Collapsing Gracefully: Making a Built Environment that is Fit for the Future

This innovative book investigates the concept of collapse in terms of our built environment, exploring the future transition of modern cities towards scenarios very different from the current promises of progress and development. It suggests that collapse could imply a manageable situation, an opportunity for change, or a devastating reality, and that it is essential to think differently about the built environment to ease our coexistence with it and not contribute to its causes.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 310 pages
Publication date: 26 July 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This groundbreaking book delves into the concept of collapse, shedding light on its implications for our built environment. It explores the future trajectory of modern cities, envisioning a stark contrast to the current promises of progress and development. Contrary to apocalyptic narratives, this book aims to understand the transformative shift in how and where we live. While collapse is an inevitable reality, it can manifest in different ways, ranging from manageable situations to opportunities for change or devastating consequences.

Collapsing gracefully signifies the potential for better ways to coexist with collapse if we gain deeper insights and commit to rebuilding our civilizations in ways that mitigate its adverse effects. This book employs a diverse range of practical examples to examine critical changes in the built environment, providing context and visual representation of collapse. It explores the possibility of buffering its impacts in regions already experiencing collapse and proposes strategies for developing greater resilience.

The book serves as a powerful call to action for all agents and institutions within modern cities, including designers, planners, residents, and users. It challenges them to rethink the design and functionality of the built environment to facilitate a harmonious coexistence with collapse and to refrain from contributing to its causes. By embracing this transformative perspective, we can pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient future.

Weight: 510g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030777852
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021