IntegralUrbanHub
Paul van Schaik
integralMENTORS
a meta-pragmatic approach
Thriveable Worlds
Down to Earth

Urban Hub
Down to Earth
Paul van Schaik
Integral UrbanHub
31
Thriveable Worlds

Copyright ©©integralMENTORS– April 2023
‘In fullness and Freedom
A graphic series of integralMENTORS integral UrbanHub co-lab on Thriveable Cities-Worlds.
Founder & Managing Editor Paul van Schaik
“keepers of dreams”
Irrupting consciousness

Context
It’s Down to Earth
Earth Architecture/building
African Earth Architecture competition
Timber Revolution
Bamboo Architecture
City Ideas
Village 3.0: Concept
ReGen Village: Netherlands
Orchid City Framework
Soulful City Concept: Edmonton
15 Minutes Living Concept
Amsterdam City Doughnut Framework
City Slums
Transition Towns Concept
Regenerative Design Concepts
Ekistics; RSVP Cycles; Design With Nature; Poverty Spotlight; Urban Profiling;
Biomimicry; Cradle to Cradle; Circular Economics; Urban Wellbeing
Psychology & the City
Boundaries
Boundaries; Sustainable Development Goals

This book is ‘tastes’ of ideas,
theories, graphics, praxis,
and quotes, to spark interest
for further explorations
Best explored with the previous volumes in the series:

People do not
perceive worlds
but enact them.
Different mindsets
bring forth
different worlds.

What is this series?
A collection of visions, ideas, ideas, theories, actions, etc. that give rise to a
taste of the many visions in our world.
How we use all the best elements of the many worldviews, modern and
ancient, visible and still hidden, together and in collaboration, will define how
successful we are.
It is the morphogenetic pull of caring that will determine how we succeed as a
human race. It is the ability and need to generate an equitable, fair, resilient
and regenerative ‘system’ that must drive us forward.
The means will be a combination of many of the ideas showcased here but
many more still to be discovered on our exciting journey into the future. Held
together through a Integral Mythological Pluralistic approach.
Sharing and listening to stories, philosophies, cosmologies and metaphysical
understanding of each other and through experimentation, research and
archology developing theories, praxis, and activities/interventions to move
towards a more caring world of people, cultures, caring for the planet and
systems of which are all a part.
Too little courage and we will fail – too much certainty and we will fail. But with
care and collaboration we have a chance of success. Bringing forth emergent
impact through innovation, syngeneic enfoldment & collaborative effort.
A deeper understanding of a broader framework will be required – this would
be more that an integral vision and beyond the Eurocentric AQAL & SDI.
Explore and enjoy – use as many of the ideas as possible (from the whole series)
enfolding each into an emergent whole that grows generatively.
At each step testing – reformulating – regrouping – recreating.
Moving beyond, participating, through stake-holding, through share-holding, to
becoming thrive-holders.
Inordertofindyourway
youmustbecomelost
generouslylost-
it’sonlywhenyouarelost
thatyoucanbefound
bysomethinggreater
thanyou
BayoAkomolafe

Other Worlds
Walking in the world not talking of the world
No one vision is sufficient in and of itself – visions can guide
but only by collaborative action in a creative generative
process can visions grow and become part of an ongoing
positive sociocultural reality.
Without taking into account the many worldviews that
currently co-exist and crafting ways of including them in a
positive and healthy form we will continue to alienate vast
sections of all communities and humankind.
It is through the cultivation of healthy versions of all the
different worldviews that we can attempt to move towards
an equitable, regenerative and caring world living within
the planetary boundaries.
Through action we will move forward – through only
ongoing talk we will stagnate and fail.
These curation are to be dipped into – explored and used
to generate ideas and discussion.
A catalyst for collaboration and action.
And most importantly grown, modified in a generative
form.
For more detail of integral theory and Framework see
earlier books in this series.
This is a living series - any suggestions for inclusion in the next
volume send to: Paul.vanschaik@integralmentors.org
Dan Gluibizzi

Humankind has not woven the web of life.
We are but one thread within it.
Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.

We have not heard the music of the spheres,
The song of star to star, but there are sounds
More deep than human joy and human tears,
That Nature uses in her common rounds;
The fall of streams, the cry of winds that strain
The oak, the roaring of the sea's surge, might
Of thunder breaking afar off, or rain
That falls by minutes in the summer night.
These are the voices of earth's secret soul,
Uttering the mystery from which she came.
To him who hears them grief beyond control,
Or joy inscrutable without a name,
Wakes in his heart thoughts bedded there, impearled,
Before the birth and making of the world.
Archibald Lampman

It’s Down to Earth

They rise from the ground like ancient monuments
They blend with the landscape like natural elements
They are made of the simplest material: earth
They are the legacy of human ingenuity and worth
Earth buildings are diverse and adaptable
They can be rammed, poured, cobbed or adobe
They can be shaped into domes, arches or walls
They can be decorated with patterns, colours or
carvings
Earth buildings are resilient and sustainable
They can withstand earthquakes, storms and fire
They can regulate temperature, humidity and sound
They can reduce energy consumption, waste and
carbon footprint
Earth buildings are more than just structures
They are expressions of culture and identity
They are reflections of history and tradition
They are inspirations for creativity and innovation
Earth buildings are a living art form
They evolve with the people and the place
They connect us to our roots and our environment
They remind us of our potential and our grace
(Bing AI)
Earth
Architecture

Earth Architecture
The earth was the only material that could withstand the harsh desert climate. It
was everywhere and nowhere at once. The people of the desert knew how to
use it. They built their homes into the earth, so they could stay cool during the
day and warm at night. The walls were thick and made of mud bricks, which
kept out the heat and sandstorms. The roofs were flat and made of palm fronds,
which provided shade from the sun.
The earth was a living thing in the hands of those who knew how to shape it.
They moulded it into arches and domes that seemed to defy gravity. They
carved intricate designs into its surface that told stories of their lives and
beliefs. They built mosques and palaces that were both grand and humble at
once. They used what they had to create something beautiful that would last for
generations. (text AI generated)
Earth
Architecture Architecture
The art and science of designing Buildings and spaces for living From the
macro to the micro scale From the city to the detail
Architecture is more than just construction It is also expression and
communication It reflects the culture and the time It tells a story through its
form and line
Architecture is both function and beauty It serves both practical and aesthetic
duty It balances the needs of people and place It creates harmony and grace
Architecture is a creative endeavour It challenges the mind and the eye forever
It shapes the world and makes it better It is architecture, the art of building

Earth
Architecture

Timbuktu
What survives today of the ancient city of Timbuktu in Mali. In
the 14th century Timbuktu was five times bigger than the city
of London at that time, and was the richest city in the world.
Today it is 236 times smaller than London and has nothing of a
modern city.
Earth
Architecture

Fujian
Hakka
Earth
Buildings Fujian Tulou were built in the Song and Yuan Dynasties and have a history of more than 1,000 years. This
style of building was in its heyday in the late Ming Dynasty, the early Qing Dynasty and the era of the
Republic of China, and has been preserved until now. The buildings are over two-stories tall, consisting of
thick walls constructed of rammed-earth between outer panels. The main architecture materials were earth,
wood, stones and bamboo. It was a mixture of clay and sandy soil in a specific proportion.

Fujian
Hakka
Earth
Buildings Fujian Hakka Earth Buildings can be found in the mountainous areas of southwestern Fujian where the topography is precipitous and at the time the
population was sparse, with wild beasts and rampant bandits frequently attacking. Living together with the clan is not only a firmly established requirement of
Confucian tradition in central China, but also a practical need to consolidate power to defend themselves against enemies. Making full use of the advantage of
terrain, Fujian Hakka Earth Buildings enjoy a rational layout and absorb the Fengshui concept of Chinese traditional architectural design, satisfying the
requirements of living together with the clan as well as the need for defence.
At first, the local people followed the old earth construction techniques and took the local bamboo, wood, mud and stones as their raw materials. Gradually the
primary simple log cabins and mud houses evolved into earth buildings with mud walls and tile roofs. Later, in order to satisfy the need to live together with the
clan, the buildings developed into large multi-story earth buildings with complex organization.

Shibam city : Yemen
Introduction to Shibam – Skyscraper Fortress
Shibam is a city in Yemen that is famous for its
distinctive skyline of mud-brick towers. The city is
often called the "Manhattan of the desert" or the
"skyscraper fortress" because of its unique
architecture.
Shibam was founded in the 3rd century AD and has
been a centre of trade, culture and religion for
centuries.
The city is located on a floodplain and is surrounded
by a wall that protects it from floods and invaders.
The towers of Shibam are built from mud bricks that
are sun-dried and coated with lime and gypsum to
make them waterproof.
The towers range from 5 to 11 stories high and house
hundreds of families. The towers are designed to
provide shade, ventilation and privacy for the
residents.
Shibam is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an
example of urban planning that adapts to the
environment and preserves the cultural heritage of
the region.

