Founded on landscape architecture, urban design, and ecological sciences, ‘Biourbanism’ is a city planning and urban design platform that assists mayors, city leaders and planners create healthier, more resilient cities.
Put simply, the research-led platform asserts that cities must be considered a form of nature. Developments in environmental science have underlined humanity’s impact on the planet, signalling earth’s entry into a new epoch called the Anthropocene – a point in evolution where the planet’s wild places have been radically altered by humans; wild places and complex biological systems upon which we dearly depend.
Comprising ten systems managed mutually through data, a paradigm shift in thinking will allow us to quickly decarbonise our cities and transform urban environments into more equitable, vibrant, climate resilient places that are better able to support the needs of their citizens.
These systems are made up of key indicators that can be aggregated as a scorecard for determining the relative health and competitiveness of a region, city or project depending on the scale of investigation. Optimum urban health is achieved if intervention to an individual system does not trigger significant detrimental impact to the remaining nine. The interrelationships of systems are thus managed in a purposeful and mutually beneficial way.
Since ancient times governance and legal frameworks have sustained communities and have been fundamental to their longevity. Geopolitical stability, cultural diversity and human rights equality have a direct influence on vibrant city life. Affordable education and health care have a profound effect on the prosperity of cities.
The concept of automation has always been central to the path of human development. After conquering industrial mechanisation humans are now using digital means to delve into the nano scale. Big data is increasingly driving decision making and soon quantum computing will make our largest super computers look like an abacus. Cities that nurture workforces involved in driving the ideation and flow of digital information are likely to emerge as the front runners of our 21st century Anthropocene era.
