Originally published in Construction Week here.
“Building resilience is an expanding theme in today’s world. Now more than ever, the ability to cope and adapt to challenging and changing circumstances and emerge stronger than before is essential in helping cities navigate uncertainties,” said, Matthew Tribe, executive director at CRTKL.
“As such, several entities have come together to develop solutions and implement policies to drive better outcomes for local communities and residents, allowing all parties to play their part in ensuring resilience within the buildings they live, work and play in.”
According to PricewaterhouseCoopers [PwC], the GCC is one of the most highly urbanised parts of the world with 85% of the population living in cities, and this is expected to rise to 90% by 2050.
Tribe explained that resilience had been made up of many factors including governance, risk assessment, education, disaster preparedness, and flexibility.
In addition, “technology, data, and policymaking have significant roles to play in helping industry bodies to absorb future growth and soften the blow of any unexpected setbacks”.
He stressed for cities to turn COVID-19 disruptions into opportunities, “change and flexibility” is required for lasting change.
The ten principles highlighted by CRTKL include the following:
Density and polycentricity: It is important for dense urban environments to operate more efficiently, make the cities walkable, and provide better transportation infrastructure.
Mixed-use: Mixed-use urban systems create layers of communities and visitors, which reduces the need for private vehicles, generating foot traffic and fostering interaction among people, further benefitting local economies.
Mobility: A resilient city promotes walkability and social interaction through the seamless connections between its districts.
Walkability and greenery: Neighbourhood plans must optimise and provide all amenities within a distance that is widely regarded as being a 10 to 15-minute walk or 800-metre radius.
Identity and attraction: The enhancement of a city identity and developing a greater sense of place, the preservation of its natural assets, landscapes, and cultural heritage together within rich and ever-evolving art and cultural offerings is essential.
Diversity, inclusivity, equality, accessibility, and safety: For a community to thrive and become future proof, it is vital for members to enjoy places where they feel identified, safe, and accepted.
Affordability: Governments should prioritise investment in basic infrastructure for mid-to-low-income citizens.
Carbon neutrality: Urban environments of the future should generate 100% of their energy needs on-site and with the built environment proficiently energy efficient.
Technical and digital innovation: If an urban environment aims to survive, it must allow data to be collected and be used responsibly.
Flexibility: The design should adopt flexibility because communities change in time, resulting in new needs and new services.