Buildings with ten or more floors
in Yemen, earthen architecture
has been used to build homes,
churches, mosques, palaces,
fortresses, pyramids, barns,
defensive walls and all types of
structures, many of which have
survived for centuries and even
millennia in drier climates.
Shibam
–
Skyscraper
Fortress

Built from Mud
Shibam
–
Skyscraper
Fortress

Built from Mud
Shibam
–
Skyscraper
Fortress

Shibam
–
Skyscraper
Fortress

Built from Mud Yemen
Shibam
–
Skyscraper
Fortress

Bayalpata Hospital is a medical complex in
Achham, Nepal, built from rammed earth by
American architecture office Sharon Davis
Design.
Serving one of Nepal's poorest and most remote
regions, Bayalpata Hospital replaced an old
clinic that was too small for the number of
patients needing treatment.
For the walls soil from the site was mixed with a
small amount of cement to make the structure
more durable and able to withstand the frequent
seismic activity in the area.
Sharon Davis Design also chose rammed earth to
help give Bayalpata Hospital's facilities a warm and
non-clinical feel. As many homes in the area are
also made from earthen walls, it gives patients a
calmer and more familiar experience.
Bayalpata
Hospital-Nepal
Built from Mud

"Without local materials, this project may not have
been possible because of its incredibly remote
location – a 10-hour drive from the nearest regional
airport and a three-day drive on narrow,
mountainous roads from the nearest
manufacturing centres around Kathmandu."
Bayalpata
Hospital-Nepal

Solar panels on all of
the south-facing roofs of
the complex help power
the hospital, while
passive heating and
cooling means only the
surgery rooms need
mechanical air
conditioning.
Insulated roofs retain
heat gain in winter and
stop rooms from
overheating in summer,
while breezes can waft
through from the
courtyards, aided by
ceiling fans.
The campus has its own
water supply and a
network of terraces and
bioswales help stop soil
erosion in the monsoon
season.
Bayalpata
Hospital-Nepal

Goethe-Institut
in
Dakar
perforated brick Goethe-Institut in Dakar
Built from Mud

Set to be built alongside former Senegal president Leopold Sedar Senghor's home in Dakar, which is
now a museum, the two-storey building will be built from compressed earth bricks.
It will be built from locally sourced bricks with lattices, created to allow air into the building, and topped
with a roof garden covered by a steel canopy.
Goethe-Institut
in
Dakar

sustainable buildings in Nepal
"Visitors and employees alike are to be provided with a space that speaks to and is home to the
layered and storied cultural tapestry of Senegal's capital," said the studio.
"One that is welcoming and versatile in speaking to the vast and complex history of cultural
encounters and asking a diverse community to gather to define an inclusive and sustainable future."
Goethe-Institut
in
Dakar

Head office complex near Islamabad, Pakistan.
Built from Mud

Zhengzhou Jianye Football Town Tourist Center | SHUISHI
Built from Mud

African Earth Architecture
competitions

Earth
Architecture

Earth
Architecture

Earth
Architecture

Earth
Architecture

Earth
Architecture
Built from Mud

Earth
Architecture

Earth
Architecture

Earth
Architecture

Earth
Architecture

Earth
Architecture

Earth
Architecture

The Timber Revolution

Timber architecture and buildings are gaining popularity around the world as a sustainable and innovative way of
creating structures that are durable, beautiful, and environmentally friendly.
Timber is a renewable material that can be sourced from responsibly managed forests, reducing the carbon footprint
and waste of the construction industry.
Timber also has aesthetic and functional advantages, such as creating warm and inviting spaces, enhancing natural
light and ventilation, and providing fire resistance and acoustic insulation.
Timber architecture and buildings are not only a way of creating structures but also a way of expressing values and
visions for the future.
By using timber as a main material, architects can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, innovation, culture,
and social responsibility.
"Using wood doesn't [automatically] make a building sustainable” Kromoser leads the Institute of Green Civil
Engineering He believes that the main challenge for the building industry is using fewer raw materials overall, rather
than simply switching from concrete and steel to biomaterials like wood. "Our aim is to minimise the environmental
impact of buildings over the whole lifecycle," he said. "Using wood doesn't [automatically] make a building
sustainable, because basically, what we have as a problem is that in total we need too much materials."
The major challenge, according to Kromoser, is to decrease the use of raw materials while still enabling the growth of
economies around the world.
"Further development of society is always linked to an increase in materials, and that's the wrong direction," he said.
"So what we really have to think about is how we decouple the connection between material use and the further
development of society. That's the biggest issue and it's not linked to construction material."
Timber Architecture

Timber
Architecture
NEOMA Business School
In line with the school’s strong commitments in terms of sustainable development, the future Reims
site aims to be an environmental benchmark, with internationally recognised certifications such as
LEED, WELL and E+C. The project also places the health and well-being of students and staff at the
centre of its design.

Timber
Architecture Timber Architecture
Some examples of timber
architecture and buildings
are:
The Ørestad Church by
Henning Larsen in
Copenhagen, Denmark,
which will be the first church
to be built in the city in 30
years.
The church will have a
distinctive design with
wooden roof domes that
create a dynamic interior
space for worship and
community activities.
The church will also have a
green roof that connects to
a public park.

Timber
Architecture Timber Architecture
The Burj Zanzibar by OMT Architects in Zanzibar City,
Tanzania, which will be Africa's tallest hybrid timber
tower at 96 meters high. The mixed-use tower will use
locally available wood to support the urban
infrastructure and attract tech companies to the island.
The tower will also feature recreational and
conferencing facilities and 266 residences.
‘BURJ zanzibar’ is planned as a hybrid-timber tower. The
conventional concrete core allows for fire and life safety
standards to meet all code requirements. The structure
around the central core is assembled with glue
laminated timber columns and beams as well as cross
laminated timber slabs. The interior of the apartments
benefits from the natural look of exposed timber
elements to add to the living quality. The timber
building will promote the local available wood as the
building material of the future and draw attention
towards a more sustainable construction while offering
living conditions to the highest standards. Following the
world-wide trend to construct large buildings in timber,
the ‘BURJ zanzibar’ will be the tallest hybrid-timber
building in Africa.

Timber
Architecture Timber Architecture
Some examples of timber architecture and
buildings are:
- The Gateway Project by Perkins & Will at the
University of British Columbia, which will
serve as a new hub for health sciences on
campus. The project will use mass timber, a
technology that uses laminated wood panels
to create strong and stable structural
elements. The project is inspired by the
surrounding landscape and the Musqueam
people who have lived on these territories
for generations.

view from above showing greenhouses and kitchen gardens
Timber
Architecture Timber Architecture
Some examples of timber
architecture and buildings are:
Timber House, Canada, by Adjaye
Associates
Timber House by Adjaye Associates
is expected to become one of the
largest residential mass-timber
structures in Canada.
Once complete, it will combine
affordable housing units with
residences for senior citizens,
enclosed by a distinctive gridded
facade with planted balconies.
The design forms part of the wider
Quayside development in Toronto,
which will also feature buildings by
Alison Brooks Architects and
Henning Larsen Architects and is
hoped to become "the first all-
electric, zero-carbon community at
this scale".

Bamboo Architecture

view from above showing greenhouses and kitchen gardens
Bamboo Architecture
Bamboo is a natural composite material with a high strength-to-
weight ratio that can be used for various purposes in
architecture, such as scaffolding, bridges, houses and buildings³.
Bamboo is also a rapidly renewable and low-carbon biomaterial
that can sequester large amounts of carbon from the
atmosphere¹. Due to its lightness and flexibility, bamboo can
create structures that are resistant to natural disasters such as
earthquakes and hurricanes¹. Bamboo architecture is not only
sustainable but also versatile, as it can form different shapes and
patterns, from arches and gridshells to lattices and lanterns¹².
Bamboo can also be integrated into modern buildings as a
decorative or supplementary element, such as fencing,
fountains, grates and gutters³. Bamboo architecture
demonstrates how this ancient construction material can offer a
more habitable environment to the next generation².
Source:
(1) Bamboo construction - Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_construction
(2) Ten impressive bamboo buildings that demonstrate the material ... - Dezeen.
https://www.dezeen.com/2021/08/04/impressive-bamboo-building-roundup/
(3) Structures Made of Bamboo | Architectural Digest.
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/most-beautiful-bamboo-structures-
in-the-world
(4) Construction Techniques: 7 Innovative Ways to Build With Bamboo - Journal.
https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/collections/bamboo-pavilions/

Bamboo
Architecture Bamboo is a natural composite material
with a high strength-to-weight ratio,
similar to timber, and it is rapidly
renewable and carbon-sequestering.
Bamboo also has a high aesthetic value
and can create organic and elegant
forms.
Bamboo architecture has a long history
in many parts of the world, especially in
Asia and Latin America, where it is widely
available and culturally valued. However,
in the 20th century, bamboo was largely
abandoned in favour of concrete and
steel, which were seen as more modern
and durable. Recently, bamboo has been
rediscovered by architects and
designers who appreciate its
environmental, social and economic
benefits, as well as its versatility and
beauty.
Some of the most impressive examples
of bamboo architecture include:
- The Arc by Ibuku: A self-supporting
roof made entirely from bamboo for the
gymnasium of Bali's Green School. The
structure is composed of 14-metre-high
cane arches connected by double-
curved gridshells, creating a large
enclosed space without columns.

Bamboo
Architecture - Rising Canes by Penda: A prototype bamboo pavilion for
Beijing Design Week that illustrates the basic unit of
construction for a future hotel project. The pavilion is
made of interlocking bamboo rods that form a modular
grid system.

Bamboo
Architecture Bamboo architecture is not
only a way of building with a
low-carbon material, but
also a way of celebrating the
beauty and diversity of
nature. Bamboo architecture
can offer a more habitable
environment to our next
generation.

