The Rise of Multipurpose Design in Sustainability
By Rose Morrison, managing editor of Renovated
Rapid urbanization and overconsumption of essential resources have raised the alarm about increasing environmental damage in metropolitan areas. Climate change, in particular, has taken a front seat in urban planning, with officials faced with the difficult task of building resilience amid an uncertain future.
As city populations boom and space becomes limited, the demand for flexible infrastructure is high. One solution is multipurpose design, which has helped pave the way to better socioeconomic functioning and sustainability.
Multipurpose Design in Sustainable Urban Development
Although urban areas account for 80% of the gross domestic product globally, they are also responsible for 75% of resource constraints, 65% of energy consumption and 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. The numbers are even more concerning as population growth in metropolitan areas is expected to reach 68% by 2050.
This brings several problems, including limited housing, inadequate essential services, poverty and the intensifying effects of climate change. To combat these issues, sustainable development aims to blend economic progress, social interactions and environmental stewardship — the recipe for a safer, healthier and more resilient city.
There are several ways multifunctional or mixed-use development benefits green infrastructure:
- Decreases waste accumulation and limits resource consumption
- Houses more people while reducing urban sprawl
- Integrates advanced waste systems and flood control
- Utilizes sustainable land use practices, lowers energy outputs, absorbs building carbon emissions and improves air quality
- Incorporates green roofs, urban agriculture and native landscaping to improve biodiversity and support urban-based ecological functions
- Creates recreation opportunities, green spaces and other amenities to foster health, well-being and socialization throughout the community
Essentially, multifunctionality maximizes available space. For instance, green roofs enable storm management and protect buildings. Simultaneously, they provide habitat, prevent stormwater runoff, cool the urban heat island effect and act as natural insulation. The public also benefits from vegetated rooftops with reduced noise pollution, purified air and an outdoor space to spend time.
New York City, in particular, has been successful through several sustainable mixed-use initiatives. While Brooklyn Bridge Park establishes green roofs throughout the borough, GrowNYC helps three million New Yorkers access fresh produce and learn how to manage waste properly.
Design Concepts for Mixed-Use Spaces
There are a few principles urban planners must follow when designing a multipurpose space. Here are the top design concepts.
- Amenity and Accessibility
Amenity and accessibility are top priorities, so urban planners must design a walkable area within 15 minutes of public transportation. Adequate plazas, ergonomic architecture and functional shopping and recreation should also meet community needs.
- Sustainability
Naturally, sustainability is of the utmost importance when planning multipurpose urban concepts. Construction should follow various green building certification requirements, utilize eco-friendly building materials and provide viable solutions for supporting urban ecology.
- Community
Urban planners should seek community input to create the most functional mixed-use space. Feedback and idea-sharing will help them execute the best project to meet citizens’ needs. The space should attract residents and tourists through its aesthetic appeal while offering numerous opportunities for social events, activities, attractions and community participation.
- Identity and Heritage
A multifunctional urban space delivers a unique opportunity to shape its qualities to stand apart from other developments. The more unique its identity is, the more attractive it will be to people. When revitalizing structures, planners should also highlight the area’s history and culture, drawing awareness to the city’s unique past.
- Innovative and Flexible Designs
As the world rethinks the future of multipurpose complexes, integrating cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions will enhance comfort and sustainability. Energy management, smart lighting and advanced parking systems improve operational and cost efficiency.
Smart technologies can also help enforce a more holistic approach to green infrastructure management. The Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) deliver essential insights for real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making. This helps advance ecological restoration and resource management in sustainable urban environments. For example, sensors can monitor soil moisture, identify plants and read water temperatures, storing the data using software to track changes over time.
Additionally, a multipurpose design in sustainability should be adaptable to meet evolving community needs continuously. This means spaces should be modifiable and responsive to changing market conditions.
Multifunctional Gardens: Blending Aesthetics and Sustainability
Gardens are highly versatile in urban multipurpose developments, offering sustainability, recreation and aesthetic benefits. Mixed-use spaces can leverage the following advantages of multifunctional gardens:
- Ecological: Help mitigate numerous environmental issues, from stormwater runoff to biodiversity loss. They often include features like rooftop gardens, rain gardens, advanced drainage systems, and permeability for water to seep through. At the same time, trees help reduce the heat island effect and improve air quality.
- Social: Provide outdoor spaces for socializing, leisure, events and physical activities. They cultivate a sense of belonging and health among citizens.
