Designing for emergence

Abstract

Contemporary urban development is often shaped by large-scale projects that prioritise stability and predictability. While such approaches can deliver efficiency, they may also reduce the diversity and adaptability that allow cities to evolve over time. This thesis explores how urban design can support ongoing urban processes rather than prescribe fixed urban forms. Building on theories of self-organisation and spatial configuration, the study uses configurational spatial analysis to examine how spatial structure relates to patterns of movement and materialisation in three case studies: Vauban, Tsukishima, and Bijlmermeer. Based on these analyses, the thesis formulates a framework that translates identified spatial conditions into design-relevant parameters. The framework outlines spatial conditions intended to maintain openness and adaptability within contemporary development contexts. It is applied to a site in Gothenburg to explore its relevance in practice. Keywords By shifting attention from predefined urban forms to the spatial conditions that support interaction and change, the thesis proposes an approach to urban design that seeks to balance development with long term adaptability.