Look at all those people running whit no sense,
they're losing precious moments of their lifes, no offense.
They just think about work and fame
but they are missing love and peace, and it's a shame.
They don't know how the flowers smell,
in their mind they only have chaos and hell.
Do they stop and enjoy under the pouring rain,
or for them there is only misery and pain? !
I'm so sorry,
but it's not everything about your glory.
Stop!
Enjoy the day, enjoy the sun,
find a woman and make your own son.
Embrace your friends and tell them you care,
destroy the fears and feel the love you share.
Don't be afraid to go your own way,
the right path is not where the others say.
I know that this world is to blame, that's mad,
but you can change it now, if you want, don't be sad.
© 2016 Suzana Mustra
Mad
World
Poem
by
Suzana
Mustra

Habitat ideas

Thriving cities, bustling streets
A place where people come to meet,
Tall buildings reaching for the sky,
A place where dreams can never die.
The sound of cars and people's feet,
The city's heartbeat can't be beat,
A place where cultures come to blend,
A place where people make amends.
The city's lights that never sleep,
A place where secrets are hard to keep,
A place where anything can be found,
A place where love and hope abound.
Thriving cities, bustling streets,
A place where people come to meet,
A place where dreams can never die,
A place where life is worth a try.
ChatGPT

Village 3.0
Concept

a framework for dialogue on how to create
thriving human life in the 21st century.
“Oft-quoted, Buckminster Fuller proposed:
‘You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To
change something, build a new model that makes the existing
model obsolete.’ This idea is at the core of our message.”
Village 3.0 seeks to find an authentic balance between old and new,
rural and urban, individualism and community, technology and nature.
A new generation of village, integrating the wisdom of philosophy,
tradition, ecovillages and intentional communities combined with
latest insights from systems-thinking, psychology, sociology, ecology
and organisational design.
A village designed around the possibilities of bottom-up, peer-to-peer
global collaboration and location free-livelihoods enabled by the
Internet.
Village 3.0 is a place of thriving entrepreneurship, creativity and
innovation, whilst also nurturing intimacy, well being, consciousness
and shared purpose.
Village 3.0 is based on a holistic understanding of health and wealth.
Village 3.0 draws upon many movements including next-stage
organisations, intentional community, lifelong self-directed-learning, as
well as permaculture, natural and ecological building.
Village 3.0 : Smart & Global

Village 3.0:
a framework for dialogue
on how to create thriving
human life in the
21st century.
Village 3.0 is based on a holistic
understanding of health and wealth.
Village 3.0 draws upon many
movements including next-stage
organisations, intentional community,
lifelong self-directed-learning, as well
as permaculture, natural and
ecological building. We believe that
there is a growing demand for Village
3.0’s where we can live truly balanced,
thriving lives.
In life everything is connected, so any
division is arbitrary to an extent, but to
enable learning and collaboration,
especially between very different kinds
of villages, we need a shared
framework for dialogue. The following
diagram is the framework we propose
to use for Village 3.0, mapping out the
integration of Purpose, People, Place,
Livelihood, Learning, Health.
https://medium.com/village-3-0/building-village-3-0-3fbff72372e8
Village
3.0

The concept of smart
villages is a new
approach to rural
development that aims to
harness the potential of
digital technologies,
social innovation and
community-led initiatives
to improve the quality of
life, resilience and
sustainability of rural
areas.
Smart villages are not a
one-size-fits-all solution,
but rather a context-
specific and participatory
process that involves
various actors and
sectors in co-creating
and implementing a
shared vision and
strategy for their territory.
Smart villages can
address various
challenges and
opportunities related to
agriculture, energy,
environment, education,
health, mobility,
governance and social
inclusion.
Village
3.0

Village 3.0 is a term that refers to the idea of creating smart and sustainable communities that
leverage the power of digital technologies and social innovation. Village 3.0 aims to address the
challenges of rural development, such as depopulation, aging, environmental degradation, and
social exclusion, by fostering a culture of collaboration, creativity, and entrepreneurship among
the villagers. Village 3.0 is based on the following concepts:
• Co-creation: Village 3.0 involves the participation of all the stakeholders in the design and
implementation of solutions that meet the needs and aspirations of the local community. Co-
creation fosters a sense of ownership, empowerment, and trust among the villagers.
• Circular economy: Village 3.0 adopts a circular economy approach that aims to minimize
waste and maximize the use of local resources. Circular economy promotes the principles of
reduce, reuse, recycle, and regenerate in all aspects of production and consumption. Circular
economy also fosters social and environmental responsibility and resilience.
• Social innovation: Village 3.0 encourages the development of new solutions that address
social problems and improve the well-being of the villagers. Social innovation involves the
use of novel methods, processes, products, or services that create social value and impact.
Social innovation also stimulates social capital and cohesion among the villagers
• Smart technologies: Village 3.0 uses digital tools and solutions, such as big data, Internet-of-
Things, e-services and e-governance, to improve the access to information, education,
health, markets and public services for rural residents. Smart technologies also enable better
management of natural resources, such as water, energy and land, and support the
development of renewable energy sources and circular economy models.
• Participatory approaches: Village 3.0 involves the active participation and empowerment of
rural stakeholders, such as farmers, entrepreneurs, women, youth and vulnerable groups, in
the identification, planning and implementation of local development initiatives. Participatory
approaches foster bottom-up innovation, social capital and collective action, as well as
ensure the responsiveness and accountability of service providers and policy makers.
• Multisectoral partnerships: Village 3.0 promotes the collaboration and coordination of
various actors from different sectors and levels, such as public, private, civil society and
academic institutions, to provide integrated and holistic solutions to the complex challenges
and opportunities faced by rural areas. Multisectoral partnerships also facilitate the exchange
of knowledge, best practices and resources among different regions and countries.
Village
3.0

The concept of smart villages offers a promising perspective for the future of
rural areas in Europe and beyond. However, it also faces some challenges and
limitations in its implementation. Some of these are:
- The lack of awareness and understanding of the concept among rural actors
and policy makers
- The lack of adequate funding and support mechanisms for smart village
initiatives
- The lack of appropriate skills and capacities among rural actors to use
digital technologies and innovations
- The lack of coordination and cooperation among different sectors and levels
of governance
- The risk of digital divide and social exclusion among rural populations
To overcome these challenges and limitations, it is necessary to:
- Raise awareness and disseminate good practices on smart villages among
rural actors and policy makers
- Provide tailored funding and support schemes for smart village initiatives
- Enhance the digital literacy and competence of rural actors
- Foster multi-stakeholder partnerships and networks for smart village
development
- Ensure the inclusiveness and accessibility of digital technologies and
innovations for all rural residents
: European Commission (2017). EU Action for Smart Villages.
https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/sites/default/files/rural-development-2014-2020/looking-
ahead/rur-dev-small-villages_en.pdf
: European Network for Rural Development (2019). Smart Rural Development: The Concept.
https://enrd.ec.europa.eu/sites/enrd/files/srd_concept.pdf
Village
3.0

Village 3.0 — A new idea for urban renewal
The Village 3.0 framework is intended to be
applied to all types of human settlement,
including urban and suburban.
Village 3.0 is intended to “cross the chasm”,
entering into the idea of return to village-centric
life out into mainstream conversation to show how
these ideas are valuable to broad demographics.
One way of realising an urban Village 3.0 is as a
“Virtual Village”. A group of people who get
together to create a Village 3.0 community of
mutual support, shared celebrations, and so on,
could come together and create an organisation,
a community, a shared culture.
They could have a number of shared spaces such
as a co-working, child-care, learning centre (aka
school), but would not all have to live in direct
proximity to each other, although being within
easy walking or bicycling distance would be
advantageous.
Village 3.0 is not a fixed formula or blueprint,
but a collection of recipes, conversations, case
studies — a pattern language which can be
applied and remixed according to the local
context and needs of each community.
Village
3.0

Village
3.0

Village
3.0

Global village
The term "global village" was coined by Marshall McLuhan, a
Canadian media theorist and cultural critic, to describe the
effects of mass media and communication technologies on the
world. McLuhan argued that the advent of electronic media,
such as radio, television, and the internet, had transformed the
world into a single community, where people could interact and
exchange information across time and space.
He saw this as a positive development, as it would foster a
greater understanding and empathy among different cultures
and perspectives. However, he also warned that the global
village could also create new forms of alienation, fragmentation,
and violence, as people would be exposed to more information
than they could process or cope with.
He also suggested that the global village would require new
forms of literacy and education, as well as new modes of
thinking and perception, to adapt to the changing environment.
McLuhan's concept of the global village has been widely
influential and debated in various fields of study, such as
communication, sociology, politics, and education.
It has also been challenged and criticized by some scholars,
who argue that it is too optimistic, simplistic, or deterministic.
They point out that the global village does not account for the
inequalities, power structures, and cultural differences that still
exist in the world. They also question whether the global village
is truly a reality or an idealized vision.
Village
3.0

ReGen. villages
Netherlands

ReGen. Sustainable villages

Innovative Self-Sustaining Village Model Could Be the Future of Semi-Urban Living
www.archdaily.com/794167/innovative-self-sustaining-village-model-could-be-the-future-of-semi-urban-living
Energy
Food
Water
Waste
Urban dwellers across the world work hard to pay the commodities of their
homes, such as mortgage, energy, water and heating, cooling and food. We
envision homes that work for you, producing clean energy, water, food off the
grid at affordable land prices outside our big cities, says, co-founder of EFFEKT.
An innovative new housing model dubbed ReGen Villages (short for
regenerative) has been developed in response to some of the world's most
pressing environmental, social and economic issues. Helmed by Dutch holding
firm ReGen Villages B.V. and Copenhagen-based architecture firm EFFEKT, the
new model facilitates off-the-grid, self-sustaining communal neighborhoods that
can be deployed across the globe. The first project site will be in Almere, the
Netherlands, with work starting this year.
ReGen.
Village

This redistribution of density fosters "a model that adds not
only environmental and financial value but also social value by
creating the framework for empowering families and
developing a true sense of community, reconnecting people
with nature and consumption with production." It brings back
a sense of achievement that accompanies the environmental
and social benefits, making it a more sustainable long-term
model.
After enlisting the backing of sovereign wealth funds looking
for sustainable investments, ReGen will acquire suitable areas
of land and begin contracting local consultants to help tailor
the model to the local environment. The housing model is
therefore optimized for the conditions at hand, with different
technologies being applied accordingly.
www.archdaily.com/794167/innovative-self-sustaining-village-model-could-be-the-future-of-semi-urban-living
ReGen.
Village
Innovative Self-Sustaining Village Model Could Be the Future of Semi-Urban Living

ReGen.
Village

ReGen.
Village

ReGen.
Village

ReGen.
Village

ReGen.
Village

ReGen.
Village

ReGen.
Village

Orchid Cities
Framework

Orchid City
Orchid City is a future-proof and fully self-
sustainable city that uses proven practices to build
communities for up to 50,000 people². It is the first
affordable, physically, socially, and environmentally
sustainable city blueprint in the world¹.
Orchid City goes beyond just being a beautiful
place to live. It is a home for those who want to live
happy, healthy lives, in harmony with the
environment and the community around them2.
By utilizing a holistic and climate-adaptive vision,
Orchid City solves many infrastructure and
systemic challenges related to clean energy
generation, waste management, food production,
and housing3.
Source:
Orchid City - Except Integrated Sustainability B.V..
https://except.eco/projects/orchid-city/ Accessed
(2) Orchid City – Reinventing the future of living.
https://orchidcity.eco/ Accessed
(3) Orchid City Press Release - Except Integrated Sustainability
B.V.. https://except.eco/about/news/excepts-news/orchid-city-
press-release/ Accessed 25/03/2023.

