60 per cent
of the world’s population will be living in urban environments by 2030,
4
raising serious questions about the sustainability of the current urban model.
But the work produced by Atkins sought
to do more. By introducing a “scramble crossing” strategy – popularised in the famous diagonal crossing in Tokyo’s Shibuya district – pedestrians are able to go in whichever direction they choose, rather than having to cross in a set fashion. It transforms the whole intersection from a cluster of clogged arteries to a welcoming space that allows everyone to go with the flow. Similarly, by re-routing vehicles away from the north side of London’s Trafalgar Square and allowing for it on the south, as well as providing more pedestrian crossings and viewing points, Atkins has been able to redress the balance between the needs of all users. The layout now works on both a traffic and a pedestrian level, converting a semi-permanent bottleneck into a more attractive space for longer visits by tourists and Londoners alike. This same strategic approach is being applied to masterplanning projects around the world. The same long-term attention to detail demonstrated in London can be seen in the economic zone being planned by Atkins in China’s Pearl River Delta. It is at the heart of the masterplanning work being done on the capital city of Baku in Azerbaijan, taking the city’s heavily industrialised heritage and turning it into a living, breathing space for its people today and in the future. And it can be seen in Atkins’ work on the UAE Holistic Plan, the long-term blueprint for the UAE’s five northern emirates, which is planning ahead to 2030. The decisions made in each of these projects have the potential to impose limits or open doors for generations to come. It’s up to those of us engaged in the work to make certain the right decisions are being made every step of the way.
The coming storm: climate change Consider the long-term strategic thinking needed to mitigate against climate change and plan for its potential impact. The best way to undercut
the potential future damage of climate change is to minimise the causes now, wherever possible. For Atkins, this begins in the planning stage.
The company has established itself as a champion of a low-carbon future, implementing a Carbon Critical Design philosophy in project planning and using bespoke Carbon Tools to measure the whole lifecycle carbon cost of any project. By identifying sources of carbon at all stages of
any project – from the raw materials to the building methods to the long-term emissions from any given development – it is possible to make informed decisions that will help reduce that carbon. Even if we can slow the pace of climate change, of course we’re likely to have some consequences for years to come. Rising sea levels, more frequent extreme weather systems, severe changes in temperatures – these could all have a life-changing impact on the urban environment. How can cities plan for the future when issues like climate change are shifting the landscape so dramatically? How can planners anticipate and understand possible vulnerabilities and adapt to these conditions? More important, how can possible disadvantages be turned to strategic advantage? To find answers to these questions, there is a need for very strong governance and decisions to be made with the bigger picture in mind. There is a need for risk assessment at city or higher level, one that works in tandem with the economic and social development of the city. There is a need for careful planning based on a vision of the future, one that goes beyond the end of a build.
For example, investment in new office block developments could attract new business. However, any new build and the people working in that space will have a long-term environmental impact. By taking the risk of this impact into account, planners can help to mitigate the potential negative effects before they happen. They can also assess whether the bad outweighs the good.
From building heights in Abu Dhabi to flood risk management in the world heritage site city of Bath in the UK, Atkins has been working to help cities understand and manage the threats posed by climate change for years, and to implement solutions that look beyond the immediate threats.
Creating a new horizon Turning a city into a successful, vibrant and positive force is a laudable goal and the broader significance of this goal should not be underestimated. Such cities can drive business and help grow economies on a national scale. With the proper planning, they can even help tackle climate change and meet the needs of a changing populace. What does the urban environment of
tomorrow look like? Cities from Belfast to Copenhagen are paving the way – without an excess of paving. Pedestrians are being given priority over cars. Passers-by can hear people talking and birds singing, and are not constantly running from pavement to pavement to get away from the traffic. People are discovering that they are able to work and live in these cities, not simply biding their time while hoping to escape. Finding the right balance between the needs of the public with any future growth and development priorities that may be required is the key. It’s the only way you can get back to a sense of something basic and sensible. Good public spaces are even better when they can adapt to new situations or circumstances. In this special edition of Angles, we consider the challenges facing the city of the future, from changing demographics to new environmental threats, and explore some of the solutions that are now being implemented. In responding to the challenge to think
differently about how we build cities and how we occupy and settle the land, we are already building better cities for tomorrow.
“HOW CAN CITIES PLAN FOR THE FUTURE WHEN ISSUES LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE ARE SHIFTING THE LANDSCAPE SO DRAMATICALLY? HOW CAN PLANNERS ANTICIPATE AND UNDERSTAND POSSIBLE VULNERABILITIES AND ADAPT TO THESE CONDITIONS?”
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