This essential reference guide to strategies and solutions for urban planning in hot arid environments reflects the journey toward many cities, towns and villages in Iran, which are documented and presented in the form of case studies and comparative analysis. It is the outcome of extensive research on the influence of historical, cultural and climatic factors on urban spatial forms and rural complexes in Iran’s Hot Arid Zone. The environment of the Hot Arid Zone offers valuable insights into how to overcome historical difficulties, how to endure harsh climatic conditions, how to be innovative and creative in responding to problems in new ways, and how to utilize natural energy sources. Considerable attention is given to the recognition of values, current problems and the renewal of traditional fabrics, urban blocks and traditional buildings. Important aspects in both academic education and in the urban design profession include traditional urban structures and traditional approaches to using natural energy as a creative process that is continuously changing and renews itself over time – a dynamic characteristic from which we can glean many lessons for the future. This book is based on a book previously published by the author in Persian. This version is an extensively revised version.

This book takes a bold epistemological approach to address the fundamental questions that urban design has faced since its inception – questions concerning its legitimacy, definition, nature, content, purpose, theory, methods, jurisdiction and above all its knowledge base. The appropriate level of urban design – global or local – is another critical and emerging question discussed. At the end, an integrative theory of urban design is introduced, on the basis of which a set of principles is developed for application by practicing urban designers. These principles are presented at three essential levels: general, global and local-Iranian. Toward an Integrative Theory of Urban Design is intended to dispel many of the ambiguities still troubling urban design as a discipline and profession.

RE-MIXING THE CITY - Towards Sustainability and Resilience? There is nothing permanent except change. (Heraclitus) Cities worldwide are facing rapid social, economic, environmental, technological and cultural changes such as: rapid urbanisation, aging of society, security issues, housing emergency, new solutions on mobility, integration of immigrants, food and water shortage, etc. Especially in times of economic crisis and demographic changes in cities, it is necessary to think about how to best handle what we have, and therefore "RE-MIXING THE CITY" is a challenge to manage and re-combine the elements which make our modern cities in order to better respond to change.

Questions have been increasingly raised by academicians, theorists, and professionals concerning the essence, legitimacy, knowledge base and content and especially methods of inquiry of urban design. These questions were dealt with in an original study for almost four decades, the preliminary results, which were published under the title Toward an Integrative Theory of Urban Design (Bahrainy and Bakhtiar, Springer, 2016). The author's premise in that work was that because urban design is a complex and multifaceted field, the most useful theories and methods are ones that are integrative (e.g. substantive: urban space and activities; as well as procedural: integrative rules and principles: artistic-intuitive and scientific-rational). The main purpose of this book is to introduce an integrative method of inquiry for urban design through illustrating the practical application of the proposed urban design rules and principles. The authors believe this collection will be a great contribution to the understanding and application of the integrative urban design theory and, particularly, its practical rules and principles. This synthesis of theory and practice is expected to prepare thoughtful practitioners in urban design, and therefore, will be of great interest to the professionals, as well as academicians and also the students of urban design, urban planning, architecture, and the art fields.

This book studies the principles of urban spatial organization of historic cities. It can be considered a guide to design, presenting qualitative criteria to satisfy practical needs. The subject is explored through interconnected chapters, each addressing an important aspect of form-space and design values, knowledge and our present problems. In this book the interpretation is artistic and socio-cultural. Discussion is not concentrated on singular urban space but on interrelated spaces and elements across the city, and complexes. Considering the comparative aspects of study, the reader will notice that despite cultural differences, there is a common understanding in artistic creativity and sensibility in the presented examples.

In an era defined by climate change, huge resource consumption, a lack of social cohesion, rapidly accelerating technological innovations, economic shifts, and the transformation of political systems, solutions must be pursued at every level of action. This book shows how solutions from urban design and planning can, by integrating the approaches of multiple disciplines, be the first steps toward envisioning the sustainable, energy-efficient, and climate-sensitive city of the future. This book is compiled for readers from a range of professional backgrounds. Its intended audience includes the government bodies, municipalities, urban planners, engineers, architects, civil servants, and citizens who are part of urban development, from initiation through implementation. The facts and findings presented herein are relevant to any national or international debate concerning urban development which aims to create sustainable, resource-efficient, and climate-sensitive urbanization processes. The text and visuals of this book are intended to serve as a comprehensive decision support tool, taking into account that current and future urban challenges and planning tasks can only be tackled through an interlinked and stakeholder driven iterative process. As a result of the Young Cities research project, this book acts as a multilayered reference manual by providing: (a) a brief outline of the MENA region’s urban challenges; (b) a proposal for generic principles and actions for creating an energy- and resource-efficient as well as environmentally sustainable urban environment; (c) the opportunities and impacts of each discipline involved in an integrated planning process; and (d) the findings of the applied principles in the 35 ha “Shahre Javan Community” pilot project.