Orchid City at a Glance
Fully self-sustainable in:
• Producing energy, water supply,
and waste management.
• Organic food cultivation and
regenerative agriculture.
• Providing jobs and meaningful
work.
• Supplying all social services,
including health and aged-care.
• Offering educational programs
for all ages.
Offers a variety and choice of:
• Housing options across a range
of different designs, styles, and
budgets.
• Education, schooling, and day-
care facilities.
• Food and consumer goods.
• Entertainment, cafes, and
restaurants.
• Car-free communities and self-
driving electrified transport.
Orchid City is fully sustainable in:
Orchid
City

Resource circularity
Regenerative resources cycles
keep the city flourishing Orchid
City's self sufficiency is driven
by a closed-loop, circular
approach, powered by
ecosystem services.
Besides food, energy, and
water, it is mostly circular with
regards to all other resources,
including building materials,
transport and equipment, and
agriculture.
Driven by ecosystem services, a
true closed loop economy is
created, capturing value as well
as boosting ecosystem
regeneration.
On-site workshops create
essential daily products, such
as ceramics, textiles and
clothing, construction
materials, and tools
Orchid
City

Orchid
City

Orchid
City
:
Vietnam A VIBRANT AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY WHERE
EVERYONE CAN STAY CONNECTED.
A rediscovered life, in and with nature, connected to the
community, from the start of life to the very end, for all.
Orchid City re-imagines living by creating a safe, unique,
and exciting place to live and work, for now and for in
the future. Together.
Trans-generational living
Community services and program
Safe, generation-proof homes
Commute by bike or public transport
Financial support for startups
Social housing
Workshop centres

Orchid
City
:
Brazil "The world is looking for answers.
Sustainability has become the most
prevalent challenge in policy and
business strategy.
The time is ripe for visions that go
beyond single-issue solutions, that
address an essential change in the
foundations of how we live, work,
produce, play, and prosper.
The best way we can achieve this is if
we combine the benefits of a
multitude of solutions in a holistic
blueprint of a new way of living. That
is what this project is about.
We developed a blueprint for a fully
self-sustaining city, where all daily
needs are met, including social,
environmental, financial, and
material.
An open city, in full interaction with
the rest of the world, yet that
functions fundamentally differently.
An inspiring place that offers a large
part of our world population a
perspective on a healthy, exciting,
liveable future.”
- Tom Bosschaert, Director of Except.

Soulful City
Edmonton

“The Soulful City” is the result of this examination. It is an
exploration of wellness rooted both in the experience of
those living on the streets of Edmonton today, and a
long history of philosophical thought. It looks to
Indigenous, Eastern, Western, and interdisciplinary
perspectives on what it means to be well.
We might not think twice about words like wellness and
well- being, but behind the words are ideas that shape
how we organize our lives, distribute resources and
define problems.
This study of urban wellness has led us to a narrative, full
of moments and characters, ideas and themes that can
ground us in new and different ways of thinking and
talking about living and being well: connected to self,
body, land, culture, community, human development
and spirit.
Source:
• Soulful City — Recover - Urban Wellbeing in Edmonton.
https://www.urbanwellnessedmonton.com/soulful-city
• Recover: Our Present | City of Edmonton.
https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/initiatives_innovation/o
ur-present
• The Soulful City - Executive Summary (8.5x11) V2 - Edmonton.
https://www.edmonton.ca/sites/default/files/public-
files/assets/PDF/SoulfulCity-ExecutiveSummary-v.2.pdf
Soulful City

The City of Edmonton’s vision and strategic plan for achieving its
goals are encapsulated in seven foundational documents. The first,
called “The Way Ahead” is a summary of the City’s consultation with
various stakeholder groups including resi- dents, developers,
businesses, and community advocates and the resulting vision for
the City, strategic 10 year goals to achieve the vision and various
measured targets and objectives along the way.
Edmonton City Soul
Following the introductory plan “The Way Ahead,” six documents
aid in the visioning of Edmonton’s long- term vision. They are as
follows:
• The Way We Green
Preserving and sustaining Edmonton’s natural environment and
natural resources
• The Way We Grow
Transforming the urban form of the city
• The Way We Live
Increasing the livability of all neighbourhoods and new growth
areas
• The Way We Move
Shifting Edmonton’s transportation priorities
• The Way We Finance
Investing in financial sustainability for the city
• The Way We Prosper
Diversifying Edmonton’s economy
Soulful
City

The “People Plan” is meant to integrate existing initiatives and plans into the overall vision for a better quality of life for
Edmonton residents. Plans such as the “Great Neighbourhoods Initiative,” the Downtown Plan, residential infill guidelines and
master plans for Edmonton libraries, parks and recreation facilities, accomplish ongoing objectives for the City in addition to
Community Strategies and Development branch programs. Concurrently, public input into the plan resulted in six goals for
Edmonton that are bolstered by benchmarks and specific policy directives.
The six goals to improve Edmonton’s liveability are as follows:
1. Edmonton is a vibrant, connected, engaged and welcoming city
a. Relationships are an important part of Edmonton’s quality of life
b. Objectives and policy directives focus on building neighbourhoods and public spaces for increased connectivity,
connecting residents with city programs and services, and building an overall city identity as a diverse and culturally rich
capital city.
2. Edmonton celebrates life!
a. Enhancing the opportunities for active and healthy residents
b. Objectives and policy directives focus on investment in leisure, social, and recreational prospects, improve upon the city’s
rich arts community, and continue to improve on Edmonton’s festival culture.
3. Edmonton is a caring, inclusive and affordable community
a. Building a city that allows all citizens to achieve their aspirations while finding a sense of belonging
b. Objectives and policy directives focus on providing services to the marginalized and vulnerable and decreasing barriers for
all residents to engage in an active lifestyle.
4. Edmonton is a safe city
a. Connected and caring communities are safer communities
b. Objectives and policy directives focus on enforcement, development design, and support networks to decrease crime and
the effects of crimes.
5. Edmonton is an attractive city
a. Highlighting Edmonton as a beautiful place in all seasons
b. Objectives and policy directives focus on building civic pride through design initiatives, showcasing arts and culture, and
preserving historical resources.
6. Edmonton is a sustainable city
a. Social sustainability is achieved through empowering the next generation of community leaders
b. Objectives and policy directives focus on “complete communities” through building a balance of social ser- vices, housing
options, and businesses in every neighbourhood while investing in environmental resources and economic opportunities.
Soulful
City

RECOVER’s learning journey has led us to
focus on building and maintaining different
types of connections, understanding them as
being key to well-being.
The heart of our wellbeing framework is the
cultivation of a deep sense of connection and
balance. We’ve identified six types of
connection that are important to nourish in
the pursuit of wellbeing. They are connection
to:
• friends, family and community
• body and self
• the sacred
• culture
• the human project (or self-actualization
and purpose)
• land and ground
To affect these different forms of connection,
RECOVER has identified six cultural or
systems change levers.
• frames and narratives - what is valued and
believed
• law, regulations, and incentives - what is
reinforced or punished
• knowledge and meanings - what’s
understood
• roles and resources - who’s equipped and
in power
• interactions and environments - what’s
modelled
• routines and repertoires - what’s practiced
and habitual
Soulful
City

The wellbeing framework
https://www.urbanwellnessedmonton.com/soulful-city
Soulful
City
Wellness isn’t a linear
pursuit, so much as a
circuitous journey.
Rather than reduce
wellness to a
hierarchical list of
factors, we can
identify lots of
interwoven
elements.

