A grid for sustainability

Abstract

Nowadays, the shape of a city's outskirts is the product of designed suburbs with all types of random street mazes, gridded extensions plugged into the main street network and unplanned developments which can take any form. Still, the most common type of extension takes the shape of an orthogonal grid, which varies in dimensions greatly from place to place. Therefore, if the use of the grid comes so natural and easy, is it possible to redesign it taking into account new sustainability issues? This study focuses on designing an optimal model of a grid for sustainability. To accomplish it, the work structured its line of thought firstly by defining if a grid can be an effective tool for sustainable urban development. For this, it analyses the core characteristics of seven different grids developed throughout history. Then, the study presents and establishes which key sustainable design concepts could or should be included in a sustainable grid's design. In terms of the evaluation methodology, the author develops step by step a new design proposal of a grid; it first interprets the sustainable design concepts on a new grid based on passive solar design and on different network hierarchies. Finally, the study tests the grid's accuracy and flexibility on a specific terrain in Quito - Ecuador, given that the location provides particularly challenging conditions. The conclusions show that it is possible to design a grid that encompasses the current worldview of sustainability based on networks and passive solar design principles. The grid's design proves to be flexible and shapes can be adaptive to different location specific conditions. Recommendations are then presented, suggesting that additional grid testing can be performed in different locations to confirm the grid's accuracy and flexibility.