About the EcoCity Design Studio

The EcoCity Design Studio is committed to designing urban environments capable of mitigating and adapting to climate change. All projects are developed by planning, urban design, architectural and landscape architectural design students directed by Dr. Rafael E. Pizarro in studios at different universities. Some common elements to all projects are:

  • compact urban form
  • high aesthetic quality of public spaces
  • pedestrian environments
  • climate-sensitive urban design
  • urban agriculture (on-site food production)
  • solar, geothermal, wind, and/or tidal energy production
  • rain and waste water recycling
  • solid waste collection and recycling
  • Combined Cooling Heat & Power (CCHP) facilities
  • mass public transit systems
  • roof-top gardens
  • solar architecture
  • mixed land uses
  • infrastructure for personal transportation devices (e.g. "Segways", bicycles, scooters, mini-autos).
  • car-share facilities
  • affordable housing

Short project description

EcoCityLab;White Bay Ecocity, Sydney, Australia: A scenario developed by students of Sydney University in 2007. The concept features mixed-use residential, commercial, light industrial, retail, community facilities, recreational and park areas, a beach at White Bay, swimming pool, a working harbour employment zone, marinas, light rail, ferry wharves, solar energy and agricultural precinct (self sustainability concept), stormwater retention and on-site effluent treatment and recycling. There is an emphasis on internal public transit and freight transportation network. The concept site includes an energy efficient employment zone in a fully pedestrian, highly mobile transit oriented “eco-city”.
The design proposal divides the site naturally into five precincts. Most buildings are mixed-use, ranging in height from 12 storeys near the Anzac Bridge to two or three storeys closer to the harbour foreshore. Passive solar design determines built form throughout the EcoCity, with northern orientations and narrow floor plates for cross-ventilation. Roof gardens alternate with photovoltaics to supplement the food and energy produced elsewhere on site. Rainwater is collected for re-use block by block while grey and black water are processed in large central plant in the agricutural precinct at the southern end of the site.

"EnergieQuartier" (Energy District), Student ideas competition, 2011

Nassim City A contribution to the BUE's International Competition in Sustainability and Future, 2010, 3rd place