Urban Adaptation Through Evolutionary Development

Supervisors: Michael WeinstockGeorge Jeronimidis

In the context of urbanized population growth as well as the effects of climate change and diminishing natural resources, the methodology by which cities are designed in the next 30 years is crucial to the success of sustaining the growing population.This has triggered a reassessment of traditional urban design methods towards a more sustainable modus operandi for urban development.In recent years, an in-depth analysis of cities within a biological model of evolution aimed to provide an applicable methodology for cities that develop through adaptation rather than optimization. However, the computational application of an evolutionary model has been stagnant on primaryDarwinian principles,whilst the field of evolution itself has significantly progressed. The research seeks to tackle the urbanization of harsh climatic regions in the arctic tundra, with in a computational platform,to establish a correlation between the governing factors of the evolutionary development of natural systems, to the factors that regulate city development and growth.

Mohammed Makki holds a Bachelor degree in Architecture from the American University of Sharjah and a Masters degree (honors) in architecture in the field of Emergent Technologies and Design from the Architectural Association. Mohammed is an officially authorized Rhino 3D trainer, with extensive teaching experience in Kuwait University, the Architectural Association and independent 3D modeling and design workshops. In 2010, Mohammed cofounded MSSM Associates, an international architecture and design firm with branches in Kuwait, Lebanon, Cyprus and Indonesia. Currently, Mohammed is undertaking his PhD at the Architectural Association, with the research focus engaging the application of a biological model of evolutionary development for urban growth and adaptation.