Urban complexity, scale hierarchy, energy efficiency and economic value creation

Abstract

Several authors, such as Batty or Frankhauser have already analysed cities as fractal structures. Putting in perspective historical cities with modernist cities, others such as Alexander or Salingaros have stressed the loss of urban complexity over time. This paper aims at going a step further and investigates energy and economic aspects of cities through the prism of complexity theory. Fostering a more systematic use of fractal approaches, the authors highlight the crucial role that urban complexity plays in urban sustainability: only scale hierarchic urban structures will succeed in optimising the use of scarce resources allocated, improving at the same time energy efficiency and economic value creation. © 2011 WIT Press.