The wellbeing framework
Soulful
City Mental wellness is a balance of the mental, physical, spiritual, and
emotional. This balance is enriched as people have:
HOPE for their future and those of their families that is grounded in a
sense of identity, unique Indigenous values, and having a belief in spirit;
a sense of BELONGING and connectedness within their families, to
community, and to culture;
MEANING and an understanding of how their lives and those of their
families and communities are part of creation and a rich history and finally,
a sense of PURPOSE in their daily lives whether it is through education,
employment, care-giving activities, or cultural ways of being and doing;

Soulful City

Soulful
City

15-Minute City
Concept

The 15-minute city is an urban planning concept that aims to
create cities where most daily needs and services can be
reached within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from any point in
the city.
This concept is based on the idea of reducing car dependency,
promoting healthy and sustainable living, and improving
wellbeing and quality of life for city dwellers.
The 15-minute city requires a multi-disciplinary approach,
involving transportation planning, urban design, and
policymaking, to create well-designed public spaces,
pedestrian-friendly streets, and mixed-use developments.
The concept has gained popularity in recent years, especially
after the COVID-19 pandemic, as a way to build more resilient,
inclusive, and livable cities. ¹²³⁴
Source:
(1) 15-minute city - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15-minute_city.
(2) 15-minute cities: What are they and how do they work?.
https://www.dw.com/en/15-minute-cities-what-are-they-and-how-do-they-
work/a-64907776.
(3) How '15-minute cities' will change the way we socialise.
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201214-how-15-minute-cities-will-
change-the-way-we-socialise.
(4) What is the '15-minute city' conspiracy theory? - ABC News.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-27/the-15-minute-city-
conspiracy/102015446
15 Minute City

15 Minute City
This concept relies on seven basic
principles: human-scale urban
design,
• density,
• diversity,
• flexibility,
• proximity,
• digitalization, and
• connectivity,
that can contribute to social,
economic, and environmental
sustainability.
However, the 15-minute city has
been criticized for being:
• physically deterministic,
• taking a one-size-fits-all
approach,
• failing to take into account the
needs of different demographic
and socio-economic groups, and
• ignoring environmental
protection,
• biodiversity,
• energy-efficient structures,
• green and clean energies,
• as well as local vernacular,
culture and heritage.
15
Minute
City

The 15 minute city concept is
a vision of urban planning that
aims to create more livable
and sustainable
neighborhoods.
The idea is that people should
be able to access most of their
daily needs within a 15 minute
walk or bike ride from their
homes, such as shops,
services, schools, parks,
culture and leisure.
This would reduce the need
for cars and long commutes,
and promote more social
interaction and community
engagement.
The 15 minute city concept
also encourages more mixed-
use development, where
residential, commercial and
public spaces coexist and
complement each other.
Some of the benefits of the 15
minute city concept are:
improved health and well-
being, reduced carbon
emissions and air pollution,
increased local economy and
resilience, enhanced social
cohesion and diversity, and
more vibrant and attractive
urban environments.
15
Minute
City

Every city is a creative ecosystem
While the first real experiences of smart
cities, dead on arrival for the most part,
have been bottomless money pits, Carlos
Moreno, a researcher in the fields
of complex systems, robotics, and artificial
intelligence, contrasts this notion with a
new vision of the “living city.
” While he is aware of the importance of
digital tools in the design and evolution of
the urban fabric, he nevertheless criticizes
the techno-centric and universalist
dimension of the smart city, which erases
the place of the living and its interactions,
literally generating dead cities.
The living city seeks to understand the
other and the way that it interacts with its
socio-territorial-urban environment.
Technological but first and foremost
human, the living city advocates
relationships and exchange to bring forth
new ideas and practices.
It is a creative ecosystem not dictated by
the vertical nature of technology or of
architecture, but based on metabolic
exchanges and citizens’ re-appropriation
based on a DIY approach.
https://www.pca-stream.com/en/articles/carlos-moreno-beyond-the-smart-city-114
15
Minute
City

The living city is the ability to understand
the other and the way that they interact with
their socio-territorial-urban environment.
Augustin Berque calls this relationship with
the milieu the ecumene, updating the idea
of anthropized lands already established by
Eratosthenes in the third century A.D. At the
beginning of his book he quotes the phrase
from Jean-Marc Besse,
“Between me and myself, there is the Earth.”
The world is a whole and man, to cite Edgar
Morin, has artificially separated things that
are naturally connected.
We are a part of a complex world, made up
of transversal elements, or interrelationships
and interdependencies.
The living city is nothing other than a city
that takes into consideration all of these
relationships in order to allow the
emergence of new ideas, practices, and
creations.
https://www.pca-stream.com/en/articles/carlos-moreno-
beyond-the-smart-city-114
15
Minute
City

The idea of a 15-minute city is not
an entirely new one, but one which
has been discussed for decades
back to Jane Jacobs, and William H
Whyte. Jacobs touted that
proximity is the key in The Life and
Death of Great American Cities.
Here we are many years later with
real cause to investigate these
theories again.
The idea is that most things we
need on a daily basis can be found
within a specific walking or cycling
radius from our homes. This
automatically brings to mind a
town rather than a city.
So what would this mean for our
capital and global cities like
London? How does this idea of a
much more local town-like
environment fit into a large,
complex, sprawling city?
15
Minute
City

Is the 15-minute city having its 15
minutes of fame, or is it here to
stay?
Holly Harrington discusses what the 15-minute
city could mean for our capital
My view of the 15-minute city is ultimately about
flexibility and choice for everyone who inhabits
it. We would have the option to work from home,
work locally, and still work in the city centre for
part of the week or every day still if we choose.
If any silver linings are to be found out of this
crisis it is that we are adaptable and resilient.
Our cities should follow this lead. In my earlier
research I was proposing London as
Archipelago-polis or a connected set or urban
islands that work together to make a whole.
The idea was that by embracing, enhancing and
activating these unique islands and their
connections to other islands, local culture could
be retained, and we could avoid the sprawl of
glass skyscrapers and global architecture that
doesn’t respond to its surroundings.
Six years on from that research, it seems that a
series of urban islands links in very well with the
15-minute city concept and could very well
become a new manifesto for London.
15
Minute
City

Copenhagen, Sweden,
Amsterdam and several cities in
China have all embraced this
concept in the recent years and
have already started upon several
legislative and supporting
infrastructure developments.
Considering these moves were
made before the pandemic, there
is evidently validity in many of its
principles. Barcelona is not Paris,
and neither is London so each city
across the world will have to
review what this means to them,
their culture and how best to
implement the approach.
With a new outlook on our daily
and working lives, I am sure many
of us would like the ease and
flexibility that less commuting and
more proximity could provide.
Whilst the idea is having its 15
minutes of fame, I think it is safe to
say it may not only be wishful
thinking and could be the
beginnings of our future cities.
15
Minute
City

15
Minute
City

15
Minute
City

Have you heard of the 15 minute concept? It's a simple but powerful idea that can help you improve your
productivity, creativity and well-being. The concept is based on the premise that you can achieve a lot in just 15
minutes if you focus on one task at a time and avoid distractions. Here are some examples of how you can apply the
15 minute concept to different aspects of your life:
- Work: Instead of multitasking or procrastinating, set a timer for 15 minutes and work on one project or task
without interruption. You'll be surprised by how much progress you can make in a short amount of time. You can
also use the 15 minute concept to break down larger or more complex tasks into manageable chunks.
- Learning: Whether you want to learn a new skill, language or hobby, you can use the 15 minute concept to make
it easier and more fun. Dedicate 15 minutes a day to learning something new and practice it regularly. You can
use online courses, books, podcasts, videos or any other resource that suits your learning style and goals.
- Health: You don't need to spend hours at the gym or follow a strict diet to improve your health. You can use the
15 minute concept to incorporate some simple but effective habits into your daily routine. For example, you can
do a 15 minute workout at home, go for a 15 minute walk outside, meditate for 15 minutes, cook a healthy meal
in 15 minutes or read a book for 15 minutes before bed.
- Fun: The 15 minute concept is not only about work and learning, but also about having fun and enjoying life. You
can use it to carve out some time for yourself and do something that makes you happy. For example, you can
listen to your favorite music for 15 minutes, play a game for 15 minutes, call a friend for 15 minutes or watch a
funny video for 15 minutes.
The 15 minute concept is a simple way to make the most of your time and energy. By focusing on one thing at a
time and doing it well, you can achieve more with less stress and more satisfaction. Try it out and see what you can
accomplish in just 15 minutes!
15 Minute concept

“People today will mostly focus on the
points of connection, the nodes of
interest like stars in the sky. But the real
understanding comes in the spaces in-
between, in the relational forces that
connect and move the points.”
TysonYunkaporta

Amsterdam City
Doughnut

Doughnut
Boundaries The Doughnut, or Doughnut economics, is a visual
framework for sustainable development – shaped
like a doughnut or lifebelt – combining the concept
of planetary boundaries with the complementary
concept of social boundaries. The name derives
from the shape of the diagram, i.e. a disc with a
hole in the middle. The centre hole of the model
depicts the proportion of people that lack access
to life‘s
essentials (healthcare, education, equity and so
on) while the crust represents the ecological
ceilings (planetary boundaries) that life depends
on and must not be overshot. The diagram was
developed by University of Oxford economist Kate
Raworth in her 2012 Oxfam paper A Safe and Just
Space for Humanity and elaborated upon in her
2017 book Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to
Think Like a 21st-Century Economist and paper.
The framework was proposed to regard the
performance of an economy by the extent to which
the needs of people are met without overshooting
Earth's ecological ceiling. The main goal of the
new model is to re-frame economic problems and
set new goals. In this model, an economy is
considered prosperous when all twelve social
foundations are met without overshooting any of
the nine ecological ceilings. This situation is
represented by the area between the two rings,
considered by its creator as the safe and just space
for humanity.

Safe and just space
If getting into the
Doughnut’s safe and just
space between these social
and planetary boundaries is
humanity’s 21st century
goal, then – it comes as no
surprise – we have a big job
ahead.
Many millions of people still
lack life’s essentials, living
daily with hunger, illiteracy,
insecurity and voicelessness.
At the same time,
humanity’s collective
pressure on the planet has
already overshot at least
four planetary boundaries:
for climate change, land
conversion, fertilizer use,
and biodiversity loss.
In other words, today’s
global economy is deeply
divisive – riven with extreme
inequalities – and it is
degenerative too, running
down the living world on
which everything depends.
Doughnut
Boundaries

Amsterdam
City
Doughnut

Amsterdam
City
Doughnut

Amsterdam
City
Doughnut

Amsterdam
City
Doughnut

Amsterdam
City
Doughnut

Amsterdam
City
Doughnut

Transition Towns
Concept

transitionnetwork.org
Transition Towns
Transition towns are a movement of communities that aim to create more resilient, sustainable and equitable ways
of living in the face of global challenges such as climate change, peak oil and economic instability. Transition towns
are based on the idea that local action can have a global impact, and that by working together, people can create
positive solutions for the future. Transition towns follow a self-organizing model that encourages creativity,
collaboration and participation. Transition towns can be found in different types of places, such as villages, regions,
islands and cities. ³¹²
Source:
(1) Transition town - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transition_town .
(2) Transition Network | Transition Towns. https://transitionnetwork.org/
(3) Transition Groups Near Me | Transition Towns - Network. https://transitionnetwork.org/transition-near-me/
.

