IMM DesignLab

Some city layouts are better for shorter commutes. A new study finds the best design is a round shape with the tallest buildings in the center.

The Best City Shape for Shorter Commutes A new study finds that a round city layout with the tallest buildings in the center allows for shorter travel distances and better sustainability.

Catharijnesingel canal in Utrecht, Netherlands 🇳🇱

In the 1970s, city planners filled in this 900-year-old moat to build a 12-lane sunken motorway. Decades later, a 2002 citizen referendum sparked a massive restoration project to undo the damage.

Fully reopened in 2020, the waterway now flows again, letting boats circle the historic center for the first time in a half-century.

💬 Should more cities replace urban highways with historic waterways and green spaces? Let us know in the comments!

🧿 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘆𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 👉 Civixplorer

🌐 Keep exploring 👉 civixplorer.com

🌍 CITY AS A COMPLEX ADAPTIVE SYSTEM | SMDP

How does the system in which we live influence the environmental consequences of the way we live?
Next Tuesday, September 30, SMDP students will explore this question through a Flipped Classroom session led by Prof. Massimo Tadi at Politecnico di Milano – Lecco Campus, within the MSc in Building and Architectural Engineering.

The lecture will investigate cities as Complex Adaptive Systems and systems of systems, connecting urban form, resource flows, urban metabolism and Ecological Footprint. :

But the lecture is only the beginning. Students will move directly into collaborative activities, using their own Ecological Footprint as a lens through which to investigate the urban system: calculate, compare, identify patterns, connect results to the characteristics of the cities where they live, and discuss the systemic problems that emerge.
The challenge is to move from the number to the explanation, and ultimately from individual behaviour to a systemic understanding of sustainable urban transformation.

From “MY footprint” to “OUR urban problem.”

🔎 **How do you transform a complex city without oversimplifying it?**

The IMM – Integrated Modification Methodology logic can be expressed through seven verbs:

READ → DIAGNOSE → IDENTIFY → CONNECT → TRANSFORM → MEASURE → LEARN

First, we understand how the urban system is structured. Then we diagnose its strengths and weaknesses, identify the Key Category that can act as a catalyst, connect it to relevant DOPs and Actions, and develop alternative transformation scenarios.

But design is not the end of the process. We measure how the system responds, learn from expected and unexpected effects, and use that knowledge to orient the next transformation.

🔄 Because a city is a Complex Adaptive System, there is no final “optimal city” to achieve. IMM works through Adaptive Pathway Orientation: continuously learning from the system and orienting its trajectory toward greater resilience and sustainability.

Understand the system. Transform it. Measure its response. Learn. Repeat.

🔎 SMDP | Tutorial 1 — Disassembling the Urban System

A look back at some of the results produced by last year’s Sustainable Multidisciplinary Design Process (SMDP) students for Tutorial 1: Horizontal Investigation of Lambrate.
Before designing, we need to understand how the city works. Students investigated Lambrate as a Complex Adaptive System (CAS) by disassembling it into its fundamental components: built volumes, voids/open spaces, types of uses, and links/transportation networks.
Through maps, diagrams, quantitative indicators and spatial analysis, the groups transformed urban data into a first systematic reading of the design context—creating the knowledge base for the subsequent phases of the SMDP process.
Observe. Measure. Understand. Then transform.

A big thank you to our new followers! We are delighted to have you with us!

Virn I. Villagracia, Chee Shai Choon, Dondon Guangco, กฤษฎา ศึกหาญ, Ahmed Elsobky, Avanii Dhotre, Dalaina Calachahui, Van Rementina, Jacek Kozubek, Shougo Shimizu, Lynelle Nyarko, Oleg Dyakov, Jason Orolfo Salvadora, Unurjargal Khurelbaatar, 李恩齊, Kultida Pink, Roxy Rodríguez, Tadese Wana, Ritu Arora, Geng Tamara, Keak Bol Dak, Sofia Louise, Seid Mohammed, Catherine Payas Badajos, Omar Abd Alwahed, Jojo Jr Del Carmen, Nicky Shave, Por Theephop, Asma Moiz, مصطفى مبروك ابوستة أبوستة, Lino Meneses, Md. Robiul Hasan, Johnny Heng KH, វិរិយ ធម្មោ, Joel Camacho, Ismael Djeufack, Roderick Charles McCarthy, Alecsandru Solice, João Paulo Pereira, Bamori Ouattara, Jánosné Kelemen, Mube Man, Eco Plant Nursery, Ruth Medford, Roberto Faustini, Omer Aroma, Elie Villaruz, Duy Nhất, Pétur Magnússon, Octavio Mata Morones

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“A city is truly accessible when every journey feels like an invitation, not an obstacle.”

Before and after: Place Félix Eboué in the 12th arrondissement of Paris.

Credits:

🌿 Green public spaces are the heart of vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable cities. They foster social cohesion by offering a place where all generations and backgrounds can come together, interact, and connect with nature.

At IMMdesignlab, we understand that these spaces play a crucial role in the health and well-being of urban communities. By designing sustainable green infrastructure, we help cities build environments that are resilient, equitable, and beneficial for both people and the planet. 🌍💚

🌳🌞 In the frame of IMM, the inclusion of vegetation, especially trees, stands out as one of the most effective strategies to counteract the urban heat island phenomenon. By integrating more greenery in public spaces, we can mitigate heat with a relatively low cost while also enjoying numerous other ecosystem services. 🌱🌿

Trees cool the air, improve air quality, enhance biodiversity, and create pleasant urban environments. Let’s prioritize green solutions for sustainable and resilient cities! 🌍💚