Recognising that our urban environment should protect nature and ensure that wildlife diversity and soil quality are protected or improved, for example by remediating and building on contaminated land or creating new green spaces.
We are looking for ways to increase the productivity of our urban areas and bring agriculture into our cities.
Adapting to our changing climate, ensuring resilience to events such as floods, earthquakes or fires, so that our buildings stand the test of time and protect people and their property.
Designing flexible and dynamic spaces, anticipating changes in their use over time and avoiding the need to demolish, rebuild or significantly renovate buildings to prevent them becoming obsolete.
Creating diverse environments that bring communities together and strengthen them, asking what a building adds to its context in terms of positive economic and social impacts, and involving local communities in the planning process.
The design takes into account the provision of transport and distance from amenities, reducing the environmental impact of private transport and encouraging environmentally friendly options such as walking or cycling.
Exploring the potential of ‘smart’ and information communication technologies to better communicate with the world around us, for example through smart electricity grids that understand how to transport energy where and when it is needed.