Sustainable Critical Infrastructure
Professor Alan Berger
PI at MIT
Professor Khaled Alawadi
PI at Masdar Institute
This research project is focused on analyzing Abu Dhabi’s native neighborhood form with tools that situate concerns of sustainability as a holistic approach. The central aim is to develop design solutions for neighborhoods that achieve maximum levels of socio-cultural, economic, and environmental sustainability in the hot-humid, arid and wealthy city of Abu Dhabi. The analysis is designed to articulate the impact of existing building and neighborhood patterns, based on socio-spatial practices, on the city's carbon footprint and its overall level of sustainability.
The study is structured into two major phases. The first phase will establish a theoretical understanding of the concept of sustainability as it applies specifically to the context, and study and assess the evolution of Abu Dhabi’s existing native-born housing neighborhoods for the various aspects of sustainability through a series of indicators and urban metabolic modeling. The second phase will explore future models and typologies for new neighborhoods and retrofits for existing neighborhoods that move the region towards a more sustainable carbon metabolism, and preserve the United Arab Emirate’s unique ecological and cultural heritage. This phase will also include the development of implementation strategies that will help streamline the process of incorporation of proposed design solutions into the existing policy framework of the emirate.
Large ecological footprints, high rates of urbanization, low bio-capacities, hyper-aridity, and hot-humid climate characterize most cities of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. With substantial investment in sustainability initiatives, Abu Dhabi is well situated to become a front runner in urban sustainability practices. Developing appropriate ways to expand Abu Dhabi's native residential landscape in the future, while preserving the environment and cultural integrity of neighborhood design, corresponds with one of the key priority areas led by local government entities, including the Executive Council, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, the Department of Municipal Affairs, the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, and Masdar City.
