In an increasingly urbanized world, there is growing international demand for the studies on livable cities. This module will equip the learner with the knowledge and skills to participate in this rapidly expanding profession and find their position as architects. The module uses case study method through series of videos (precedents) and explores on cities of Malaysia and international contexts focusing on a particular theory/model/framework pertinent to sustainable living. The students are to explore the relationships of intangible aspects or the content such as cultural, climatic and social situations/user-experiences to tangible aspects such as form, activity and movement pattern. Firstly, the students must understand what makes the characteristics of a city for a formal understanding on sustainable aspects. Later, such characteristic understanding on urban reformation will be tested for what is still evidenced on the urbanity and content of livability. The module aims to inspire the students towards fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to comprehend urban places and sustainable living. It is an exploration of both literature and reality.

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the personal, economic, social and environmental aspects of making sustainable decision and choices.

2. Describe how cultural values (intangible) and other site conditions (tangible) affect perceptions and experiences in urban context.

3. Illustrate proposal of principles and practices of a sustainable city to be applied in the future convivial living environment.

Cities and towns have become the primary human living space. Since 2007, more than half of the world’s population has been living in urban areas and the figure is estimated to exceed 70 per cent by 2050. Building sustainable cities requires investment in:

(a) renewable energy sources
(b) efficiency in the use of water and electricity
(c) design and implementation of compact cities,
(d) retrofitting of buildings and increase of green areas,
(e) fast, reliable and affordable public transportation and
(f) improved waste and recycling systems. 

Cities are diverse in terms of their size, structure, spatial form, economy, wealth, local resources availability and ecological impact

In this assignment, student will be conversant and expected to understand the definition of the sustainable city, the word sustainability has come into such common usage that it sometimes seems ubiquitous. At the outset, this leads to the need to answer two principal questions with regards to niche of sustainable cities in a local context. First, what is a sustainable city? And secondly, why is it important that cities become sustainable?

The objectives of this project are as follows:

• To demonstrate an understanding of the existing framework/model/planning of existing cities (on economic, social and environmental aspects and four infrastructure)

• To describe how cultural values: identity of your selected city (intangible) and other site conditions (tangible) affect perceptions and experiences in local urban context.

1. Demonstrate an understanding of personal, economic, social and environmental aspects of making sustainable decision and choices.

2. Describe how cultural values (intangible) and other site conditions (tangible) affect perceptions and experiences in local context.

The future of our cities will ultimately depend on the way we choose to shape our cities today. Their fate will be about how we as citizens live our lives, show respect towards all life on Earth and contribute to solutions that create a better world. They include a host of solutions from engaging in urban experiments and asking local authorities to enhance sustainability action to urban gardening and switching to bicycles. Each of those choices matters and together they make a large impact if each of us embraces responsibility for the cities we inhabit.

Resilient cities are cities that able to absorb, recover and prepare for future shocks ( economic, environmental, social and institutional)., promoting sustainability, well being and inclusive growth). In this assignment, student will be conversant and expected to illustrate and transform concepts and ideas of the future sustainable city, the word sustainability has come into such common usage that it sometimes seems ubiquitous.

The objectives of this project are as follows:

• To Illustrate and analyse proposal of concepts, principles and practices of a sustainable city to be applied in the future convivial living environment.

• To reflect the identification of learning experience of the assignments, module and future application to professional practice.

• Illustrate proposal of concepts, principles and practices of a sustainable city to be applied in the future convivial living environment.