ULAB

Laboratory for research on complexity of cities and landscapes

Programme leaders
Prof.dr.ir. V.J. Meyer, Dr.ir. Meta Berghauser-Pont

Department
Urbanism
U-LAB Home page

Participating Chairs

Summary

U-Lab addresses the question how the urban design discipline can deal with the increasing complexity of the compositions, constructions, developments and uses of urban patterns. The aim of the ULAB research-program is to strengthen urban design as a technical scientific discipline by the development of methods, tools and instruments which produce the possibilities for a fruitful and effective approach of the design of urban patterns in contemporary urban and metropolitan developments. The complexity of urban patterns concerns three levels or layers, on which the ULAB will focus:

The complexity of the territory, which is increasing because of climate-change and new insights and views concerning relations between urbanization and environmental qualities. The program will especially pay attention to the changing territorial conditions of delta areas. The processes of urbanization in delta-areas has been recognized as a major problem worldwide (Barnett, Burdet/Sudjic, Hill). The Dutch Lowlands can be considered as a laboratory of urbanising deltas with worldwide importance.
The complexity of the urban fabrics, where the mutual influences of buildings and open space result in complex spatial configurations with complex patterns of use. On the one hand public administrations are aiming to upgrade the quality of public space in the city, on the other hand it is their aim to condense and intensify the urban built structure. At the same time urban design and planning find themselves in processes of deregulation and decentralisation. How can ‘spatial quality’ be defined and regulated in these complex conditions ?
The complexity of urban dynamics, which puts forward the question how urban design can deal with contrasting processes: on the one hand the need for creating conditions for ‘bottom-up’ activities and self-organising processes, on the other hand the effects of globalisation.

The program investigates in what sense these different influences can be incorporated in approaches and concepts of urban design. Especially with digital technology a new spectrum of instruments has been developed, which create the possibility of new ‘ways of seeing’, new ways of understanding and interpreting present-day urban realities, as well new ways of working at the urban realities of tomorrow. Instruments such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Geographic Positioning Systems (GPS) created the condition for a powerful enrichment of analysis of the complex morphological and functional reality of the city. Also digital simulation, modeling and gaming entered a new chapter of application in the field or urbanism, and resulted into instruments and methods like SpaceSyntax, SpaceMate, Mixed-Use Index and Perception-analysis. ULAB primarily is a centre where the elaboration and application of this technology will be concentrated, continued, elaborated, opened for broader use and linked to relevant research-questions concerning present-day urbanisation-patterns. Elaborating these new instruments will contribute to clear standards for (urban) design as a scientific discipline. Explorative research (research by design) and empirical research (design-research) can be elaborated with clear technical standards and criteria.

Sub research programmes

Urban Deltas

Urban Deltas focus on the networks of public works for water-management, flooddefense and mobility and the (potential) meaning of these public works for the urban morphology and vitality and for the urban and metropolitan design.

Urban Fabrics: Densities and programs

Urban Fabrics, Densities and programs focus on the changing use and programs of the city, the changes of demands concerning the urban environment, the consequences for the pattern, morphology and density of the city, including multiple land-use, and the consequences for the discipline of urban design.

Urban Dynamics: Self-Organisation and Globalisation

Urban Dynamics: Self-Organisation and Globalisation focus on the question how urban design can deal with the increasing complexity of processes - on the one hand the increasing awareness of the importance of self-organisation, on the other hand the effects of globalisation.