Sustainable Lessons from People-Friendly Places

Current planning and design modes of cities are facing challenges of philosophy and form. Past approaches no longer sustain new demands and call for innovative thinking. In a world that is becoming highly urbanized, the need for a new outlook is propelled by fundamental global changes that touch upon environmental, economic and social aspects.

The book introduces fundamental principles of timely sustainable urban design, paying attention to architecture, integration of natural features, public urban spaces and their successful use. Readers will learn how cities are transitioning to active mobility by placing the wellbeing of citizens at the heart of planning; making buildings fit nature; supporting local culture through preservation; and including community gardens in neighborhoods, among others. Written by a practicing architect, professor and author, the book is richly illustrated and features meticulously selected international case studies.

1. A Call for Sustainable Cities 2. Learning from the Past, Retooling the Future 3. Denser Mixed-Use Communities 4. Public Squares and Urban Life 5. Planning Cities for Walkability 6. Developing in Natural Settings 7. Creating Urban Landscapes 8. Cities as Farms 9. Social and Economic Values of Markets 10. The Culture of Places 11. Planning for Wellbeing 12. Places for Social Interaction 13. Art and the City 14. Streets and Sidewalks for Living 15. Slowing Down Vehicular Traffic 16.Urban Preservation 17. Planning for Urban Evolution 18. Designing Sustainable Buildings 19. Powering Cities; Net Zero and District Heating 20. Old Buildings, New Life

Avi Friedman received his bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Town Planning from the Israel Institute of Technology, his master’s degree from McGill University, and his doctorate from the University of Montréal. He is the director of the Affordable Homes Research Group at the McGill School of Architecture, where he teaches. He also holds a Visiting Professor position in Lancaster University in the UK. Avi is known for his housing innovation and for several demonstration projects. He is the author of 25 books and the principal of Avi Friedman Consultants, Inc. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Manning Innovation Award, Lifetime Achievement Award from Sustainable Buildings Canada, and the World Habitat Award.