Sustainable neighbourhoods,

what gaps exist between the theory and the knowledge of future architects?

Architectural research for Exchange Students-UI

Spring semester 2022

ZWRD56
Leticia Fernández
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 1. Introduction

1.1 Origin and motivation

When I was given the task of carrying out research on urbanism, from the first
moment I was clear that my desire was to investigate the field of sustainability.

Since the city is a very large area, I decided to focus on the study of the
neighbourhood, which after all, the sum of many of these is what creates the city.

The words eco-neighbourhood and sustainable neighbourhood were already

familiar to me, although I really didn't know much about them. It was then that I
introduced my mentor to the topic, and she found it interesting and appropriate.

Investigating a little more, I realized that in my home university we had never had
any subject focused on this specific topic, although it had been mentioned once. After this
reflection I thought that this lack could or could not also occur in other students like me,
and that is why it seemed interesting to me to study what is the knowledge of future
architects on the subject and what importance is given to it in the different universities.

1.2 Problem

What does a neighbourhood really have to have to be sustainable? How do

international systems describe sustainable neighbourhoods? What level of knowledge do
future architects have on the subject? What level of importance is given in architecture
schools?

1.3 Objectives

Apart from the main objective, which will be to determine the knowledge gap that
exists between the theory and what future architects know about the subject, there are
other objectives that have led me to carry out this research work. In the first place, it would
be an attempt to go deeper into the study of the requirements and characteristics that a
neighbourhood must have to be sustainable. And secondly, it would be based on the results
on the knowledge of the students on the subject, to make a call to the architecture schools
to increase or not the related subjects.

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 1.4 Methodology

The investigation begins with a desk research, secondary sources, literature

overview, and selected assessments are analysed. There are many articles and books on the
subject. However, there is no article where the future of this term is discussed according
to the knowledge of future architects on the subject.

First, therefore, an exhaustive search is made on the subject. Different definitions

are compared since there is no official one to create my own. The evolution of the term is
sought by making a study of its history, from its beginnings to the current panorama, and
real examples of sustainable neighbourhoods are sought.

There are systems that are dedicated to guaranteeing or not that a neighbourhood
is sustainable, it was decided to study two of them to understand what characteristics are
required for a neighbourhood to obtain the sustainability badge. The ECO-quartier system
is chosen, as it is a system applied in a country very close to mine, since it is developed in
France, and I am Spanish. In addition, it is verified that this system has a great influence
throughout the country, locating neighbourhoods under the eco-quartier seal throughout
the territory. And on the other hand, the LEED system is studied, this being one of the
most influential worldwide, based on U.S., both for its age and for its commitment.

After carrying out this study on sustainable neighbourhoods, as a primary resource

a survey was created dedicated to architecture students from all over the world. It is an
attempt to compare the current panorama of the term with the vision of future architects.
In the questionnaire, questions are asked with the purpose of knowing the level of
knowledge and importance that is given to the subject and with the purpose of creating a
global idea of what the future of this type of neighbourhood may be according to the
knowledge and the opinions of architecture students.

In the end, the theory and the answers of the students are compared to know what
the deficiencies in the knowledge of the students of architecture in relation are to what
the theory says and how they see the future compared with the future purposes of the
systems studied.

Finally, a question is formulated that is intended to be a continuation of the

investigation, thus leaving an open topic for debate that could continue to be studied.

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 2. Research

2.1 Sustainable neighbourhoods

2.1.1 Definition of Sustainable Neighbourhood

The first thing is to define what a neighbourhood is, according to Oxford

Languages, “a neighbourhood is a district or community within a town or city”. However, there
is no official definition of a neighbourhood, since it does not specify either the population
or the area of the neighbourhood, nor a universal function that must be followed at a
universal level. A neighbourhood may have been born by an administrative decision, by
real estate development or by historical evolution.

On the other hand, we define sustainable development, which according to the

UN, “sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. In other words,
sustainability seeks to unite the idea of human well-being with the concepts of equity and
solidarity between human beings who currently inhabit the planet and future generations,
using the services provided by the ecosystem.

