Urban Design for Addressing Climate Resilience - Planetizen

Urban Design for Addressing Climate Resilience | Planetizen News

Cities around the world are finding ways to protect their residents and infrastructure from the impacts of extreme weather and natural disasters.

In an article for Architecture Daily, Maria-Cristina Florian describes how cities around the world are responding to and preparing for three major types of extreme climate events: flooding, wildfires, and earthquakes.

Florian provides examples of resiliency initiatives from cities facing a variety of threats. In the case of flooding, “Architects and urban planners are now exploring alternatives that rethink stormwater as a resource rather than a hazard, incorporating it into the ecosystem of the city.”

When it comes to wildfires, cities can use mapping to understand high-risk areas. “As peripheric neighborhoods usually have a lower density, they create the ‘wildland-urban interface’ (WUI), an intermediary space typically containing fire fuel, dry material such as fallen leaves. These areas can benefit from the planting of fire-resistant vegetation like low-growing high-moisture plants and hardwood trees with low sap or rising content.” Mitigation strategies also include prescribed burns and building codes that ensure fires are less likely to catch and spread.

To build resilience against earthquakes, “In the areas more prone to seismic activity, structural solutions such as retrofitting with eccentrically braced steel frames, or EBFs, can improve a building’s seismic resilience.”

Florian adds a fourth category: disaster response. “Architects have a role to play, especially in offering fast, efficient, and comfortable solutions for emergency accommodation.” Urban design and architecture can have an effect on how quickly and effectively emergency services can be provided and reached.

FULL STORY: How Can Cities Create Resilience in the Face of Natural Disasters

Caltrans Demotes Official Who Challenged Road Expansion Projects

An employee was reassigned after bringing up concerns about highway projects that she alleges improperly skirted environmental review.

What Will Become of Fifth Avenue?

Visitors to the iconic shopping street overwhelmingly arrive by walking, transit, or bike. Why are bike and pedestrian infrastructure improvement lagging so far behind another famous NYC street, Broadway?

California Impact Fees Reach Supreme Court

An upcoming ruling could have a major impact on building and development in California and around the country.

Pike Place Market Vendors Open to Pedestrianization

A survey of local business owners and vendors upends the common belief that frontline workers don’t support restricting vehicle access to the iconic Seattle market.

Urban Design for Addressing Climate Resilience

Cities around the world are finding ways to protect their residents and infrastructure from the impacts of extreme weather and natural disasters.

Federal Grant Supports Rail Vehicle Modernization

The Federal Transit Administration announced a new round of Rail Vehicle Replacement grants.
Engineering Associate II

Alta Planning + Design
Senior Transportation Planner

City of Bellevue
Building Official

City of Covina
News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Free Speech Book Supplement

Washington University
2025 City of Helena Land Use Plan

City of Helena
Request for Proposal

Lassen County Planning and Building Services
Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Policy and Shared Parking Strategy

City of San Carlos

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.