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How can CityCAD help achieve good urban design?

A year after launch, some reflections on how CityCAD can help urban design quality

(Blog post from 9 June 2009) One of the early principles when we first started developing CityCAD was that it should support 'good practice' in urban design. This ambition turned out to be more complex than we realized - we don't believe design software can ever replace the judgement of qualified designers, but there are several ways that we believe CityCAD can help raise design quality.

CAD Software in Urban Design - Good or Bad?

Based on a presentation at the RUDI technology event in April 2008

(Blog Post from 31 January 2009) Most of the time when we talk about CAD (Computer-Aided-Design) software, we’re talking about the positive aspects of it – how it can save time, allow us to make changes to drawings easily and then produce compelling visualizations. But what impact can CAD software have on design quality?

What is Parametric City Design?

(Blog Post from 2 November 2008) This year, at the Architecture Biennale in Venice, Patrik Schumacher gave a fascinating introduction to the concept of ‘parametricism’ as a new style, that could be applied to all design tasks including urbanism. As creators of parametric city design software, we feel this is a good time to produce a quick summary of what parametric design is, and to share our view about its possibilities and limitations in the field of city design.

What can City Designers learn from Doctors?

This blog post informed 'The Medical City ' - a joint event with TINAG on June 30, 2008

(Blog Post from 12 Feb 2007) There are many similarities between cities and the human body - for example they both have distinct functional parts, a circulation system and system for consuming and disposing of resources. However, cities do not enjoy the same level of systematic and objective care that humans receive from doctors. We ask what urban designers can learn from medicine.

The New Science of Liveability

(Blog Post from 4 Jan 2007) What are sustainable communities? Creating a successful community seems to be the holy grail of urban designers everywhere, but the influence of the physical design of a place can only achieve a limited amount. Urban design needs to adopt a more evidence based approach in order to understand the less-tangible qualities and design features which can give communities a chance to grow..