reflexive summary
As a postgraduate student in urban design, I learned about the cohousing model in my second semester through the Housing Options course and visited the Cambridge cohousing case study, which led to a greater focus on the shared co-housing model and the direction of sustainable development. This is because sustainability is one of our core values. We should focus on the economic social and environmental balance to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations. Therefore my four blogs are all based around thinking in terms of sustainable materials and sustainable design and carbon reduction in urban construction. This ¬is also an important issue for me to think about as an urban designer.
This semester’s blogs I am thinking about how to be sustainable in terms of materials, technology and low carbon travel:
- Composite fungal materials and raw earth materials
These materials are now widely regarded as sustainable building materials because of their ability to reduce their environmental impact. Composite fungal materials are made from a mixture of natural materials such as fungi and waste, and have good thermal, acoustic and fire insulation properties. Biomaterials, on the other hand, are building materials made by mixing soil, grass, water and binders, and have good thermal insulation and eco-friendly properties.
In urban design, we can focus on and use these sustainable building materials to reduce the impact on the environment.
- 3D printed wall technology with seeds
This is an emerging technology that allows seeds to be printed on building walls, making the building walls themselves have a planting function. This not only increases urban greenery, but also provides better air quality and reduces the urban heat island effect.
This technique can be used in urban design to achieve urban greenery, however, the practical application of this technique requires more research and practice.
- The impact of walking and exercise on the health of residents
Urban designers should give more consideration to the impact of walking and exercise on the health of residents. Improving the accessibility and convenience of urban roads will encourage people to walk and cycle in order to reduce urban traffic congestion and reduce carbon emissions.
In comparison to the content of my blog last term, I have a clear focus on urban design this term and have gone from not knowing what to blog about at the beginning to enjoying the process of writing the blog. Sustainable development is the area of urban design that I am focusing on. I can see my growth through studying this area. I know more about the confusion of what urban designers need to do than I did last year, and in the process of blogging I learn about new technologies and techniques and new knowledge in all aspects, so for me, blogging and reading blogs is a good platform to build up knowledge and gain information. In the future, I will also keep the habit of writing a blog, as the knowledge and insights accumulated through reading can only be mastered and applied through writing.
