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Urban Sustainability at the Margins

Borderlands, Peripheries, and Resilient Design Practices

  • 1st Edition - January 1, 2027
  • Latest edition
  • Editors: Rui Alexandre Castanho, Ana Viegas Loures
  • Language: English

Urban Sustainability at the Margins: Borderlands, Peripheries, and Resilient Design Practices explores how cities can be shaped through innovative, climate-responsive, and people… Read more

Description

Urban Sustainability at the Margins: Borderlands, Peripheries, and Resilient Design Practices explores how cities can be shaped through innovative, climate-responsive, and people-centered planning approaches. The book brings together theory, practice, and real-world case studies to offer a comprehensive view of sustainable urban development. From eco-design principles and resilient infrastructure to policy frameworks and smart city integration, it serves as a forward-thinking guide for creating cities that are both livable and future-proof. As urban areas rapidly grow, there is a critical need for new planning paradigms that prioritize sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience. Bringing together perspectives from thought leaders around the world, this book provides an updated, interdisciplinary resource that reflects the urgent challenges of urbanization in the context of climate change, environmental degradation, and social inequality. The chapters are organized clearly into four logical sections—foundational concepts, policy and governance, thematic strategies, and global case studies—which provides a coherent progression from theory to practice. Urban Sustainability at the Margins helps readers understand how to design and implement sustainable solutions in real-world contexts. It bridges the gap between academic insight and professional application, making it a valuable tool for both study and practice.

Key features

  • Includes practical insights and best practices from case studies of cities around the world to demonstrate successful strategies and lessons learned
  • Offers actionable models and planning tools that can be adapted to diverse urban contexts
  • Combines insights from multidisciplinary perspectives—urban planning, design, environmental science, and public policy—to support comprehensive decision-making

Readership

Researchers and academics in urban planning, architecture, and environmental sciences; Graduate and postgraduate students in sustainable development, urban design, and related disciplines; Urban planners and policy-makers; Architects and design professionals; Professionals working in smart cities, infrastructure, and sustainability sectors; NGOs and institutions involved in urban regeneration and environmental planning; Government agencies and municipal authorities responsible for urban and regional planning

Table of contents

Foreword Introduction: Reimagining Urban Futures through Sustainable Design
Section I – Foundational Concepts and Frameworks

1. The Principles of Sustainable Urban Design

2. Resilience and Adaptation in Urban Planning

3. Smart Cities and Digital Tools for Sustainability

Section II – Policy, Governance, and Community Engagement

4. Multi-Level Governance and Sustainable Policy Implementation

5. Public Participation and Inclusive Urban Design

6. Financing the Green Transition in Cities

Section III – Thematic Areas and Applied Strategies

7. Nature-Based Solutions and Urban Green Infrastructure

8. Energy-Efficient Urban Forms and Mobility Systems

9. Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Urban Regeneration

Section IV – Global Case Studies and Best Practices

10. European Experiences in Urban Sustainability

11. African and Latin American Approaches to Resilient Urban Design

12. Small and Medium Cities Leading the Green Shift Conclusion: Designing the Cities of Tomorrow – Pathways Forward

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Published: January 1, 2027
  • Language: English

About the editors

RC

Rui Alexandre Castanho

Rui Alexandre Castanho holds an International Ph.D. in Sustainable Planning in Borderlands and is currently the Vice-Dean for Sustainable Development at WSB University, Poland, and a Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He is also an EU Climate Pact Ambassador and completed postdoctoral research under the GREAT Project at the University of the Azores. His research affiliations include ECIDES at UNIR (Spain), VALORIZA at the Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre (Portugal), CITUR-Madeira, and AQUAGEO at UNICAMP (Brazil). He holds degrees in Green Spaces Engineering and Agricultural Engineering, as well as a Master’s in Planning, Audit, and Control in Urban Green Spaces. Professor Castanho has published over 160 peer-reviewed articles, 100 indexed book chapters, more than 30 books, and more than 100 conference contributions. He has spoken at numerous international academic events and was awarded the Doctor Honoris Causa title by UPCI in Lima, Peru.

Affiliations and expertise
VALORIZA – Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, Portugal

AL

Ana Viegas Loures

Ana Viegas Loures holds a Ph.D. in Landscape Architecture and is a dedicated researcher and educator in the fields of sustainable development, land use planning, and environmental management. She is currently a faculty member at the Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, Portugal, and collaborates with several research centers, including VALORIZA – Research Center for the Enhancement of Endogenous Resources. Her academic and professional work focuses on the integration of ecological principles into planning and design practices, aiming to promote resilient and inclusive landscapes. Ana has participated in various international research projects and is the author of multiple scientific publications, book chapters, and conference papers. Passionate about fostering sustainability at both local and global scales, she actively contributes to knowledge exchange between academia, communities, and policy-makers.

Affiliations and expertise
Valoriza - Research Center for the Valorization of Endogenous Resources, Portalegre Polytechnic University, Portugal