Transition is an ongoing social experiment; a movement of communities coming together to reimagine and
rebuild our world through a process of creating healthy human culture.
Transition is deeply ambitious. It wants to change the way the places we live feed themselves, house
themselves, employ themselves, power themselves. That’s a big ask. And it will take time, determination and
togetherness. But what’s vital to remember is that how you do your projects matters as much, if not more,
than what the projects are.
What we are doing here isn’t just creating projects that reimagine and rebuild the world. What is just as
important is that the way we work, the organisational cultures we create, should also model the kind of
world we want to create.
There’s no use trying to create a new, healthier and more resilient culture if we end up replicating the
unhealthy ways of relating and working that underpin our current culture.
transitionnetwork.org
Transition
Towns

transitionnetwork.org
Transition is a movement that has been growing since 2005. It is about
communities stepping up to address the big challenges they face by
starting local. By coming together, they are able to crowd-source
solutions. They seek to nurture a caring culture, one focused on
supporting each other, both as groups or as wider communities. In
practice, they are reclaiming the economy, sparking entrepreneurship,
reimagining work, reskilling themselves and weaving webs of
connection and support. It’s an approach that has spread now to over
50 countries, in thousands of groups: in towns, villages, cities,
Universities, schools. One of the key ways it spreads is through telling
inspiring stories, and that’s what we aim to do on this website. We really
hope you feel inspired to take part, we’d be honoured if you did.
Transition
Towns

PERM(anent)(agri)CULTURE is focused on using ecological ethics and principles as
design tools to consciously design landscapes which mimic the relationships and
patterns found in nature, aiming to establish systems to provide an abundance of
food, fibre, medicine, water, shelter, energy and therefore health, in a way that does
not destroy the natural ecosystems of the earth. On a personal level, it results in a
lifestyle of integrating ecologically sustainable qualities into our lives and
communities. https://www.earthmumma.co/blog/What%20is%20Permaculture
Transition
Towns
&
Permaculture

Transition
Towns Guided by the permaculture
principles and ethics as decision-
making tools and strategies, we
can take action as individuals,
influencing sustainable practices
starting at Home, engaging
Community, supporting our
Bioregion and influencing
beyond.
By progressively integrating all
the domains mentioned, we
can develop networks of locally
appropriate solutions of localised
techniques (T) and be far better
equipped to thrive in the
uncertain future.
Some Goals of Permaculture •
Grow food where people are •
Re-Forest the Earth • Reclaim and
build soil • Sequester carbon to
balance the biosphere • Create
Regenerative Culture • Catalyse a
Global Grassroots Movement
Ecological, Social,
Cultural Healing • Restorative
Justice • Education for Self-
Reliance • Connect with nature •
Right livelihoods.
https://www.earthmumma.co/blog/What%20is%20Permaculture
Transition
Towns
&
Permaculture

Colonialism had a profound impact on Africa. It did not allow
for industrialization of Africa and assigned Africa the role of
production of primary goods or raw materials in the
international division of labour.
Colonialism encouraged and intensified class struggle,
tribalism, and ethnicity within the African colonies ¹. The
establishment of colonial rule over the African interior
reinforced Africa’s commodity export growth.
Colonial control facilitated the construction of railways, induced
large inflows of European investment, and forced profound
changes in the operation of labour and land markets ³.
Imperialism is a policy of extending a country's power and
influence through colonization, use of military force, or other
means. Over the past 500 years there have been different
phases of colonization ⁵.
Source:
1. What did colonialism do to Africa?. https://findanyanswer.com/what-did-
colonialism-do-to-africa
2. (2) How Africa’s colonial history affects its development.
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/07/how-africas-colonial-history-
affects-its-development/
3. (3) The Impact of Colonialism | South African History Online.
https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/impact-colonialism.
4. (4) Positive and Negative Effects of Colonialism in Africa.
https://bscholarly.com/positive-and-negative-effects-of-colonialism-in-africa/
5. (5) Colonisation of Africa - Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonisation_of_Africa Acu8
Poverty: a sign of the times

Slum upgrading is an integrated approach that aims to turn around
downward trends in an area. It involves improving the physical
environment such as water supply, sanitation, waste collection,
electricity, drainage, road paving and street lighting. Additional
strategies may be included to improve access to health, education and
social services, increase residents’ income and secure legal rights to the
land¹².
UN-Habitat's Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme has helped slum
dwellers with improved tenure security in 190 cities in 40 countries in
Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific regions³.
Improving the urban poor's quality of life and access to services can
improve a city's economy, environment, public health, education levels,
and more. In fact, upgrading slums in place to be safer, more liveable
and more resilient against climate change is written into the New Urban
Agenda⁵.
Source: (1) The effect of slum upgrading on slum dwellers' health ... - Cochrane.
https://www.cochrane.org/CD010067/PUBHLTH_the-effect-of-slum-upgrading-on-slum-
dwellers-health-quality-of-life-and-social-wellbeing
(2) Slum upgrading - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slum_upgrading
(3) Slum Upgrading | UN-Habitat. https://unhabitat.org/topic/slum-upgrading.
(4) To Fix City Slums, Don't Just Knock Them Down: Involve Residents in ....
https://www.wri.org/insights/fix-city-slums-dont-just-knock-them-down-involve-residents-
upgrading-efforts.
(5) Community-led upgrade to a Nairobi slum could be a model for Africa ....
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/nov/12/mukuru-kenya-
community-led-upgrade-nairobi-slum-could-be-model-for-Africa§
City Slums

Slum upgrading projects aim to improve the physical environment
such as water supply, sanitation, waste collection, electricity, drainage,
road paving and street lighting. Additional strategies may be
included to improve access to health, education and social services,
increase residents’ income and secure legal rights to the land¹².
For example, slum upgrading projects in Indonesia and Pakistan are
working to improve marketplaces and kiosks for street vendors. In
Buenos Aires’ Barrio 31 neighbourhood, among other efforts, the
World Bank is supporting an entrepreneurship centre that’s helping
formalize 900 informal businesses².
In a participatory approach, UN-Habitat engages a wide range of
stakeholders in the process of slum upgrading: local communities,
national and local governments, financial partners and key
stakeholders from non-governmental organisations (NGOs),
community based organizations, foundations and institutions, as well
as private sector and academia⁴.
Examples of Slum Upgrading Projects include Technical cooperation
on a citywide slum upgrading programme in São Paulo⁵.
Source:
COVID-19 Turns Spotlight on Slums - World Bank.
https://bing.com/search?q=slum+upgrading+projects+examples
(2) COVID-19 Turns Spotlight on Slums - World Bank.
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2020/06/10/covid-19-turns-spotlight-on-
slums Accessed 26/03/2023.
(3) Slum Upgrading | UN-Habitat. https://unhabitat.org/topic/slum-upgrading.
(4) Examples of Slum Upgrading Projects | Cities Alliance.
https://www.citiesalliance.org/examples-slum-upgrading-projects.
(5) Slums and Slum Upgrading | Cities Alliance.
https://www.citiesalliance.org/themes/slums-and-slum-upgrading
Urban
Slums

According to Habitat for Humanity International, some common
barriers to slum upgrades are¹:
- Insufficient legal and regulatory systems
- Excessive land regulation
- Gender discrimination
- Corrupt, inefficient, or inadequate land registration systems
- Disintegration of customary and traditional protections
- Lack of political will around the issue
Commitment to large scale slum upgrading programs will necessarily
involve policy reforms in land regulations. A major challenge in slum
neighborhoods is that the land space is conscripted and may not be
able to cater for all the residents after an upgrading exercise.
Upgrading process almost inevitably requires the demolition of some
dwellings to pave way for infrastructure runs, sites for schools and
clinics, and the removal of dangerously located dwellings³.
Slum upgrading requires substantial and sustained investments from
various sources, such as public budgets, private sector, international
donors, civil society, and slum dwellers themselves².
Source:
(1) Slum upgrading - Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slum_upgrading.
(2) Global slum upgrading practices : identifying the contemporary
challenges. https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/EJC174580.
(3) Financing Slum Upgrading: Challenges and Opportunities.
https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/what-main-challenges-opportunities-
financing-slum.
(4) AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF SLUM UPGRADING PRACTICES - Cities
Alliance. https://www.citiesalliance.org/sites/default/files/2022-
03/Cities%20Alliance_Informality%20Papers%20Series_Intnl%20Review%20
Slum%20Upgrading%20Practices.pdf
(5) Slum Upgrading | UN-Habitat. https://unhabitat.org/topic/slum-
upgrading
Urban
Slums

Regenerative Design
Concepts

Ekistics
RSVP Cycles
Design with Nature
Poverty Spotlight
Urban Profiling

C. A. Doxiadis
Ekistics is the science of human settlements including
regional, city, community planning and dwelling design¹.
It involves the descriptive study of all kinds of human
settlements and the formulation of general conclusions
aimed at achieving harmony between the inhabitants of a
settlement and their physical and sociocultural
environments².
Ekistics aims to understand the physical, social, and
economic aspects of settlements and how they interact
with each other and with the environment³.
EKISTICS creates memorable places that are balanced and
sustaining⁴.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 25/03/2023(1) Ekistics - Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekistics Accessed 25/03/2023.
(2) Ekistics | sociology | Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/ekistics Accessed 25/03/2023.
(3) EKISTICS DEVELOPMENT THEORY ⋆ Archi-Monarch.
https://archi-monarch.com/ekistics-development-theory/ Accessed
25/03/2023.
(4) EKISTICS - Creating Great Places. https://ekistics.com/ Accessed
25/03/2023.
(5) Ekistics Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ekistics Accessed
25/03/2023.
Ekistics

www.doxiadis.org/Downloads/ecistics_the_science_of_human_settlements.pdf
Ekistics
C.
A.
Doxiadis