Among the phenomena that are occurring on the planet, we must consider the
accelerated urban growth, as of 2015, more than 55% of the world population will live in
cities. Responding to global climate change is most relevant in urban areas where the
demand for resources is highest, and where the health of citizens and urban infrastructure
are increasingly vulnerable. An integrated and sustainable approach to cities will be key
to alleviating the negative effects of unplanned urbanization and its consequent

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implications on resource use, biodiversity, and the climate. And “sustainable cities and
communities” start with sustainable neighbourhoods.

There is currently no official definition of the term sustainable neighbourhood, but

these are some of them:

'A Sustainable Neighbourhood consists of new communities that are built to last – in social
and economic terms as well as in physical terms. As investment finance is increasingly hard to
come by, it is crucial that what is built will stand the test of time'. (Falk and Carley, 2012)

'A Sustainable Neighbourhood seeks: to be durable over time, to integrate the social,
economic and environmental dimensions which are actions of sustainable development, without
looking for a label, that is, something in a general way'. (Desthieux, 2008)

'An eco-neighbourhood is an urban planning project designed, organized, and managed in

accordance with sustainable development principles (green transition, quality of life, social
diversity, economic development, and long-term appeal). As well as meeting strict environmental
performance criteria, an eco-neighbourhood is also intended to ensure social and functional
diversity (housing, shops, public amenities, tertiary activities, etc.)'. (Crédit Agricole Group, 2021)

'Sustainable neighbourhoods seek environmental regeneration and their purpose is to

achieve total energy efficiency and try to be self-sufficient. These ecological districts cannot be
understood without the implementation and use of renewable energies or common urban orchards
and gardens, the commitment to the circular economy and the promotion of sustainable mobility,
less polluting than conventional'. (Sustainable Architecture, 2020)

'Sustainable neighbourhood is the model of sustainable urban development that seeks to

impact not only at the urban or architectural level'. (Gestionamos tu ciudad, 2022)

Based on this series of definitions, a definition is created that attempts to

encompass all the concepts and terms that are mentioned:

A sustainable neighbourhood is one that lasts over time because of a series of

characters that make it efficient. These characteristics can be achieved thanks to
sustainable development based on:

• The social sphere (diversity, quality of life, citizen participation, security)

• The economic sphere (circular economy, development of the local
economy, mix of uses and diversity)
• The environmental field (renewable energy, regeneration of the
ecosystem, self-sufficient, connectivity, walkable).

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 2.1.2 History of Sustainable Neighbourhoods

The beginnings of modern urban planning could be traced back to 1902, when
Howard published Garden Cities of Tomorrow (Charles, 2007). Howard was highly critical of
the overcrowded and generally unpleasant British cities of his day but realized their
importance as a source of employment and comfort. Using an analogy from physics,
Howard proposed the establishment not only of urban magnets that will attract workers,
but also rural magnets as a force of attraction. This would imply the establishment of
autonomous human communities generating employment, surrounded by concentric rings
of agricultural activity that would serve as a green belt to protect the settlement from
outside invasion. Howard's great achievement, in addition to launching what would
eventually become known as the new city movement, was to transform urban planning
from an exercise in public health to one that considered the detailed spatial arrangements
of urban activities: the housing unit. The neighbourhood or as he referred to it, the
neighbourhood, and the town in relation to other places. Thus, for the first time, the
neighbourhood became an integral part of urban activity.

In 1902 Neighbourhood units, the concept of planning for neighbourhood units is

related to D. Burnham's analysis of the Chicago Plan.

Concept Garden Cities of Tomorrow was taken up and developed by Clarence Perry
in 1929 with Housing for the machine age (Perry, 1929). Perry's ideal neighbourhood
centred around the elementary school, located in the middle of the neighbourhood’s
greenbelt, park and playground, next to the neighbourhood’s local commercial hub. The
neighbourhood was bordered by several roads that did not cross it, so the children could
walk to school safely. One of Perry's main ideas differed from the physical term, speaking
of citizen participation. He proposed the school as the neighbourhood meeting point, in
addition to its educational function, it would also become a community centre. He
considered it more suitable than a church or social house under the explanation that the
neighbourhood would consider it more neutral. Therefore, although he spoke in physical
terms, his main concern was the creation of social interaction between the residents of the
well-defined neighbourhood.

