Urban Villages’ Post

This week, dive into the hidden history of urban water management! Today, urban dwellers tend to think about where their water comes from only when it stops flowing, or when it flows too much. Water usually makes it to residential consumers through an extensive and technologically sophisticated infrastructure that remains largely invisible outside times of crisis. Across much of human history, by contrast, the question of where to get water for daily needs was much more immediate. While the technologies used to gather and distribute water in the past may have been less complex, the basic principles are the same. Join our panel of scholars who will dissect the evolution of water management from ancient Rome to the Maya civilization and into the modern US Southwest. Panelists Tim Beach (The University of Texas at Austin - College of Liberal Arts), Michael Holleran (The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture), Adam Rabinowitz (The University of Texas at Austin - College of Liberal Arts) and Rabun Taylor (The University of Texas at Austin - College of Liberal Arts) discuss the connection of those practices with social and historical developments in both the Old and the New Worlds. Discover how these historical practices echo through time, offering insights into current densely settled areas' water management dilemmas. Details and RSVP: https://bit.ly/3TJa1nO

From Reformatory to Renaissance: Our project 'Liberty at Laurel Hill' is the embodiment of transformation, breathing life into a historic site. Watch as the past converges with the future, creating a vibrant urban community where history meets innovation. 🏢 #SmartSiteManagement #SiteProject #landdeveloper #engineers #construction #constructionmanagement #residentialdevelopment #residentialdeveloper

!NEWS! - Welcome to Q+A season. Earlier this year at the International Mass Timber Conference, I sat down with Think Wood to share my thoughts on equitable sustainable development and the role of Mass Timber in its construction. They just came out with the interview. Questions include: - How you got into sustainable real estate development? - You’ve also been an early adopter of mass timber construction. What got you started in tall timber and the idea of using more engineered wood in development projects? - What are some ways mass timber can help boost sustainability and, at the same time, help make development projects more equitable? - Are there any future projects on Adre’s horizon that you’re really excited about? Enjoy! #masstimber #socialequity #sustainaility

It's finally here.... I'm pleased to announce a new and exciting chapter for Built Environments - North Carolina! Many already know that I have joined forces with Jarrett Davis to offer a new and even bolder brand of building science. Our new Carolina testing facility is bigger, better, and full of ideas! Expect many new announcements in the coming months! Though I'll still have a major presence in Minnesota, my immediate focus now involves enclosure performance in hot, humid coastal environments. These initiatives will only grow in the coming years. Along the way, we'll tackle (and develop) new products, new approaches, and new ways of thinking about the built environment. #buildingscience #northcarolina #buildingenvelope #buildingenclosure #buildingproducts #materialsscience #materialscience #researchanddevelopment #research #letsdothis

We're helping to rebuild the Northern Rivers School Cluster. In collaboration with Schools Infrastructure NSW, ADCO and Pedavoli Architects, Modscape is transforming the educational landscape in flood-impacted Northern Rivers (NSW). See how we're using modular construction to restore essential community infrastructure on our blog. #educationsystem #educationisthekey #educators #sustainabilityeducation #sustainabilitygoals #environmentalsustainability #sustainabilitycommunity #sustainabilitychallenge #sustainablity #sustainablesolutions #besustainable #circularity #helptheplanet

Discover the future of urban living with our pivotal study on mass timber construction in the Seattle area. By reducing embodied carbon, enhancing biophilic benefits, and promoting affordability and density in high-rises, mass timber is setting new standards for sustainable, innovative urban landscapes. Learn more about how this approach is transforming cities for the better.

Amazing summary of “What” are #Livingbuildings and “Why” Should we build them. #lbc #livingbuildingchallenge #sustainablearchitecture #sustainability #greenenergy #JasonMcClennan

The ASLA Fund has released new peer-reviewed research on landscape architecture solutions to extreme heat, the deadliest climate impact. The research was developed by Dr. Daniella Hirschfeld, ASLA, PhD, Assistant Professor of Climate Adaptation Planning, Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Department, Utah State University. Dr. Hirschfeld won a competitive national grant from the ASLA Fund in 2023 to conduct the research. Hirschfeld and her team found from the research that: - Increasing the number of nature-based solutions within a community, the size of these solutions, and the amount of greenery or trees will decrease temperatures. - The way nature-based solutions are distributed throughout a neighborhood or city makes a difference. Research shows that the more green spaces are connected to one another the greater temperature reductions benefits they provide. Read the executive summary, which includes case studies and project examples, and the full research study: https://bit.ly/3x2ECn5 Image Credit: Landscape Architecture Solutions to Extreme Heat. Dr. Daniella Hirschfeld, ASLA / ASLA Fund

𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐓𝐎 𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 🔗 https://lnkd.in/djDdUFCR ❓Why don’t we simply incorporate greenery into the place where we spend most of our time? Elizaveta Fakirova🌿, a PhD Candidate in the field of transformative urban green infrastructure governance, is here to explain the pains and gains of such a goal. 🌿 𝐈𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭:  • Requirements of Green Spaces in Cities  • Ways to Connect Buildings with Vegetation  • Green Facades and roofs   • Strategic Planning  • Maintenance  • Your actions   • Challenges ❗️This article was originally written by Metka Novak for CityChangers.org.com, the community-centred content platform for urban change-makers brought to you by Urban Future.

For my fellow planners and others involved in local climate resilience - this looks like a really useful workshop. "This webinar will focus on the role municipalities can play in adopting cool roofs in the region and tools and resources available to do that, such as: - Educational outreach materials - How to use land use policy and zoning to encourage cool roofs adoption - Model procurement language for municipal facilities retrofitting a roof - Online cool roof suitability map"