Urban design. The ecological thinking. A compendium

This Series seeks to present some new conceptions concerning the today's and future cities role in supporting sustainable communities. The Series will discuss the latest issues in planning, designing and building a better future achieving sustainability through urban and architecture design. CITIES, DESIGN&SUSTAINABILITY Series, is attempting to better understand some factors and principles which should stimulate everyone and condition a range of choices about the future of urban life. It will address issues on new ways of managing our cities and responding to the key current matters of urban change. The need to bring new values to the regeneration and development of urban areas has long been accepted. However, the unrecognized management of natural resources and ecological issues occurring in cities can be for urban designers and architects an alternative basis for urban and architectural design. The making of real sustainable cities has to be considered as a cultural issue concerning the reconciliation between community living, urban environment and nature. The discussion on how to create a sustainable future should be directed towards implementing the sustainable city.
Aiming to synthesise and integrate theoretical and applied issues on eco-sustainable urban design, Urban Design. The Ecological Thinking. A Compendium is a basic coverage that outlines principles and concepts of the matter. The book has been assembled from different sources to present new perspectives on sustainability. It is focused on urban design which emphasizes sustainable use of resources as well as the value of sustainability and recognises the design as a process. It explores how high quality design is likely to have a positive impact and compatibility on the spatial, environmental, social and economic conditions of places and people. The book is organised in two main parts in order to allow the reader to gain an easy understanding of eco-sustainable urban design issues. Although each part and chapter of the book is self-contained it is structured in a manner that can give a comprehensive overview on the subject. Part one, From Planning to Eco-sustainable Design is a compilation of chapters outlining the growth of a particular line of research work moving through theories and practice for alternative planning and design. Part two, Challenging Issues of Sustainable Regeneration and Development addresses the key issues in the development, regeneration and improvement of urban environment. This part is aimed to identify the special qualities of sustainable planning and design and that might help urban regeneration.
The book represents a full range of ecological urban design thinking and is a reference text for students, professionals, offering useful inputs to all those who are involved in designing urban contexts

CONTENUTO: Foreword by Alberto Tesi; Preface; Introduction Ecologically Designing; PFrAoRmT POlNanEning to Eco-sustainable Design; Chapter 1 Masterplanning for Sustainable Communities; Chapter 2 The Ecological Urban Quarter; Chapter 3 Designing the Ecological Urban Quarter and Shaping the Sustainable Form; PCAhRalTle TnWgiOng Issues of Sustainable Regeneration and Development; Chapter 4 Urban Design Criteria for Built Environment Regeneration; Chapter 5 Strategies for an Eco-friendly Urban Regeneration; Chapter 6 Better Urban Environment to live by Ecological Key Design Considerations

Dimitra Babalis is Senior Lecturer in Town Planning and Urban Design at the Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Florence, and an Architect-Engineer. She teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate level and she is developing her research and teaching experience across Italy, Greece and the United Kingdom. She is involved in a number of research projects on eco-sustainable town planning and urban design, urban design and multi-disciplinary inquiry into sustainability, urban renewal, urban regeneration and re-development, innovative urban strategies and forms of interventions to urban transformation and is the author of a number of scientific publications on national and international reviews and proceedings books, of chapters in books. She is the editor of the books: Bioclimatic Design & Urban Regeneration for Sustainable Development (2003), Ecological Design for an Effective Urban Regeneration (2004), ECOPOLIS. Sustainable Planning and Design Principles (2005), ECOPOLIS. Revealing and Enhancing Sustainable Design (2006), ECOPOLIS. Conceptualising and Defining Sustainable Design (2007).