The intellectual foundation developed by Howard and Perry was adopted by

Clarence Stein and Henry Wright in the 1929 planning of Radburn, a suburb of Fair Lawn,
New Jersey, just outside of New York. Radburn is known as the first garden city in the
United States. Stein and Wright create the concept of the superblock, this consisted of
separating vehicular traffic from pedestrians, thus the residential units are grouped
around dead ends accessible by footbridges that link them to schools, shops, and parks,
and by secondary roads that link vehicular traffic with the main roads on the outskirts of

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the neighbourhood. Dead ends are considered service roads that provided access to
individual houses and garages. But Radburn's most important innovation was the social
interaction between residents that still exists today. This neighbourhood model was very
popular and has been replicated around the world (in the new British towns of Stevenage,
Bracknell, and Cumbernauld, in Chandigargh (India), Osaka (Japan), Brasilia (Brazil) as
well as in several residential neighbourhoods in Canberra (Australia).

Another important event in the history of urbanism is in 1933, with the Charter of
Athens (Gold, 1998). The Charter of Athens is an urban manifesto devised at the IV
International Congress of Modern Architecture (CIAM) and published in 1942 by Le
Corbusier and Jeanne de Villeneuve.

This letter includes the following concepts:

• That the neighbourhoods occupy housing in the future, in the urban space, in the best
locations, taking advantage of the topography, considering the climate, sunlight and
green areas that are possible.
• That the choice of housing areas is dictated by hygienic reasons.
• That reasonable densities be imposed, according to the forms of housing imposed by
the very nature of the land.
• That the alignment of houses along communication routes be prohibited.
• That the resources of modern technology be considered to build tall buildings and
that, built at a great distance from each other, free up the soil in favour of large green
areas.

The Charter of Athens is committed to a functional separation of places of

residence, leisure, and work, questioning the character and density of the traditional city.
This treaty proposes the placement of the buildings in large sparse green areas. These
precepts had a great influence on the development of European cities after World War II.

Following the line of the importance of social participation mentioned in the

Planning of Radburn, one of the most direct discussions addressed to planners is that of
Fisher, with the publication of The urban experience in 1984 (Fisher, 1984). He says that the
larger the community, the smaller the participation of neighbours, this suggests that in
the planning of sustainable neighbourhoods, there is an upper limit in both population
and area. Much of Fisher's discussion focuses on the kinds of people who can be expected
to be, as he calls it, good neighbours. He observes that "sharing common values and
common needs creates bonds between all people, including neighbours."

In 1998, the LEED for Construction and Major Renovations system emerged,
which aims to create guidelines to guarantee sustainability in the construction of
buildings for the industry. From this moment on, it is renewed every year and brings out

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other systems for other sectors. In 2009, the LEED-ND system was launched for the design
of neighbourhoods. (LEED, 2009)

In 2008 The Sustainable City by Eco-quartier, this is a plan for the transformation
of French society towards a new development model: its objective is to promote the
emergence of a new way of designing, building, developing, and managing the city.

UN-HABIT, publishes A New Strategy of Sustainable Neighbourhood Planning, where

it proposes 5 key features to develop a sustainable neighbourhood, and supports countries
to develop methods and systems to address current urbanization challenges such as
population growth, urban sprawl, poverty, inequality, pollution, congestion, as well as
urban biodiversity, urban mobility, and energy.

J. Teed and P. Condon created in 2013 different patterns for the design of
neighbourhoods according to their location or main objective, under the title Sustainable
urban landscapes neighbourhood pattern typology.

The term sustainable neighbourhood has a very recent history, but very condensed,
since in a short time a lot has been developed and researched, at first due to a search for
quality of life in large cities with high congestion and today due to problems such as
massive growth of inhabitants in cities and climate change.

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 2.2 Study of two current systems on sustainable neighbourhoods

To understand how sustainable neighbourhoods work in reality, two current

systems are studied that are dedicated to guaranteeing that a neighbourhood is sustainable
or not. These are based on a series of points that must be met to achieve the seal. The study
systems will be the Eco-quartier system and the LEED-ND system.

2.2.1 Eco-quartier

“An ÉcoQuartier is a development project that incorporates the issues and principles of
the city and sustainable territories”. (EcoQuartier, 2008)

This system was born in France with the Sustainable City plan of 2008, since then
more than 10 years of work have enabled the collaborative construction of a shared
approach, which, in a posture of continuous improvement, evolves to best meet the
expectations of communities, promoters’ projects and citizens.