© integralMENTORS
Definition of ekistics: a science dealing with human
settlements and drawing on the research and
experience of professionals in various fields (as
architecture, engineering, city planning, and
sociology).
Ekistics concerns the science of human settlements,
including regional, city, community planning and
dwelling design.
The study involves every kind of human settlement,
with particular attention to geography, ecology,
human psychology, anthropology, culture, politics,
and occasionally aesthetics.
As a scientific mode of study, ekistics currently relies
on statistics and description, organized in five ekistic
elements or principles: nature, anthropos, society,
shells, and networks.
It is generally a more scientific field than urban
planning, and has considerable overlap with some of
the less restrained fields of architectural theory.
In application, conclusions are drawn aimed at
achieving harmony between the inhabitants of a
settlement and their physical and socio-cultural
environments
Constantinos A. Doxiadis - Architect & Urban Planner
Ekistics
C.
A.
Doxiadis

Ekistics
C.
A.
Doxiadis

RSVP Cycles

Lawrence Halprin was a
renowned landscape
architect and urban designer
who developed a creative
process model called RSVP
Cycles. RSVP stands for
Resources, Scores,
Valuaction and Performance.
The model is based on the
idea that any design project
can be seen as a dynamic
and collaborative process
that involves multiple
participants, inputs and
outputs.
Halprin used RSVP Cycles to
guide his own design work
as well as to facilitate
workshops and community
engagement.
In this article, we will
introduce the main concepts
and components of RSVP
Cycles and how they can be
applied to different design
contexts and challenges.
The main concepts of Lawrence
Halprin's RSVP Cycles are:
- Resources: These are the raw
materials or inputs that are available
for a creative process, such as
people, places, ideas, tools, etc.
- Scores: These are the plans or
guidelines that shape the creative
process, such as scripts, maps,
diagrams, rules, etc.
- Valuaction: This is the evaluation or
feedback that occurs during and
after the creative process, such as
critique, reflection, revision, etc.
- Performance: This is the outcome or
output of the creative process, such
as a product, a service, an event, a
presentation, etc.
The RSVP Cycles are a way of
understanding and facilitating any
creative process, whether it is artistic,
scientific, social, or personal. They
emphasize the importance of
iteration, collaboration, and
adaptation in generating innovative
and meaningful results
RSVP
Cycles

Design with Nature
Source:
(1)What does it mean to design with nature now? | The McHarg Center.
https://mcharg.upenn.edu/what-does-it-mean-design-nature-now-0
(2) The place of nature in the city. A practical take on Ian McHarg's… | by .... https://uxdesign.cc/the-
place-of-nature-in-the-city-bd518742446d
(3) Design with Nature, 25th Anniversary Edition | Wiley. https://www.wiley.com/en-
us/Design+with+Nature,+25th+Anniversary+Edition-p-9780471114604
(4) Design With Nature by Ian L. McHarg | Goodreads.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/260554.Design_With_Nature
(5) What does it mean to design with nature now? | The McHarg Center.
https://bing.com/search?q=McHarg+Design+with+nature .
(6) DESIGN WITH NATURE- Ian L. McHarg. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/design-nature-ian-l-
mcharg-ar-shriya-agrawal
The main concepts of Ian McHarg
design with nature are based on the
idea that human activities should be
in harmony with the natural
environment, rather than
dominating or destroying it.
McHarg proposed that design
should be guided by ecological
principles, such as respecting the
diversity and integrity of natural
systems, adapting to the local
context and conditions, and
minimizing negative impacts on the
environment.
He also advocated for a holistic and
interdisciplinary approach to design,
involving collaboration among
experts from different fields and
stakeholders from different sectors.
McHarg's design with nature is
considered a pioneering and
influential contribution to the fields
of landscape architecture,
environmental planning, and
sustainable development.

Introduction to McHarg Design with nature
McHarg Design with nature is a design approach that aims to create sustainable and resilient human
settlements that are in harmony with the natural environment. McHarg Design with nature was
developed by Ian McHarg, a Scottish landscape architect and environmental planner, who published his
influential book Design with Nature in 1969.
McHarg Design with nature is based on the idea that every place has its own unique ecological and
cultural characteristics, and that design should respect and enhance these qualities.
McHarg Design with nature uses a method of ecological analysis that considers various factors such as
climate, topography, hydrology, vegetation, wildlife, and human activities.
McHarg Design with nature also advocates for public participation and interdisciplinary collaboration in
the design process.
McHarg Design with nature has inspired many projects and movements in the fields of landscape
architecture, urban planning, environmental design, and conservation.
Design
with
Nature

Design
with
Nature
medium.com/@designforsustainability/visionaries-of-regenerative-design-iv-ian-l-mcharg-1920-2001-ea6da90b1958

Design
with
Nature

Poverty Stoplight
Poverty Stoplight is an approach that helps
people progress out of poverty by
empowering them to understand and map
their own choices³.
The Poverty Stoplight defines what it means
"not to be poor" across 6 dimensions:
Income & Employment,
Health & Environment,
Housing & Infrastructure,
Education & Culture,
Organization & Participation,
Interiority & Motivation¹.
It offers a self-assessment survey and
intervention model that enables people to
develop practical solutions to overcome
their specific needs².
(1) Poverty Spotlight | Learning In Reach.
https://learninginreach.org.za/our-impact/poverty-
spotlight/
(2) What is Poverty Stoplight?.
https://www.povertystoplight.org/en/what-it-is/
(3) Poverty Stoplight. https://www.povertystoplight.org/

Poverty
Stoplight Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is
an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental
human right, the right to dignity and a decent life".
- Nelson Mandela
www.fundacionparaguaya.org.py/ www.povertystoplight.org/
fundacion
paraguaya

www.fundacionparaguaya.org.py/ www.povertystoplight.org/
2010
Microfinance program
Fundación Paraguaya
28/07/2010
IKATU POVERTY ELIMINATION
Poverty
Stoplight
fundacion
paraguaya

Urban
Profiling
www.circlesofsustainability.org/
The Urban Profile Process is primarily
intended as a way of developing a
comprehensive and interpretative description
of the sustainability of an urban region and its
immediate hinterland. There are many such
tools for measuring sustainability, but most of
those tools either depend upon developing
hugely expensive banks of statistics or turning
to one-off, narrow and limited surveys. The
profile template can be used for a region of
any size including a city, metropolis, town,
municipality, or village.

Living City - AI Generated by DALLI.E

Biomimicry
Cradle to cradle
Circular Economy
Urban wellbeing

Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks
sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating
nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies.
The goal is to create products, processes, and policies—
new ways of living—that are well-adapted to life on earth
over the long haul.
The core idea is that nature has already solved many of
the problems we are grappling with. Animals, plants, and
microbes are the consummate engineers. After billions of
years of research and development, failures are fossils,
and what surrounds us is the secret to survival.
biomimicry.org/what-is-biomimicry/
Biomimicry

“We envision biomimicry to be a societal
and economic game changer, turning
what is unexplored today into an
ecosystem of vibrant, sustainable
innovation.”
“Only such a function-oriented mindset
will lead us to entirely novel solutions as
opposed to trying to pimp mediocre
existing ones.”
Driven by the prospects of disruptive
innovation, biomimicry remains a magnet
for solving design challenges in novel
ways.
By forging a positive instead of an
adversarial relationship between
technology, business, and the
environment, we envision biomimicry to
be a societal and economic game
changer, turning what is unexplored
today into an ecosystem of vibrant,
sustainable innovation.
“The relation of mobility to urban space
and resources in the modern city has
failed in all aspects of sustainability.”
Biomimicry: Designing Cities According
to Nature
biomimicry.org/what-is-biomimicry/
Biomimicry

Cradle-to-cradle design (also referred to
as Cradle to Cradle, C2C, cradle 2 cradle,
or regenerative design) is a biomimetic approach
to the design of products and systems. It models
human industry on nature's processes viewing
materials as nutrients circulating in healthy,
safe metabolisms.
It suggests that industry must protect and
enrich ecosystems and nature's biological
metabolism while also maintaining a safe,
productive technical metabolism for the high-
quality use and circulation of organic and technical
nutrients.
Put simply, it is a holistic economic, industrial and
social framework that seeks to create systems that
are not only efficient but also essentially waste
free. The model in its broadest sense is not limited
to industrial design and manufacturing; it can be
applied to many aspects of human civilization such
as urban environments, buildings, economics
and social systems.
epea.com/en/content/cradle-cradle%C2%AE
Cradle to Cradle

Cradle
to
Cradle Cradle-to-cradle (C2C) is a way of
designing products or processes that
work more like natural systems.
This design method is intended to
replace a make-take-dispose
approach which begins with resource
extraction and ends with waste
disposal¹.
The “cradle-to-cradle” concept is a
revolutionary vision of how life on
Earth works from a circular economy
point of view².
It aims to consume only what can be
produced by the planet and to
replace the current economic system
with a C2C framework as an
alternative solution³.
(1) What Is Cradle to Cradle? - Treehugger.
https://www.treehugger.com/what-is-cradle-
to-cradle-5191335.
(2) The meaning of the “cradle-to-cradle”
concept.
https://www.activesustainability.com/enviro
nment/cradle-to-cradle-circular-economy/
(3) Cradle-to-cradle design - Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle-to-
cradle_design

