the tension between polycentric and potentially sustainable development, and urban fragmentation in a physical context, but also in a wider cultural, social and economic context. -- Provided by publisher.

Concentrating on the planning and design of cities, the three sections take a logical route through the discussion from the broad considerations at regional and city scale, to the larger city at high and lower densities through to design considerations on the smaller block scale. Key design issues such as access to facilities, access for sunlight, life cycle analyses, and the impact of communications on urban design are tackled, and in conclusion, the research is compared to large scale design examples that have been proposed and/or implemented over the past decade to give a vision for the future that might be achievable. -- Provided by publisher.

This collection of edited papers forms part of the Compact City Series, creating a companion volume to The Compact City (1996) and Achieving Sustainable Urban Form (2000) and extends the debate to developing countries. This book examines and evaluates the merits and defects of compact city approaches in the context of developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Issues of theory, policy and practice relating to sustainability of urban form are examined by a wide range of international academics and practitioners. -- Provided by publisher.

Representing a major advance in the sustainable development debate, this text moves on from theoretical discourse about sustainable urban forms to proven knowledge and good practice. -- Provided by publisher.

This book presents the latest thinking on the benefits and dangers of higher density urban living. It offers diverse opinions and research, from a wide range of disciplines, and gives an insight into both the theoretical debate and the practical challenges surrounding the compact city. Essential reading for anyone with an interest in sustainable urban development. -- Provided by publisher.

This chapter focusses on the quality of life in cities and how security, in its broadest sense, contributes towards it. It is argued that there is a close association between compact and high-density city goals and quality of life indicators, and that security and equity play an important part in making a good life for those living in cities. It is concluded that the quality of life in all its aspects along, with the reduction of inequalities though cooperation and inclusion, are central to the compact and sustainable city ideal, and that ideal may also result in more secure and safe cities in the future.

In Western nations there is a comforting notion that, at least, an answer has been found to achieving sustainable urban forms. The paradigm that has been promoted is for the high-density, mixed-use, transport-efficient and socially and economically viable built form. This has been embodied in European policy since the early 1990s (Commission of the European Communities 1990) and numerous examples of ‘sustainable’ environments have been built in the United Kingdom, Europe and the West (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment [CABE] 2008). One of the dominant concepts behind these policies and examples is that of the compact city – claiming to satisfy the triple bottom line of sustainable development: environmental, social and economic sustainability.

The debate about cities and security often concentrates on crime. However there is more to it than that. The quality of life for citizens will also depend on their economic security, food and fuel security, a stable, more equal and secure society, and a measure of environmental justice. Although many of these issues extend beyond the realm of the city, this paper argues that the aims for the sustainable city could contribute towards making towns and cities more secure and better places in which to live.

Some ways forward will be suggested, including urban forms that reduce travel and car dependency, energy efficiency, urban agriculture, community involvement and the transition movement. Such examples indicate some potential pathways towards achieving more secure and sustainable cities.