The urban block as a potential for sustainable urban design

Abstract

Urban blocks in a broader sense can work as the essential settlement form of the urban tissue and organization scheme of a city. Along with streets they define the urban layout and influence the way a city works. Additionally, they can be flexible enough to adjust to different built forms as well as to distinct socio-cultural environments. Moreover, an urban block can generate a mixed-use economy while it creates social mixture of different users. With these points in mind this paper introduces a concept of a future sustainable urban block; the Community Block, a contemporary view of the author regarding sustainable cities and urban environment. This visionary plan represents an eligible and profitable future design concept for contemporary sustainable planning. At the same time, equally important with the block is its urban context. Therefore, urban design guidelines are proposed in order to achieve a future sustainable city.