- Education: Deliver education opportunities for students and adults to learn about ecosystems, native plants, pollinators and conservation. Food-rich gardens may also inspire nutrition educational programs for residents.
- Economic: Boost market values and enhance the tourism industry, supporting a robust local economy and creating employment opportunities in landscaping and maintenance.
- Health: Improves physical and mental well-being, alleviates stress and deepens the community’s connection with the living environment.
Case Studies: 4 Multipurpose Spaces Worldwide
Cities worldwide are integrating multipurpose design in their sustainability plans. These four multi-use spaces have received recognition for their commitment to the community and the environment.
- Barcelona’s Superblocks
Barcelona, Spain, has pioneered a successful multipurpose design to create a more pedestrian-friendly and greener city. Its famed superblock comprises nine — three by three — blocks with restricted traffic for walking, cycling, and nature. Likewise, four — or two by two — blocks are referred to as miniblocks.
Aside from creating social cohesion, protection and excellent livability, the superblocks reduce transportation emissions and eliminate noise pollution. The added greenery also lessens urban heat island effects and provides a habitat for wildlife.
- San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens
San Francisco, California, hosts the ultimate multipurpose space, combining vibrant urban culture with green space. The concept of the Yerba Buena Gardens came about in the 1980s when residents and activists shared their eagerness for a real neighborhood. This included additional housing, sidewalks, grocery stores, shopping, health facilities and a community garden.
Decades later, the mixed-use Yerba Buena Gardens is home to 11,000 people within nine blocks. The neighborhood offers museums, hotels, and several attractions, welcoming citizens of all backgrounds and cultural identities. It also includes a beautiful green space with outdoor art installations, entertainment areas, walking paths and recreation.
Some of the neighborhood’s latest projects include a 12-bike hangar at popular transportation stops, a small turf area for on-leash pet relief and mobile parklets. The latter is seating made from dumpsters with lush greenery.
Credit: JaGa – Own work
- Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon Stream Restoration
After being covered by a highway in the late 1960s, the Cheonggyecheon River — known simply as Cheongye — in Seoul, South Korea, underwent re-naturalization in 2003. The project was necessary to mitigate transportation emissions and pollution from the built environment. Overall, the construction sector accounts for 23% of air pollution and 40% of water pollution.
The roadway was soon demolished as city officials planned to restore the river’s flow. However, the Cheongye was historically a seasonal channel, leaving urban planners to resolve how to provide a constant stream.
To address the issue, 120,000 tons of water was diverted from the Han River daily. After decades of development pollution, the city also implemented a new purification system to improve water quality.
One of the project’s primary goals was revitalizing the riparian ecosystem with vegetation. Plant diversity increased from 17 species before restoration began to 400 species, attracting an abundance of local amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish and other wildlife.
The Cheongye project highlights the challenges and opportunities of creating vibrant ecosystems in urban environments. Since reopening, the river has attracted hoards of visitors, reconnected Seoul’s northern and southern ends and stimulated the local economy.
- NYC’s High Line
High Line Park in New York City has quickly become a favored mixed-use space in a bustling environment. The park was built on a raised railroad track, spanning 1.45 miles across the west side of Manhattan. Its lush gardens of native flora, walking paths, seating, art installations, education opportunities and food vendors provide something for everyone.
Construction teams used materials with longer life cycles, including more durable, long-lasting concrete. This will allow for less waste accumulation from repairs and replacements. Some areas of the park integrate recirculated water for irrigation, while planners hope to implement rainwater harvesting from nearby structures.
The High Line Project has successfully engaged the community and deepened their connection to nature. From 2011 to 2018, annual visitors increased from 4 million to 7 million. It is also one of the most recommended attractions in NYC, giving people a place to escape their busy city life.
Multipurpose Design Is the Future of Sustainable Cities
As more urban areas develop resilience strategies to combat climate change and other environmental issues, multipurpose design should become standard. Of course, this isn’t a bad thing, as these locations offer numerous ecological, economic and social advantages for the community. If cities hope to achieve optimal efficiency and make sustainable use of available space, they must consider incorporating holistic green infrastructure into their plans.
About the Author
Rose is the managing editor of Renovated and has been writing in the construction industry for over five years. She’s most passionate about sustainable building and incorporating similar resourceful methods into our world. For more from Rose, you can follow her on Twitter.