ASSIGNMENT 1: Sustainable System in a city (40% (Group +Individual)
This assignment focuses on understanding the concept of sustainable cities and their resilience, particularly in relation to natural disaster mitigation. As urban populations continue to grow, cities face complex challenges such as climate change, housing shortages, pollution, and infrastructure strain. Through precedent studies of both local and international cities, students will explore how economic, social, and environmental strategies can create livable, resilient urban spaces.
TASK
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Select and document a precedent study city, detailing its population, urban design pattern, density, land use, and sustainability strategies.
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Choose a sustainable city case study from module references, evaluate its relevance to the Phase One city, and extract ideas for improving sustainability.
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Appraise the selected city’s resilience systems (energy, water, green areas, waste, economic, social, and environmental sustainability), then develop recommendations to enhance its sustainable performance.
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The outcome will be a recorded presentation (max 10 minutes) using diagrams, images, and references to present the analysis and proposed solutions.
OUTCOME
REFLECTION
This assignment provided me with an in depth understanding of sustainable cities and the importance of urban resilience in the face of natural disasters. By researching and comparing precedent cities, I learned how economic, social, and environmental strategies can work together to create livable and future-ready urban spaces. The process of gathering data, analyzing frameworks, and proposing solutions helped me develop critical thinking skills and a more holistic view of sustainable development. Working in a team enhanced my collaboration skills, as we had to coordinate tasks, merge different perspectives, and ensure a coherent final presentation. Overall, this assignment not only expanded my discipline-specific knowledge but also reinforced the importance of creativity, problem-solving, and responsible decision-making in architecture.
DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE
THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS
I was able to apply theoretical concepts from the Sustainable Living module, such as urban resilience frameworks and sustainable infrastructure strategies, into the practical evaluation of real-world cities.
Through critical analysis of precedent studies, I identified sustainability gaps and developed creative, practical recommendations to address urban challenges, demonstrating the ability to define, analyze, and solve problems effectively.