PROJECT RESOURCE PAGE:
Local Patterns for Implementing the New Urban Agenda
A pilot project to develop effective tools and strategies to implement the New Urban Agenda - a framework for livable, durable urbanization adopted by all 193 countries of the United Nations - by using the proven methodology of pattern languages, adapted to local contexts
This site offers resources for the project participants, and for other interested parties.
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Download a project brief here.
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Download a draft outline list of sixteen "meta-patterns" that encapsulate the New Urban Agenda and other urban best practices here.​
This is proposed as a starting point for the project, to be supplemented (and revised if desired) by the local community in the pilot project, adding and adapting patterns to address specific local needs and expressions.
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A video "explainer" of this methodology is here.​
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Download a draft of the sixteen "meta-patterns" with more detail about their metrics and links here.
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A video explainer of this methodology is here.
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Download a draft outline of the structure of a possible workshop to apply the pattern locally, and add (or revise) local patterns addressing specific local needs, as well as expressions ("form language"), here.
A video "explainer" of this very early draft proposal is here.
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Download a draft briefing document about the potential to develop implementation patterns for the Rapid Planning Toolkit developed by The King's Foundation, related to the 16 "proto-patterns" above, here.
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A video "explainer' of this analysis is here.
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BACKGROUND RESEARCH ON IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES
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Mehaffy, M. W., Elmlund, P., & Farrell, K. (2019). Implementing the New Urban Agenda: The central role of public space. Urban Design International, 24(1), 4-6. Click here to download the full paper.
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Mehaffy, M. W., & Haas, T. (2018). Engaging informality in the New Urban Agenda. Berkeley Planning Journal, 30(1). Click here to download the full paper.
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Mehaffy, M. W. (2021). Health and happiness in the New Urban Agenda: The central role of public space. Sustainability, 13(11), 5891.
Click here to download the full paper.
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Mehaffy, M. W., Elmlund, P., & Haas, T. (2019). Public spaces and private conflicts in the New Urban Agenda. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 238, 87-96. Click here to download the full paper.
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Mehaffy, M. W., & Haas, T. (2020). New Urbanism in the New Urban Agenda: Threads of an unfinished reformation. Urban Planning, 5(4), 441-452. Click here to download the full paper.
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Mehaffy, M. W. (2024). UN-Sustainable Urbanism: The Challenge of “Lock-In”. Sustainability, 16(17), 7301. Click here to download the full paper.
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​​​​PATTERN COLLECTION:
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Here is an initial list of patterns and pattern languages that participants may explore. Many of these are "project pattern languages" - that is, collections of patterns that are selected for a particular project, and then often edited, or supplemented by new custom patterns for the local context. This is the first step in the process of compiling project resources. We will be building a "repository" where all of these and other patterns can be accessed, read, and applied to projects. The repository can also be used to write new patterns, or to modify existing open-source patterns.
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The original 253 patterns of A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction:
https://www.iwritewordsgood.com/apl/
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The 80 patterns of A New Pattern Language for Growing Regions: Places, Networks, Processes:
https://www.academia.edu/93824276/A_New_Pattern_Language_for_Growing_Regions (PDF version)
http://npl.wiki/assets/home/index.html (wiki version)
Including patterns for implementation, patterns for rapidly urbanizing areas (including the Global South), patterns for informality, geometric patterns, new technology patterns, economic patterns, and other expansions of the capability of patterns into new areas.
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36 patterns in A Pattern Language for Saudi Cities After COVID (click to download)
Including patterns for urban resilience, thermal comfort, climate adaptation, social distancing, and other frontier challenges. ​
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36 patterns in A Pattern Language for the Lewis and Clark Ranch (click to download)
Including patterns for urban form as transitional elements to urban codes, including form-based codes. ​
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17 patterns from the Croman Mill Project Pattern Language (click to download)
​Including patterns for green infrastructure, walkable mixed-use, and public space networks.
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37 patterns from A Project Pattern Language for Vista Field (click to download)
Patterns for redevelopment of a former airfield in a fragmented urban context in Kennewick, Washington.
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Briefing note on the ongoing construction of the repository (click to download).
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ABOVE: The cover of A New Pattern Language for Growing Regions (left), and three patterns from A Pattern Language for Saudi Cities After COVID (right)
ABOVE: Patterns from Ward Cunningham's next-generation wiki known as federated wiki, showing patterns from A New Pattern Language for Growing Regions. (Visit the site and explore the patterns at npl.wiki.)