Climate and water sensitive urban design

Welcome!

This project-based course is an introduction to the fields of urban climate and hydrology, with a focus on nature-based solutions for the design of climate and water resilient cities.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Explain how cities modify land surface processes on multiple temporal and spatial scales;
• Quantify the physical processes governing the climate and hydrology of cities (e.g., urban heat and dry islands, air pollution, runoff generation, flood risk);
• Apply urban physics concepts in urban design;
• Propose nature-based solutions to design more sustainable and resilient cities

Teaching method

• Weekly lectures (2h)
• Weekly design tutorials/group work (2h)

Assessment

• 40% Individual test (on Week 12)
• 60% Group project (40%) with individual components (20%)

Group Project

Work in groups of 4-5 students (see guidelines) and produce a detailed plan to improve climate and water management at the EPFL campus using nature-based solutions.

Create your group by filling in the table HERE (deadline: Feb. 21)

• Sustainable Urban drainage - continuation (Lecture 3)
  
• Lecture 4 (if time allows)

• Sustainable Urban drainage - finish reading the material in Lecture 3-4 (to be done before class)
• Sponge campus: guest lecture by Luca Rossi at 10am-12pm
  

Guest lecturer: Dr Christoph Bachofen

Meeting in class (usual place/time), then we will walk through the campus together. We will go for the walk in groups - the rest of the time is free for project work/tutorials. 

Throughout the walk we will experience the direct and dynamic influence of built form on local microclimate/hydrology and discuss the links between architecture, planning, climate, green infrastructure, health and wellbeing.

For an example, see here: https://climatelondon.org/events/urban-climate-walk/  

Each group will present their portfolios/ongoing work. This is an opportunity to get feedbacks from guests with various expertise/background.

Presentation format: 8 mins + Q&A (15 mins in total)

Note: 

• Each group should send a draft portfolio in pdf format to gabriele.manoli@epfl.ch before 6pm on May 6th.
  
• 5% will be deducted from the final mark if the team does not present its work in progress during this Projects Review

Program (TBC):

08:15 - 09:00 Groups 1-3

09:00 break

09:15 - 10:00 Groups 4-6

10:00 break

10:15-11:00 Groups 7-9

etc ...

Individual in-class test (40% of the final mark)

When: 14.05 at 8:15 AM

Where: Room AAC 231

The test is closed-book and will consist of true/false questions and short answer questions.