The objective of the system is to guarantee the quality of projects on a common basis of
fundamental requirements, regardless of the territory in which they are located and their
scale. The approach is thus adaptable to any type of town or village, to all contexts (urban
or rural), to all histories, to all cultures , and to all stages of progress of the project. The
labelling reference system leaves the choice of solutions to be used completely open: the
objective is to encourage the creation of developments that meet the needs of the
territories and to apprehend a progressive approach towards the sustainable city.

The reference system for guarantying a sustainable neighbourhood was created in

2012. It is built on a Charter of 20 commitments grouped into 4 dimensions. The first
approach and process, it addresses issues of governance. The second, living environment
and uses, refers to the social pillar. The third, territorial development, refers to the
economic pillar. And the fourth, environment and climate, refers to the ecological pillar.

These four pillars are as well divided into some points, creating a guideline of 20
must compromises.

Approach and process:

1. Carry out projects that meet the needs of all by relying on the resources and
constraints of the territory.
2. Formalize and implement a management process and shared governance.
3. Integrate the financial dimension throughout the project in a global cost approach.
4. Consider the practices of users and the constraints of managers in the design choices
throughout the project.
5. Implement evaluation and continuous improvement procedures.

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Living environment and uses:

6. Work as a priority on the existing city and propose an appropriate density to fight
against the artificialization of soils.
7. Implement the conditions for living together and solidarity.
8. Implement healthy urban planning to ensure a safe and healthy living environment.
9. Implement a quality of life that reconciles intensity, living well together and quality
of the environment.
10. Enhance the natural and built heritage, the history, and the identity of the site.

Territorial development:

11. Contribute to local, sustainable, balanced, social, and inclusive economic

development.
12. Promote the diversity of functions and their proximity.
13. Optimize the use of resources and develop local sectors and short circuits.
14. Promote active modes, public transport and alternative travel offers to decarbonize
mobility.
15. Promoting the digital transition in favour of the sustainable city.

Environment and climate:

16. Propose an urban planning that anticipates and adapts to climate change and risks.
17. Aim for energy sobriety, the reduction of CO 2 emissions and the diversification of
sources in favour of renewable and recovered energies.
18. Limit the production of waste, develop, and consolidate recovery and recycling
sectors in a logic of circular economy.
19. Preserve water resources and ensure qualitative and economical management.
20. Preserve, restore, and enhance biodiversity, soils, and natural environments.

Practical case: Zac de Bonne, GRENOBLE, FRANCE

Since the early 2000s, Grenoble has tended to be a very pioneering city in the
ecological field, developing very innovative projects. Zac de Bonne is the first Eco Quartier
to be created, it is in the heart of the city, between the old town and the suburbs separated
by the Grand Boulevard.

The project is developed in a former military barracks, a vacant lot, one of the last
opportunities for land in the centre of the city. This aims to prefigure the city of tomorrow,
compact, economical in space and energy, and associating all urban functions: housing,
economy, public spaces, etc. The project addresses the problems of energy sobriety (with
the positive energy building De Bonne Energy of the CREON agency), continuity with the

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existing urban fabric and biodiversity, as well as those of mobility, density and
architectural forms, diversity, water, and waste management. waste.

It consists of approximately 1,100 housing units, with more than 40% rented, and
approximately 200 student residences. It houses a primary school, an establishment for the
elderly (80 places) and a space adapted to the elderly, a municipal swimming pool, some 50
new shops, a hotel residence in a building of the old barracks, a 4-star hotel, a art and essay
cinema and 5 ha of urban park.

Its main characteristics are inserting the project into a varied urban fabric (the
Grands Boulevards, Hoche, Championnet) with the creation of streets in continuity with
existing roads (Lazare Carnot, etc.) or to serve residential blocks; creating new green
spaces for Grenoble residents: the site is organized around a vast urban park crossing from
east to west; completing the commercial offer of the city: throughout the northern part of
the project, the shops are oriented towards leisure and nature activities, in addition to the
shops in the city centre, conducing an exemplary operation in terms of High
Environmental Quality. (EcoQuartier, 2009)

Figure 1 Figure 2

2.2.2 LEED-ND

Was founded to inspire and help create better, more sustainable, well-connected
neighbourhoods. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is a framework for
identifying, implementing, and measuring green building and neighbourhood design,
construction, operations, and maintenance. LEED is a voluntary, market driven,
consensus-based tool that serves as a guideline and assessment mechanism. LEED rating
systems address commercial, institutional, and residential buildings and neighbourhood
developments.