The image above shows a comparison between linear and circular
economy models. As the name suggests, the resource goes through a
take-make-consume-dispose sequence linearly to finally produce a
larger amount of waste material in a linear economy.
On the other hand, in circular economy, the resource cycles through the
production loop with lesser waste as well as some useful biproducts,
which is well in tune with the aspirations of many SDGs.
Circular Economy
A circular economy is a model of
production and consumption that
involves sharing, leasing, reusing,
repairing, refurbishing and recycling
existing materials and products for as
long as possible².
The circular economy gives us the
tools to tackle climate change and
biodiversity loss together while
addressing important social needs¹.
It aims to tackle global challenges
such as climate change, biodiversity
loss, waste, and pollution by
emphasizing the design-based
implementation of the circular
economy².
Source:
(1) Circular economy - Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_economy
(2) What is a circular economy?
https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/cir
cular-economy-introduction/overview.
(3) Exploring a circular economy in South Africa |
UCT News. https://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-
2021-07-06-exploring-a-circular-economy-in-
south-africa.
Linear economy Circular economy

The concept of a circular economy
A circular economy is restorative and regenerative
by design, and aims to keep products, components,
and materials at their highest utility and value at all
times. The concept distinguishes between technical
and biological cycles.
As envisioned by the originators, a circular
economy is a continuous positive development
cycle that preserves and enhances natural capital,
optimises resource yields, and minimises system
risks by managing finite stocks and renewable flows.
It works effectively at every scale
Circular
Economy

Circular
Economy

Circular
Economy

Circular
Economy

The concept of a circular economy
An Introduction to Circular Economy
Lerwen Liu · Seeram Ramakrishna Editors
Circular
Economy

Urban wellbeing is people's capacity to balance healthy,
fulfilling lives within and beyond the context of a dense,
geographical location that recognizes city-based
morphologies and stressors alongside processes of
urbanization⁴.
At the core of delivering urban wellbeing is that residents
live in clean, safe and healthy spaces.
Beyond those basics, they should also have equal
opportunities to live, work and move around in
environments that promote healthy living³.
They found that the best (and simplest) statistical model to
understand patterns of urban well-being contained four
demographic factors and no natural features at all. People
with the highest levels of personal and neighbourhood
well-being tended to be older, own their own home, have
a higher income, and keep physically active. These factors
affected human well-being much more than the number
of birds and trees in a suburb.
Source:
(1) Urban Well-Being
https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-
030-51812-7_229-1
(2) A tale of two cities: inequalities in urban wellbeing in the
Global .... https://www.sei.org/featured/inequalities-in-urban-
wellbeing/
(3) https://bing.com/search?q=urban+wellbeing
(4) Urban Wellness. http://urbanwellness-studio.co.za/
(5) About – URBAN WELLBEING.
https://urbanwellbeing.co.uk/about/
Urban Wellbeing

HOW PPS DRIVES CHANGE
Transforming Places:
We help communities and cities shape their
future through individual public spaces and
broad placemaking campaigns.
Building the Placemaking
Movement:
We convene, amplify and build the capacity
of the placemaking movement globally and
locally.
Campaigning for Systemic
Change:
We make the case for placemaking and
engage with like-minded people and
movements to influence policies,
disciplines, hearts and minds.
www.pps.org
Urban
Wellbeing

www.pps.org
Placemaking
Placemaking is both a
philosophy and a practical
process for transforming
public spaces.
It is centred on observing,
listening to, and asking
questions of the people who
live, work, and play in a
particular space in order to
understand their needs and
aspirations for that space and
for their community as a
whole.
Project for Public Spaces
is a non-profit organization
dedicated to helping people
create and sustain public
spaces that build strong
communities.
We are the central hub of the
global Placemaking
movement, connecting people
to ideas, resources, expertise,
and partners who see place as
the key to addressing our
greatest challenges.
Urban
Wellbeing

Psychology &
the city

Psychogeography is the intersection of psychology and
geography. It focuses on our psychological experiences of
the city, and reveals or illuminates forgotten, discarded, or
marginalised aspects of the urban environment¹.
Many studies have shown that people born and raised in
cities have higher rates of psychosis, anxiety disorders, and
depression².
Psychology seeks to understand why we act the way we do
in cities³.
It is astonishing that psychology has not been taken
sufficiently seriously as an urban discipline, not only by
psychology itself but also urban decision makers³.
Source:
Psychogeography: a way to delve into the soul of a city.
https://theconversation.com/psychogeography-a-way-to-delve-into-
the-soul-of-a-city-78032.
(2) Stress and the City | Psychology Today.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind-
wandering/201208/stress-and-the-city
(3) Psychology & the City | Charles Landry.
https://charleslandry.com/themes/psychology-the-city/ .
(4) Home | Psychology and the City.
https://www.psychologyandthecity.co.uk/
(5) Urban Psyche – Psychology and the City.
https://www.urbanpsyche.org/
Psychology & the city

Psychology & the City Charles Landry
In a constant cycle of influencing and being
influenced the city impacts upon our mind and
our emotional state impacts upon the city with
untold effects.
It is astonishing that psychology, the study
exploring the dynamics of feeling and emotion,
has not been taken sufficiently seriously as an
urban discipline, not only by psychology itself
but also urban decision makers, since it seeks to
understand why we act the way we do.
The city is not a lifeless thing. People have
personality, identity and, as they are
congregations of people, so do cities.
To see the urban fabric, its dynamics and city life
as empty shells devoid of human psychological
content is careless. To be blind to its
consequences is foolish, as the city is primarily
an emotional experience with psychological
effects.
Just as the body is the museum of human
evolution so the psyche is the mental museum
of our primeval psychological past, and we have
carried anciently formed elements of it into this
new urban age.
Psychology
&
the
city

Ultimately, the most successful cities will be those that can build psychological
resilience, to adapt, to deal with adversity and complexity, to bounce back and
continue to function competently, and to provide the conditions where inhabitants
can achieve their larger aims.
Psychology
&
the
city

Boundaries

Planetary
Boundaries Planetary boundaries are a
framework to describe limits
to the impacts of human
activities on the Earth
system. Beyond these limits,
the environment may not be
able to self-regulate
anymore. This would mean
the Earth system would leave
the period of stability of the
Holocene, in which human
society developed.

•Novel entities are created and introduced into the environment by humans, and can have disruptive
effects on the earth system. The novel entities boundary is one of nine planetary boundaries, defined to
monitor a safe operating space for humanity.
•The planetary boundary of novel entities is exceeded, as annual production and releases are increasing at
a pace that exceeds the global capacity for assessment and monitoring
•Along with chemical pollution, plastic pollution is highlighted as a particular aspect of high concern
among novel entities
•A set of complimentary control variables measuring trends of production, emission and impacts are
suggested to quantify the planetary boundary and establish a safe operating space
•Immediate action aiming to prevent harm before the stage of Earth system effects should be taken even
though data collection and parameter definition is still going on.
https://ikhapp.org/stories-and-research-brief/defining-the-risk-presented-by-novel-entities-how-plastic-and-chemicals-affect-earth-system-
integrity/
Planetary
Boundaries

Sustainable
Development
Goals

Sustainable
Cities More than half of the world’s population
now live in urban areas. By 2050, that
figure will have risen to 6.5 billion
people – two-thirds of all humanity.
Sustainable development cannot be
achieved without significantly
transforming the way we build and
manage our urban spaces.
The rapid growth of cities in the
developing world, coupled with
increasing rural to urban migration, has
led to a boom in mega-cities.
In 1990, there were ten mega-cities with
10 million inhabitants or more. In 2014,
there are 28 mega-cities, home to a
total 453 million people.
Extreme poverty is often concentrated
in urban spaces, and national and city
governments struggle to accommodate
the rising population in these areas.
Making cities safe and sustainable
means ensuring access to safe and
affordable housing and upgrading slum
settlements.
It also involves investment in public
transport, creating green public spaces,
and improving urban planning and
management in a way that is both
participatory and inclusive.
sdg.iisd.org/sdgs/goal-11-sustainable-cities-communities/
&
Communities

“Tell me a fact
and I’ll listen. Tell
me a truth and I’ll
learn. But tell me
a story, and it will
live in my heart
forever.”
There is a Native American
saying:
Life shows its
harmony, when
you discover your
connection to
what unfolds.

Urban
Hub
series

Key to an Integral approach to urban design is the
notion that although other aspects of urban life are
important, people (sentient beings), as individuals and
communities, are the primary ‘purpose’ for making
cities thriveable. All other aspects (technology,
transport & infra-structure, health, education, sustain-
ability, economic development, etc.) although playing
a major part, are secondary.
Urban Hub Series
These books are a series of presentations for the use
of Integral theory or an Integral Meta-framework in
understanding cities and urban Thriveability.
Although each can stand alone, taken together they
give a more rounded appreciation of how this
broader framework can help in the analysis and
design of thriveable urban environments.
Guides for Integrally Informed Practitioners
The Guides for Integrally Informed Practitioners
(adjacent) cover much of the theory behind the
Integral Meta-framework used in these volumes. For
topics covered in other volumes in this series see the
following page.
Pdf versions are gratis to view
& download @:
https://www.slideshare.net/PauljvsSS
Hardcopies can be purchased
from Amazon
Urban
Hub
series

SPANISH

Urban Hub manuals
prepared for C40
Cities Thriving Cities
Initiative and others
published by
IntegralUrbanHub

Pub. April 2022
Other books
published by
vS Publishing

Notes

Urban
Hub
Integral
UrbanHub
Thriveable
Worlds
A series of books from integralMENTORS Integral
UrbanHub work on Thriving people & Thriveable Cities
Without taking into account the many worldviews that
currently co-exist and crafting ways of including them in
a positive and healthy form we will continue to alienate
vast sections of all communities of humankind.
No one vision is sufficient in and of itself – visions can
guide but only by collaborative action in a creative
generative process can visions grow and become part
of an ongoing positive sociocultural reality.
Down to Earth