The Urban Metabolism and Energy Transition
Cities are complex, sprawling and active systems that are unceasingly working to provide for the needs of its occupants. We can describe this system not just in technical or purely physical terms, but also in organic terms. Just as a human body breathes, drinks, eats, uses its senses, and excretes waste, so vital material flows can be identified and analysed in the "body" of the city, its metabolism. Flows such as food, water, energy, people and cargo. In order to work productively on the energy transition, we need to know more about not only the flow of energy , but of the urban metabolism as a whole.
In this Master Class, the participants will develop new input and answers for their specific case studies and reflect on each other’s challenges. Questions that will be discussed are: How does the regional energy system function? How can knowledge of the metabolism of the region as a whole contribute to the energy transition? Which data is needed? And how can design be positioned as an integrative tool?
This Master Class builds on the results of the IABR–2014–Project Atelier Rotterdam: Urban Metabolism.
More information here.
For more information, please contact Indira van ’t Klooster (Architectuur Lokaal).
Date: 2 and 3 June 2016
Location: IABR–2016–THE NEXT ECONOMY, FENIX II, Paul Nijghkade 19, Rotterdam
Master: Dirk Sijmons (curator IABR–2014)
Design Offices: .FABRIC, H+N+S Landschapsarchitecten
Research by design as a tool for sustainable development
Because of the financial and economic crisis, shifting societal priorities, ongoing technological developments and the rapidly changing roles of the government, Municipalities and Provinces in the Netherlands are faced with ever more complex urban design challenges.
On all levels of government, there is a need for new visions and innovative approaches to spatial development, while different and ever shifting alliances strive to bring their plans and ideas into play. In order to stimulate capacity building and explore integrative and sustainable development perspectives, the IABR has commissioned Architectuur Lokaal to organize three Master Classes for local and provincial administrators and governors.
More information here.
