Year 2 Studio - Climate Urbanism Studio

The Climate Urbanism Studio investigates how to build up climate resilient and inclusive post-pandemic neighbourhoods, capitalizing on learning from COVID-19 outbreak to ensure a smooth green recovery as advocated by COP26, Glasgow. The Studio applies an integrated analytical and design framework to understand & map city vulnerabilities to address economic shocks, pandemics & climate challenges, producing meanwhile scenarios of resiliency and design explorations at the local level (Verdini, Dean, 2022). We focus on the borough of Newham, East London - one of the most diverse boroughs of London, with high level of social deprivation and problems exacerbated by COVID. Newham is also committed to promising experiences of local government, including experimenting with the council’s first permanent Citizens Assembly - one of UK’s most innovative processes of ‘participatory democracy’. Residents’ view, including the youth, in the Citizens Assembly, has been already incorporated into its Climate Emergency Action Plan. A series of recommendations on the topic of ‘Greening the Borough’ has also been published. The Council is planning now to develop an action plan aiming to: encourage physical & digital access to green space, implement community projects around green space & wellbeing, supporting the development of green infrastructure, pockets of green, and the re-wilding of existing areas. Students’ work gives voices to people & explore solutions for greening the borough.

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