Question 6

Q: Your perspective on cities as living, breathing organisms is fascinating. How do you apply critical thinking to understand and respond to the complex interplay of urban dynamics, and how does this inform your design decisions?

A: Many factors shape cities and urban design is only one part of it. Like in all complex systems, no single element can determine the system but any one change can have an effect. As designers, we need to be aware of the many forces at play and understand the possibilities as well the limitations of our tools. We can’t solve economic, policy, or social issues with design, but we can support intended change with design. For example, if a city has stated a stated objective to make a street safer and more pedestrian-friendly, we can make this objective a reality by developing a design that fits the particular situation. This illustration can help obtain funding but in itself is not a funding tool. However, we often help the process with inspiring precedents that include innovative approaches beyond the design. In my mind, the most important aspect about the complexity of cities is that there is no magic status quo that needs to be preserved. A living organism is constantly renewing itself and is experiencing change. We need to recognize and accommodate these changes while always advocating for the livibility of our cities. That’s why there is no place for dogmatism in urban design. Things that have worked in the past may work in the future but there may also be new solutions that may work as well - for a while. We need to allow room for experimentation. As Henry Miller so eloquently stated “all is flux”.