Civic Design Projects

An Austrian adaptation of the Barcelona Superblock, Vienna is putting the finishing touches on its first Supergrätzl ("Super neighbourhood") in the tenth district, where through traffic is filtered out to regenerate an intersection into a liveable, climate-adapted, pedestrian-friendly public space. The Supergrätzl is located in one of Vienna’s more densely-built districts of Favoriten, with a healthy mix of uses and heavy traffic flows. It was chosen because modelling suggests intervening in less affluent and more traffic-burdened areas yields stronger benefits for climate, health, and equity. Design features include: the removal of through traffic (diagonal filters at intersections), pedestrian zones (especially outside the adjacent schools), 100 green beds, 60 shade trees, a variety of water features, public benches and other furnishings, and deletion of 30% of on-street parking spaces. While yet to be completed, Vienna’s first Supergrätzl experiment is already attracting interest, as other neighbourhoods line up to request the next. By reclaiming public space that was hiding in plain sight, it is a paradigm-shifting prototype that will hopefully soon scale across the entire city.

The modular nature of Dutch streets—the precast bricks, pavers, and curbs—transforms every infrastructural upgrade into an opportunity for a liveability upgrade. In Delft, scheduled sewage pipe replacement on Eliza Dorus- and Anna Beijer-straten allowed for the creation of woonerven ("living streets"). They consist of five features: 1) A clear and distinct entranceway—such as a speed hump—providing a sense of leaving car space. Out-of-scale signage is discouraged, seen as clutter to the streetscape, and replaced with design elements that emphasize the space is for people rather than motor traffic. 2) Shared space between cars and pedestrians: With no clearly defined vertical separation or "travel lane", forced ambiguity between walking, cycling, and driving is critical to slowing drivers and cyclists down, and giving people on foot—especially kids—free reign to move (and linger) in the space. 3) Physical traffic calming measures: These include width reduction, speed humps, raised intersections, chicanes, one-way features, and texture change. Bricks are ubiquitous, as they create noise and vibration inside a car, leading the driver to believe they're speeding and voluntarily slowing down. 4) Limited on-street parking: Availability should be limited and only to local residents. This helps to restore the sightlines and “openness” of the street, inspiring free movement across its entire width for playing and gathering residents, and preventing cars from becoming the predominant element. 5) Outdoor furniture and landscaping: These elements should be used to make the street more attractive; reclaiming it as a space for spending time. This includes trees and gardens, sitting areas, play equipment, and places for communal dining. Visible and secure bike parking should also be provided. Made in Delft and spreading across the globe, the woonerf is a simple solution to many complex problems cities face in the 21st century. Our streets are not set in stone, and from the loneliness epidemic to the climate crisis, changing them must be how we respond to a world rapidly changing around us.

Designing #Sidewalks Along #Busway Corridors in Hot Arid Cities ☀️ In hot desert environments, sidewalks play a vital role in shaping the comfort, safety, and overall experience of pedestrians especially when integrated alongside Busway systems. Drawing from recent scientific research on urban sidewalks in hot arid climates, several key design insights emerge that can guide better practice: 🌡️ 1. #ThermalComfort & #Shading * Use continuous shaded paths with trees or lightweight canopies. * Employ high-reflectance materials to reduce surface temperature. * Integrate cool pavements that lower heat absorption and improve user comfort. 🚶♀️ 2. #Pedestrian Connectivity & Safety * Ensure a minimum clear walking width for high pedestrian flow near Busway stops. *Create buffer zones between sidewalks and traffic lanes to improve safety and comfort. * Include rest zones, seating, and waiting areas that support inclusive mobility. 🌿 3. #Environmental Integration * Combine sidewalks with bioswales or linear planting strips to manage runoff and improve air quality. * Prioritize native drought-tolerant species that offer shade with minimal water demand. * Encourage stormwater reuse for irrigation where possible. 🏙️ 4. #UrbanIdentity & Experience * Use pavement materials and textures that reflect local context and culture. * Incorporate wayfinding elements and smart lighting to enhance usability at all times. * Promote visual continuity with adjacent Busway design for a unified streetscape identity. When designed holistically, sidewalks adjacent to Busways can go beyond movement they become social corridors, cooling networks, and vital connectors in our cities’ sustainable transport systems. #UrbanDesign #Streetscape #Busway #PedestrianDesign #LandscapeArchitecture #UrbanCooling #HotAridCities #PublicTransport #UrbanMobility #SustainableDesign #ClimateResponsiveDesign #StreetDesign #ResilientCities #UrbanInfrastructure #publicrealm #Australia