LEED-ND is a rating system that integrates the principles of smart growth, new
urbanism, and green building into the first national standard for neighbourhood design.

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It is being developed by U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in partnership with the
Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

LEED-ND Standards are organized into five divisions that add up to 44 credits:

1. The location of the project in a region – where it is – (primary focus of the Smart
Growth movement) is addressed in the “Smart Location and Linkage” Division. (SLL)

2. Walkability, land uses, urban design, and architecture of place – what goes on there –
(principal concern of New Urbanism movement) is addressed in the “Neighbourhood
Pattern and Design” division. (NPD)

3. The “greenness” of the construction and the operation of a development – how is it

built and managed – (principal concerns of the LEED rating system) are addressed in
the “Green Construction and Technology” division. (GIB)

4. Fourth division, “Innovation & Design Process”, rates innovative performance in

categories not specifically addressed by the LEED-ND rating system. (IDP)

5. “Regional Priority” because some environmental issues are particular to a locale. (RP)

In each of these points, guidelines are marked, of two types, required, which mean
that they are mandatory and others for which a series of points are given. Depending on
the total points added, the project can acquire different LEED seals, the certificate, silver,
gold, or platinum. This guarantees the greater or lesser quality of the project in terms of
sustainability. (LEED, 2022)

Figure 3

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For the first time, social issues such as housing diversity, affordable housing,
communities, visitability for all including the handicaped and community participation
but also urban design attributes such as walkability, connectivity and a mix of uses are
now part of a neighbourhood rating system. Even design strategies such as stormwater
infiltration, energy efficiency, and local and recycled content, are now applied to the
design of infrastructure and entire neighbourhood-scale developments.

LEED provides a detailed guide for the realization of sustainable projects. It gives all the
necessary guidelines for those who want to create or transform both a home and a
neighbourhood, inside or outside the United States.

It proposes 10 steps that must be followed, to facilitate the process to achieve the LEED
certificate. In addition, it proposes different certificates depending on the characteristics
of the project to be developed.

Practical case: Sant Pau Recinte Modernista complex, Barcelona, Spain.

Sant Pau is the first site outside the United States to receive LEED Neighborhood
Development certification. The project includes the integral rehabilitation and adaptation
of buildings and outdoor spaces at the Art Nouveau Site. (LEED, 2015).

Since its origins over 600 years ago, the Foundation’s social and humanist values
have guided the organization’s work to promote health, science, and medical services
accessible to all. In the 20th Century, these same values have served as a framework for the
sustainable restoration of former hospital buildings.

Some of the most important aspects are:

• Adaptation of the space for new uses.

• Recovery of the "garden city" concept from the original project.
• Reduction of vehicle access, to improve environmental conditions for plants,
increase biodiversity and enhance the visitors' experience.
• Replacement of the original pavement with a stone patio covering, to improve the
comfort of pedestrians and avoid erosion, taking into consideration the strong
slope of outdoor space.
• Restoration of all ornamental elements, pavements, retaining walls, skylights,
railings, streetlights, etc.
• Adaptation of the space with the necessary railings and fences following the same
art nouveau ("modernist") language, while using new materials.
• Provision of street furniture.
• Lighting adapted to new technologies to reduce consumption and light pollution.

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 The project incorporated many additional eco-friendly and energy efficiency
measures:

• Conservation of most of the original trees on site (80%) and recovery of aromatic
and medicinal plants.
• Planting a unique grass in specific areas, chosen for its low watering requirements
and its ability to hibernate during the colder months.
• Planting of Mediterranean vegetation with low water demands.
• A continuous irrigation system to prevent spraying and improve efficiency.
• Optimization of water consumption because of the use of 2 groundwater wells
more than 130 meters deep, which supply irrigation water for outdoor gardens
when available.
• Use of Juneda stone with a low solar reflectance index, avoiding the heat island
effect.
• Bicycle parking to encourage the use of non-polluting means of transport.
• Prohibition of the entry of vehicles into the complex.
• LED lighting with centralized management and control system.

Other sustainability achievements are:

• Water savings in use

• Minimization of construction waste
• Development density and community connectivity
• Alternative transportation: low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles

This project has the LEED-ND v2009 Stage 3 type certificate and has the level of Certified
with 45 points.

