Timothy Beatley
Encyclopedia
Dr Timothy Beatley is an internationally recognized sustainable city
researcher and author. His writings have focused on creative strategies cities can use to reduce their ecological footprints and become more livable and equitable places in the process. Beatley coined the term green urbanism
and uses it frequently in his writings to describe the planning process used to create a sustainable city.
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His primary teaching and research interests are in environmental planning and policy, with special emphasis on coastal and natural hazards planning, environmental values and ethics, and biodiversity conservation. He has been a prolific author since the mid-1980s on the subjects of coastal hazard mitigation, hurricane recovery, habitat and ecosystem conservation, environmental ethics, and sustainable urban planning.
and Australia
, Beatley argues that although cities typically consume large quantities of fossil fuels and generate enormous amounts of waste and pollution, they are the most important centers for positive environmental change. Beatley notes that the high population density that characterizes most cities (especially European cities) also means that land is used efficiently, that automobiles are not the primary mode of transportation, and that per-capita consumption of resources is low. Beatley's description of a typical sustainable city is one that is compact and walkable with easily accessible parks and green spaces. Such a city also would emphasize sustainable forms of mobility, such as public transportation and bicycles. Parallel to Beatley's studies, the concept of Green Urbanism has widely been discussed by Steffen Lehmann
in Australia, for instance in his book The Principles of Green Urbanism (Earthscan, London, 2010) and in the journal S.A.P.I.EN.S.
In Beatley’s view, a city exemplifies green urbanism if it (1) strives to live within its ecological limits, (2) is designed to function in ways analogous to nature, (3) strives to achieve a circular rather than a linear metabolism, (4) strives toward local and regional self-sufficiency, (5) facilitates more sustainable lifestyles, and (6) emphasizes a high quality of neighborhood and community life. Beatley uses these six points to define Green Urbanism as a different type of New Urbanism
, and therefore an ecological movement, although others have interpreted Beatley's definition to be simply an alternative type of urban design
.
Sustainable city
A sustainable city, or eco-city is a city designed with consideration of environmental impact, inhabited by people dedicated to minimization of required inputs of energy, water and food, and waste output of heat, air pollution - CO2, methane, and water pollution...
researcher and author. His writings have focused on creative strategies cities can use to reduce their ecological footprints and become more livable and equitable places in the process. Beatley coined the term green urbanism
Green urbanism
Walker Wells , Director of the Green Urbanism Program at Global Green USA, in his blog, ‘Urban areas as opportunity for innovation’, has defined ‘Green Urbanism’ as the practice of creating communities beneficial to human and the environment. According to him, ‘Green’ denotes environmentally sound...
and uses it frequently in his writings to describe the planning process used to create a sustainable city.
Academic Background
Beatley received a PhD in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1986. He is currently "Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities" in the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning, School of Architecture at the University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
His primary teaching and research interests are in environmental planning and policy, with special emphasis on coastal and natural hazards planning, environmental values and ethics, and biodiversity conservation. He has been a prolific author since the mid-1980s on the subjects of coastal hazard mitigation, hurricane recovery, habitat and ecosystem conservation, environmental ethics, and sustainable urban planning.
Green Urbanism
In his recent works surveying sustainable cities in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Beatley argues that although cities typically consume large quantities of fossil fuels and generate enormous amounts of waste and pollution, they are the most important centers for positive environmental change. Beatley notes that the high population density that characterizes most cities (especially European cities) also means that land is used efficiently, that automobiles are not the primary mode of transportation, and that per-capita consumption of resources is low. Beatley's description of a typical sustainable city is one that is compact and walkable with easily accessible parks and green spaces. Such a city also would emphasize sustainable forms of mobility, such as public transportation and bicycles. Parallel to Beatley's studies, the concept of Green Urbanism has widely been discussed by Steffen Lehmann
Steffen Lehmann
Steffen Lehmann is a German-born architect and urban designer, born 19 June 1963 in Stuttgart, Germany.-Biography:Lehmann holds the UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Urban Development for Asia and the Pacific, the Professorial Chair in the School of Architecture and Built Environment at the University of...
in Australia, for instance in his book The Principles of Green Urbanism (Earthscan, London, 2010) and in the journal S.A.P.I.EN.S.
In Beatley’s view, a city exemplifies green urbanism if it (1) strives to live within its ecological limits, (2) is designed to function in ways analogous to nature, (3) strives to achieve a circular rather than a linear metabolism, (4) strives toward local and regional self-sufficiency, (5) facilitates more sustainable lifestyles, and (6) emphasizes a high quality of neighborhood and community life. Beatley uses these six points to define Green Urbanism as a different type of New Urbanism
New urbanism
New Urbanism is an urban design movement, which promotes walkable neighborhoods that contain a range of housing and job types. It arose in the United States in the early 1980s, and has gradually continued to reform many aspects of real estate development, urban planning, and municipal land-use...
, and therefore an ecological movement, although others have interpreted Beatley's definition to be simply an alternative type of urban design
Urban design
Urban design concerns the arrangement, appearance and functionality of towns and cities, and in particular the shaping and uses of urban public space. It has traditionally been regarded as a disciplinary subset of urban planning, landscape architecture, or architecture and in more recent times has...
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Publications
- Beatley, Timothy (2010), "Biophilic Cities: Integrating Nature Into Urban Design and Planning", Island Press.
- Beatley, Timothy; Newman, Peter (2009),"Green Urbanism Down Under: Learning from Sustainable Communities in Australia", Island Press.
- Beatley, Timothy (2004), "Native to nowhere: sustaining home and community in a global age", Island Press.
- Beatley, Timothy (2000), "Green urbanism: learning from European cities", Island Press.
- Beatley, Timothy; Manning, Kristy (1997), "The ecology of place: planning for environment, economy, and community", Island Press.
- Beatley, Timothy; Brower, David J.; Schwab, Anna K. (2002) "An introduction to coastal zone management", Island Press.
- Beatley, Timothy (1994), "Ethical land use: principles of policy and planning", Johns Hopkins University Press.