It’s not magic. It’s policy. We often hear that the Netherlands is unique, that "it won't work here." Cambridge, Massachusetts just proved that wrong. In 2019, they required the construction of separated bike lanes when streets are being reconstructed. In 2023, the results were in: 🚲 +34% increase in daily cycle commuting. 🤕 -84% drop in severe, incapacitating injuries. 🚶🏾♀️Up to 80 percent fewer cyclists ride on sidewalks, resulting in fewer accidents between pedestrians and cyclists. 👦🏽 3.5x more children and cargo bikes on the street. That last number is the real victory. When the kids show up, you know the street is actually safe. Cambridge didn’t wait for the culture to change. They changed the policy, and the culture followed. Is your city ready to be this bold? -- Data from Velo/Outside by Alvin Holbrook. Photo from NACTO (National Association of City Transportation Officials) [Link in the comments]

The largest city in 🇨🇭, Zurich, has just opened a dedicated bicycle tunnel connecting districts 4 and 5, running beneath the main train station—a project years in the making and a milestone for urban cycling safety and convenience. Originally built about 40 years ago for cars, this tunnel has been repurposed to provide a fast, weather-protected, and direct bike route through the city centre, encouraging sustainable mobility and reducing car traffic downtown. The advantages of such safe cycling infrastructure in cities include: - Enhanced safety by separating cyclists from motor traffic, reducing accidents - Encouraging more people to cycle, which improves public health and reduces pollution - Connecting previously divided parts of the city, boosting accessibility and urban cohesion - Supporting local businesses by increasing foot and bike traffic - Aligning with climate action goals by promoting zero-emission transport - Providing secure bike parking and easy access to public transport hubs like the main train station Zurich’s bike tunnel shows how rethinking smart cities can transform urban mobility for the better, making cycling an attractive, safe, and practical choice for daily commuting. This project is a great example of sustainable city planning that other cities can learn from. #zurich #smartcity #netzero

🔻 When Deep Foundations Become the Silent Heroes A few days ago in Bangkok, a dramatic ground collapse occurred due to massive leakage from underground sewer pipelines. The soil underneath an active building literally washed away within hours. Standing in front of this scene, one question comes to mind: Why didn’t the whole building collapse? The answer lies beneath the surface — in the deep concrete piles. Even though some piles cracked under unexpected tensile stresses and soil loss, the majority continued to carry the structure’s weight through end bearing and skin friction. They acted as anchors, resisting settlement and holding the building above ground despite the voids opening below. Now imagine this same building resting on shallow foundations only: the entire superstructure would have sunk into the collapse zone almost instantly. This case is a powerful reminder for us as geotechnical engineers: In flood-prone or water-sensitive areas, piles are not optional — they are essential. Proper pile design must account for tension resistance, load redistribution, and long-term soil–structure interaction. What looks like “overdesign” on paper often becomes the only safeguard against catastrophic failures. At the end of the day, piles don’t just carry loads — they carry safety, resilience, and trust in our built environment. #GeotechnicalEngineering #DeepFoundations #Piles #CivilEngineering #SoilMechanics #FoundationDesign #StructuralSafety #InfrastructureResilience #EngineeringLessons #FloodResilience

What is a 15-Minute City? 🌎 A 15-Minute City is an urban planning model that redefines the relationship between people and their cities by prioritizing proximity, accessibility, and livability. It ensures that residents can meet most of their daily needs—work, education, healthcare, shopping, and recreation—within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. This approach not only reduces car dependency but also addresses broader challenges such as urban congestion, social inequality, and environmental degradation. Paris has emerged as a global example of this concept in action. One of its most transformative projects was converting the right bank of the Seine River from a traffic-heavy highway into a car-free urban park. This space, once dominated by vehicles, is now used for cycling, walking, and leisure activities. The initiative improved air quality, reduced noise pollution, and created a space where people can connect with their environment and each other. The 15-Minute City concept is not limited to transportation. Paris has invested heavily in creating over 1,000 kilometers of cycling infrastructure, pedestrianizing school streets to enhance safety, and opening schoolyards and nurseries for public use during weekends. These changes have fostered vibrant neighborhoods where residents have access to services, green spaces, and recreational facilities within short distances, improving both physical and mental well-being. This approach also promotes social inclusion and participatory governance. Paris implemented participatory budgets, enabling residents to allocate resources to community-led projects. It decentralized aspects of urban planning, giving local districts a greater role in shaping their neighborhoods. These measures not only empower residents but also ensure that urban development reflects the diverse needs of communities. By integrating environmental, social, and economic goals, the 15-Minute City offers a blueprint for addressing many of the challenges urban areas face today. Paris’ example demonstrates that reshaping cities around people, rather than vehicles, can lead to healthier, more equitable, and more sustainable urban environments. This concept is now inspiring cities worldwide to rethink their future. #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #climateaction