Figure 4 Figure 5

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 2.3 The concept of sustainable neighbourhood among future architects

For the analysis of knowledge about sustainable neighbourhoods in architecture

students, a survey is carried out. This consists of fifteen questions that are divided into
three groups, questions about context; where they study, what they want to do, the
importance given to it in their respective universities; questions about definition and
concept, and more subjective questions to understand what interest exists on the subject
and how it could influence the future of sustainable neighbourhoods. (ANEX1, page 26).

The survey was carried out in March 2022 and was addressed to architecture
students from all over the world, from Brazil to Turkey, Spain, France, etc.

Portugal Italy
Turkey 4% 9%
9%
Brazil
4%

Hungary
13%
Spain
39%
Belgium
4%

France
18%

(This graph shows the percentage of students who answered the survey and the country in which
they develop their architecture studies.)

In the following graph we can see how the number of students is decreasing when
it comes to more and more specific questions on the subject, in the first place it is asked
if they know the concept of sustainable neighbourhoods, to which 22 students out of 23
answers yes. Secondly, it is asked where they have heard about the subject for the first
time, and 15 students answer that it has been at the university, which means 65%, however,
when asked if they have had any subject related to the subject, the This percentage drops
to less than 50%, with approximately 40% being the percentage of students who have taken
a course on sustainable neighbourhoods. And it is only 34% who think that their university
gives enough importance to the subject. You can be influenced by all this or not, but the
percentage of students who would like to dedicate themselves in the future to the area of
sustainability and urban planning is only 30%.

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 3. Results and conclusions

3.1 Comparison between the theory and the knowledge of the students (lacks
that may exist in the universities)

To make a comparison between the theory and the students’ knowledge, more
objective questions are. Students are asked to define a sustainable neighbourhood with
three words. Here are the most repeated concepts that could be grouped into three
points:

• Nature, environment, biodiversity.

• Community, sharing, inclusiveness.
• Ecology, reduce emissions, climate change, biobased, reusable sources,
environmentally conscious, water management, ecosystem, low
consummation.

Based on the definition created above: A sustainable neighbourhood is one that lasts
over time because of a series of characteristics that make it efficient. These characteristics can be
achieved thanks to sustainable development both in the social sphere (diversity, quality of life,
citizen participation, security), and in the economic sphere (circular economy, development of the
local economy, mix of uses and diversity), how in the environmental field, renewable energies,
regeneration of the ecosystem, self-sufficient, connectivity, walkable). Almost all the concepts
are mentioned, however, some important terms such as durability, connectivity or

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economy are non-existent, these points being essential to achieve a sustainable
neighbourhood.

In the next question, students are asked about the characteristics that a
neighbourhood should have to be sustainable. Next, a table is created in which the
characteristics of the studied systems are summarized. In this way, the comparison
becomes easier, and the gaps that may exist between the knowledge of the students and
the systems studied are found.

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 As can be seen, many of the points have been mentioned, however, some of them
have not been named, these being of great interest when creating a sustainable
neighbourhood. Some features that have not been discussed would be, long-term design;
restoration and use of existing infrastructures; adaptability to climate change, diversity
of functions; or support the identity of the inhabitants about their culture and their
place. However, in both the environment, green infrastructure, and neighbourhood
pattern sections, almost all the features have been mentioned.

Thanks to this, the idea of a sustainable neighbourhood relies heavily on

ecological and environmental aspects, and on quality-of-life aspects, but another
important idea is left aside, which is the place where we find ourselves, how we preserve
it, maintain it and try to get the most out of it, taking into account its resources. This
aspect may be more forgotten since, unlike the rest, it changes according to the place,
not only geographically but also within the city since both the resources of the place and
the type of inhabitants change.

3.2 Conclusions based on future architect’s opinion

Finally, a series of more subjective questions are carried out, the purpose of
which is to create an open field of research in which it is explored how the sustainable
neighbourhoods of the future can be based on the idea that future architects have about
them themselves.

First, the following question arises: As a future architect, if you had the opportunity to
create or transform a neighbourhood, making it sustainable would be the highest
priority? This is the result of the response.

Maybe
22%

No
9%

Yes
69%

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Although not 100%, for most future architects the aspect of sustainability would be the
most important point when designing a neighbourhood.

