Pezzica, Camilla, Bleil De Souza, Clarice, Marchesi, Marianna  ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7954-1808 and Brown, C. A.
2026.
Combining AD and the pattern language: promoting positive affordances in urban design.
Presented at: International Conference on Axiomatic Design 2025,
Cardiff, UK,
25-27 June 2025.
Published in: de Souza, C. B., Pezzica, C. and Marchesi, M. eds.
Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Axiomatic Design (ICAD) 2025.
Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems.
Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems
, vol.1886
Cham:
Springer,
pp. 36-55.
10.1007/978-3-032-20642-8_3
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Abstract
Urban designers and town planners often rely on old-fashioned regu-latory and design tools such as zoning systems and standards that may not fully address the diverse needs of urban populations. This study explores how Nam Suh’s Axiomatic Design (AD) and Christopher Alexander’s Pattern Language can be combined, conceptually and practically, to create urban environments that better respond to longstanding human needs and support placemaking. First, the paper examines the two theories, outlining each approach’s limitations and poten-tial synergies in guiding user-centered urban design. Next, it demonstrates how Design Patterns can provide inputs for AD, facilitating AD’s practical application in urban design whilst promoting positive affordances and addressing UN SDG 11. Insights from three international urban design workshops that explored and tested parts of this combined approach within higher education illustrate promising new avenues for design decision-making. Results from applying AD to the prob-lem statements of Design Patterns indicate that combining these two approaches enhances the ability of designs to meet users’ needs whilst providing positive affordances, thereby offering useful inputs for designing sustainable cities and communities. Additionally, this combination potentially enriches AD and supports the practical implementation of Design Patterns in urban design.
| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item - published (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Status: | Published |
| Schools: | Schools > Architecture |
| Subjects: | T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering T Technology > TH Building construction T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery T Technology > TS Manufactures |
| Additional Information: | RRS policy applied |
| Publisher: | Springer |
| ISBN: | 978-3-032-20641-1 |
| ISSN: | 2367-3370 |
| Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 14 July 2026 |
| Date of Acceptance: | September 2025 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Jul 2026 10:30 |
| URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/188223 |
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