Urban Survival Skills
Zara Sagan
Translator A AI
Publisher: Publifye
Summary
Urban Survival Skills tackles the urgent question of how cities can endure 21st-century threats like climate disasters and pandemics. Centered on three pillars—adaptive infrastructure, community-driven planning, and ecological integration—the book argues that urban resilience requires blending technical innovation with social equity. It critiques outdated top-down planning models, showcasing instead how cities like Rotterdam use floodable plazas to manage storms, or how Medellín’s cable cars reduced inequality by connecting marginalized neighborhoods to economic hubs. These examples reveal resilience as a dynamic process, not a fixed goal, demanding collaboration between engineers, policymakers, and citizens. Structured for clarity, the book progresses from defining core concepts to analyzing global case studies. It merges hydrological data, sociological research, and architectural blueprints to demonstrate solutions—such as Singapore’s vertical greenery combating urban heat—while addressing controversies like privatized disaster defenses. Unique insights include temporal resilience, which prepares cities for slow crises like soil degradation alongside sudden disasters. Practical tools like community risk assessment templates and green roof incentives bridge theory and action. By framing cities as adaptable ecosystems rather than static fortresses, Urban Survival Skills offers a socially just vision of urban futures, where survival hinges on inclusivity, creativity, and harmony with nature.
Available since: 01/26/2025.
Print length: 61 pages.