Secondly, how they imagine the sustainable neighbourhoods of the future is asked. Here
are some of the most interesting responses:

“I think the future of these kinds of neighbourhoods is going to develop more and more to reach a
new lifestyle where people will be more aware of the real importance of a healthy environment.
They will work, within architects and other professionals, to get better safe spaces for their lives”.
(Spain)

“I think it is very difficult for it to happen in a short time, awareness is needed on the part of
many people, also from the government, for example, to reduce traffic in neighbourhoods or to
improve connections and invest money to make improvements that increase the safety of the
streets”. (Spain)

“Thinking about the future of my neighbourhood in Brazil, I imagine it will be very difficult to
keep its history and its historic buildings preserved and the little contact we have with the
neighbours will disappear, due to the construction of new high buildings and the lack of
promotion of social events”. (Brazil)

“I imagine that all the neighbourhoods should be sustainable in a certain way, it's an actual
challenge”. (France)

Students from Europe respond that for them the future of cities lies in
sustainable neighbourhoods, and although they point out that it is something that will be
carried out over a long period of time and in the long term, they think that it is viable,
and they have hopes in so be it.

Students from outside Europe, such as Brazil or Turkey, are not so sure that it is
viable, and see it more as a utopia, since, as the girl from Brazil points out, in her country
the growth of cities is taking place through other ways of design, such as skyscrapers, or
high-rise buildings, where normally the connection between the residents and the
connection with the outside is non-existent.

3.3 Open problems

From these latest conclusions, some questions arise that remain open for future
research. As has been verified, the fact that students receive education on sustainable
neighbourhoods makes them want to dedicate themselves more to fields related to it.
This type of education is more present in Europe and that is why the future architects of
this continent are not only more optimistic about the idea of creating sustainable
neighbourhoods, but also more predisposed to its realization. Today, most of the existing

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sustainable neighbourhoods are found in Europe, which suggests that education and
knowledge about the term may be directly related to its realization and staging. The
opposite occurs with students from outside the continent, where the issue is less visible,
both in their schools and in the reality of their countries, countries where the issue of
sustainability is not so present and where the current problems and crises of space ,
immigration etc They are solved by means such as the one mentioned by the Brazilian
girl, through high-rise buildings, which limit the connection and coexistence between
inhabitants, and reduce the creation of intergenerational environments where everyone
can enjoy multiple services through neighbourhoods equipped with all kinds of services.

Therefore, the following questions arise: What future can sustainable

neighbourhoods have based on the knowledge of architecture students? How could the
future architect’s knowledge affect on the design of future neighbourhoods?

This same research could also lead to a deepening of aspects such as the
comparison between sustainable neighbourhoods at a global level and at a local level, at
the level of the architecture of the neighbourhood and multidisciplinary aspects,
housing, and the city.

Cities are, after all, the sum of many neighbourhoods, therefore the creation of
sustainable cities of the future have their origin in these groups, where not only
environmentally friendly places are created, but also places that provide quality of life for
their habitants. And these groupings, called neighbourhoods, are possible largely due to
the knowledge of architects on the subject, which is why its education in architecture
schools is of great importance, the origin of future neighbourhoods and future cities.

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 4. Bibliography

Literature:

Farr, D. (2007). Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature (1st ed.). Wiley.

Blanquicett, C. (2013). Ecobarrios o barrios sotenibles. revistaSuiza, 98.

Parhizgar,S. (2013) Towards a Sustainable Neighbourhood, Turning the Vision into

Reality, Sweden.

Developing Sustainable Neighborhoods. (2010). Mid Atlantic Cohousing.

Gold, J. R. (1998). Creating the Charter of Athens: CIAM and the Functional City, 1933-
43. The Town Planning Review, 69(3), 225–247. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40113797

6 eco-neighbourhoods to know about in Europe - Renault Group. (2021, March 24). Renault
Groupe. https://www.renaultgroup.com/en/news-on-air/news/6-eco-neighbourhoods-to-
discover-in-europe/

Domínguez Brito, F. (2018). Ganancias sostenibles: El nuevo modelo de desarrollo Visión

del Estado sobre el ODS 12: Consumo y producción sostenibles. AULA Revista de
Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales, 62(2). https://doi.org/10.33413/aulahcs.2018.62i2.82

CITIZENS DEVELOPING PLANNED SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBOURHOODS - Tools &

