Climate proof urban development
Why we do it
Choices we make now will still have an impact fifty to a hundred years on
Taking into account natural climate variations and extreme conditions, as well as future climate forecasts, is essential when planning urban development. Urban areas are the physical environment we live in and we can opt for comfort, health and safety but also for contributing to ecology, food production, energy saving and more.
What we do
We look for promising ways of linking climate measures to energy, water and other sustainability issues.
By taking stock of the effects of a changing climate on a particular region we can come up with location-related measures to deal with flooding, the danger of flooding, drought and heat. The literature suggests that measures to cope with heat in urban areas relate to vegetation, water, forms of development, albedo (reflection coefficient) and restricting anthropogenic heat emissions. The effect of measures very much depends on the way they are applied. The location, scale and context are decisive.
How we do it
Integrating effects & different disciplines
Climate proof design is a complex assignment involving expertise from different disciplines so as to integrate all the aspects affected by climate change. Features of the location and the design assignment greatly influence the choice of climate measures. An integrated approach to the assignment is the point of departure because measures combined with other urban planning solutions offer extremely promising options.
BuildDesk has designed diverse methods for formulating climate ambitions during the development process and incorporating them in the planning area.
The Climate adaptation scan [Klimaatadaptatiescan] takes stock of the climate effects in a specific region. BuildDesk has developed the scan in partnership with engineering company Tauw and the climate research programme Klimaat voor Ruimte. The scan derives from an earlier version for Hotspot Tilburg.
BuildDesk is developing another method, the Urban development adaptation tool [Stedenbouwkundige Klimaatadaptatietool], as an aid to designing climate proof buildings, districts or neighbourhoods. BuildDesk is also contributing to climate proof design through brainstorming sessions and workshops.
Who we work for
For clients who also want a good environment to live in, in the future too.
We work for local authorities, project developers, town planners and housing corporations that want to develop climate proof districts or areas.
