DECISION-SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORK FOR URBAN DESIGN BASED ON THE TARGET OF SLOWING DOWN URBAN RESOURCE FLOWS: FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF URBAN METABOLISM

Abstract

The Urban Metabolism theory makes it possible to quantify design methods and strategies for sustainable urban design based on analysis of urban resource flows. Aiming at improving the urban environment, this paper takes four types of urban resources closely related to residents’ lives (i.e., water, energy, organic waste, and food) as evaluation objects and their flow rates as the evaluation indicators, and operates with design scenario models as the core to establish the decision-supportive framework for urban design, which consists of four basic parts: urban status analysis, design scenario setting, design alternatives, and design evaluation. This framework could quickly present design proposals and evaluate their expected performances, providing a basis for decision making in design practice. Then, China World Trade Center area in Beijing is taken as an example to interpret the practical value of the framework by providing guidelines for urban design practices of this area. Finally, the paper points out that instead of showing the optimal design strategy, the final output of the framework just provides decision makers an intuitive understanding of a specific design proposal and the impacts the design intervention would bring to the urban environment.

Keywords

Urban Design / Urban Metabolism / Urban Resources / Decision-Supportive Framework for Urban Design / Design Scenario / Urban Space Platform

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2019 Higher Education Press