Strategies. (n.d.). Issuu. https://issuu.com/montserratdelpino/docs/tools_mdelpinochamy/1

Jahier, I. (2016). Audrieu. ADLFI. Archéologie de La France - Informations.

https://doi.org/10.4000/adlfi.16845

Sant Pau Recinte Modernista complex | U.S. Green Building Council. (2015, May 18). LEED.
https://www.usgbc.org/projects/sant-pau-recinte-modernista-complex

Falk, N., & Carley, M. (2012, February). Sustainable urban neighbourhoods, Building
communities that last. http://urbed.coop/sites/default/files/SUNN%20final%20report.pdf

L, C. (2008). Developing sustainable neighbourhoods (1st ed., Vol. 32). ELSEVIER.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2007.06.007

Perry, C. (1929). Housing in the machine age, volume 7 of regional survey of New York and
environs. New York: Regional Planning of New York and its Environs.

Webpages:

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6 eco-neighbourhoods to know about in Europe - Renault Group. (2021, March 24). Renault
Groupe. https://www.renaultgroup.com/en/news-on-air/news/6-eco-neighbourhoods-to-
discover-in-europe/

Agricole, C. (2021, May 12). Eco-neighbourhoods – the first step towards sustainable cities |
Crédit. Https://Www.Credit-Agricole.Com/. https://www.credit-agricole.com/en/news-
channels/the-channels/topic/2021/eco-neighbourhoods-the-first-step-towards-
sustainable-cities

LEED certification for neighborhood development | U.S. Green Building Council. (n.d.). LEED.
https://www.usgbc.org/leed/rating-systems/neighborhood-development

Zac de Bonne. (n.d.). ÉcoQuartier: la plateforme officielle.

http://www.ecoquartiers.logement.gouv.fr/operation/186/

Agricole, C. (2021a, May 12). Eco-neighbourhoods – the first step towards sustainable cities |
Crédit. Https://Www.Credit-Agricole.Com/. https://www.credit-agricole.com/en/news-
channels/the-channels/topic/2021/eco-neighbourhoods-the-first-step-towards-
sustainable-cities

Gestionamos tu Ciudad. (2022). Noticias Archives.

https://gestionamostuciudad.com/seccion/noticias/

Images:

Figure 1: Zac de bonne grenoble. (2020). [Illustration]. https://besustainable.brussels/wp-

content/uploads/2020/05/42-02.jpg

Figure 2: zac de bonne grenoble. (2018). [Photograph]. https://www.prd-

fr.com/images/office-oprations/1280x720-zac-de-bonne-grenoble-38-20180528182306.jpg

Figure 3: The LEED-ND Rating System. (2015). [Illustration].

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicola-
Szibbo/publication/309562031/figure/fig9/AS:668716073230355@1536445744886/The-
LEED-ND-Rating-System-illustrates-how-points-and-credits-are-awarded-in-order-
to.png

Figure 4,5: Sant Pau Recinte Modernista complex. (2015). [Photograph].

https://www.usgbc.org/sites/default/files/2021-04/IMAGE%202_0.jpg

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ANEX 1: Survey questions:

1. About context
- In which COUNTRY do you study architecture? (Your home university)
- What professional area would you like to dedicate yourself to in the future?
- Do you know what a sustainable neighbourhood is?
- In case you know what it is, you have hear about it
- When did you first hear about this topic?
- Do you have any subject in the university dedicated to this topic?
- Do you think that this topic is given a lot of importance in your university?
-
2. About definition and concept
- Write three keywords that come to your mind when you hear the word
sustainable neighbourhood
- Do you know any realized example? Which one? Why do you like it or not?
- What characteristics do you think a neighbourhood should have to be
sustainable?
- Do you think that a sustainable neighbourhood guideline applicable anywhere
in the world could be created?

3. Subjective opinion
- As a future architect, if you had the opportunity to create or transform a
neighbourhood, making it sustainable would be the highest priority
- Do you think you live in a good neighbourhood? (A good neighbourhood is a
place where people can easily meet their daily needs while feeling safe; where people
find high-quality urban landscapes and open spaces, shopping and recreation, good
schools, and childcare facilities, as well as good transport links to the places they
need to get to).
- If yes or if not, as a future architect, how do you imagine the future of this
neighbourhoods?

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