The livability of spaces: Performance and/or resilience? Reflections on the effects of spatial heterogeneity in transport and energy systems and the implications on urban environmental quality
Journal article, 2017

Cities can be seen as systems of organized complexity formed by interrelated and highly dynamic sub-systems. This paper reflects on the interactions and tensions between socio-ecological and/or socio-technical sub-systems in cities and their capacity to either improve or block urban processes. In this context, spatial heterogeneity could enhance or hinder the performance and resilience of critical urban sub-systems such as transport and energy. The consequence of this interaction might be detrimental to environmental quality (air and acoustic) and the livability of urban areas. This rationale may improve political and expert decision-making processes toward sustainable, resilient and livable cities.

Environmental quality

Spatial heterogeneity

Urban systems performance

Urban resilience

Author

Laura Estévez Mauriz

Chalmers, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Applied Acoustics

Jimeno A. Fonseca

Singapore-ETH Centre

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich (ETH)

Claudiu Forgaci

Delft University of Technology

Nils Björling

Chalmers, Architecture, Urban Design and Planning

International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment

2212-6090 (ISSN) 2212-6104 (eISSN)

Vol. 6 1 1-8

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Building Futures (2010-2018)

Subject Categories

Architecture

Other Environmental Engineering

Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics

DOI

10.1016/j.ijsbe.2016.10.001

More information

Latest update

10/29/2019