Cities are dynamic, multi-scale systems that connect different domains, actors and stakeholders. From global challenges such as climate change, to national boundaries such as energy networks, to local innovations in materials, technology and construction techniques, these forces shape the form, function and livability of urban environments.

A systemic design approach focuses on uncovering the interactions between these scales and domains, helping urban planners and decision-makers to identify, quantify and integrate these connections into more informed designs. As cities face growing challenges, the need to future-proof our urban spaces becomes more urgent - placing decarbonisation, livability and regeneration at the heart of our planning efforts.

This talk will introduce the concept of systemic design for decarbonising cities at multiple scales, illustrated by research in Zurich and Singapore, using case studies from different contexts, locations and climates. The talk will explore how new models and tools, based on multimodal data, suggest new planning and decision-making processes and advance both research and practice.

The presentation will be framed by a forward-looking question: Can systemic design help us move beyond the goal of simply reducing the negative impacts of cities? Instead, can we re-imagine cities as places that match or exceed their surroundings in terms of environmental sustainability, public health and biodiversity - actively enhancing the well-being of both people and planet?