India’s rising heat is no longer a projection. It is measurable, widespread, and accelerating. Recent data indicates that over 500 of 741 districts in India recorded temperatures exceeding 40°C between April and May. Regions across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana show a clear pattern: extreme heat is becoming structurally embedded in our climate. This has direct implications for how we design and build. Current urban development models: Increased heat absorption (concrete, asphalt) Reduce natural cooling systems (tree cover, soil permeability) Depend heavily on mechanical cooling This approach is not scalable in a warming climate. Vanaalaya is conceived as a climate-responsive development framework. It focuses on: Passive cooling through orientation, materiality, and airflow Integration of tree cover as a thermal regulator Preservation and activation of land as a living system The objective is simple but critical: to create built environments that remain livable as temperatures rise. The next decade of real estate in India will be defined by one question: Can what we build today withstand the climate of tomorrow? Vanaalaya is an attempt to answer that proactively.

How often do we design with people, instead of for them? It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that creativity is something only designers hold the key to. But when we pause and engage with communities, we realize something powerful: Creativity thrives within the community itself—it just needs the right conditions to flourish. Take, for example, the Collective Action Toolkit (CAT) by Frog. It’s not just a tool; it’s a framework that empowers communities to solve problems by tapping into their collective strength. Through a series of activities—like clarifying goals and imagining new ideas—small groups around the world have used this toolkit to not only share their thoughts but to take decisive action that addresses their concerns. The beauty of this approach is in its adaptability. It’s not a one-size-fits-all model. Each group can mould it to fit their unique needs, ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and valued. But collaboration, as we know, isn’t always easy. There’s often discomfort, sometimes even conflict, when differing ideas meet. Yet, as designers, navigating these challenges is where true progress happens. As Otto Scharmer and Peter Senge, leaders in organizational development, have shown, it's in this space of tension that new solutions are born. A recent contribution from @Design Impact offers a set of guiding principles for designers to keep in mind when working with communities. One of these, “Value me for who I am, not who I’m told to be,” resonates deeply. It’s a reminder that behind every design is a real person, with history, emotions, and passions. When we acknowledge that, we move beyond simply gathering feedback—we tap into real leadership within the community. At the end of the day, Social innovation isn’t just about creating a product or service. It’s about co-creating, about building alongside communities rather than handing down solutions. It’s about fostering a space where everyone’s creativity can shine, and where long-term, sustainable change is possible. Have you been part of a design process that values community leadership? What challenges—and opportunities—did you encounter along the way?

🎙️This year has been an interview year, with features in UNESCO Courier, Madame Architect, and now Youth Plan's "In Conversation with" series. ➡️In this latest interview, I delve into how Archtivism, the delightful blend of architecture and activism, aims to unite diverse stakeholders, often working in silos, to address urban issues and promote inclusivity across disciplines. ✨It's about bringing people together to co-create the type of city we all can thrive in. 💬“In contrast to the protected profession of architecture, archtivism has fewer barriers. There is no one way to be an archtivist. No one way to be citizen city-makers co-designing places and spaces where we can all live, work, play and be ourselves.” 🌱 We talked about “Caring Cities,” a notion that deeply resonates with me. It’s about catering to everyone's needs, not just the "Reference Man’s." ✊🏾This means considering the needs of women, children, the elderly, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, neurodivergent folks and people with disabilities in our urban planning efforts." 💡 I also shared insights into the challenges of sustainable city design, namely industry fragmentation and the ‘language’ barrier between professionals and the community - the inaccessibility of the planning and building processes. 🖥️I discussed, for example, how technology like AI can help bridge this gap and empower communities to actively participate in the design process. Shout out to UrbanistAI! 🌳 Finally, we explored the opportunities for planners in fostering caring cities. I’m an avid believer that by combining environmental and social sustainability is key. 💥Strategies including incorporation of affordable housing in new development, right to remain, and involving communities in the design of their neighborhoods are crucial to avoid green gentrification. ✅We need green caring cities that benefit everyone, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status. It's all about building inclusive communities where everyone can thrive. --- 🙏🏾 A big thanks to Daniela Domínguez for interviewing me and Romina Rodela for facilitating this important conversation. 📖Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gdxt-z6J 💪Let's continue to work together to build cities that are inclusive, sustainable, and caring for all! #Archtivism #Cities #Inclusion #Equity #Sustainability #Planning