Space, Place, and Energy: Perspectives on the Energetic Design of Cities and Regions

This contribution discusses holistic planning principles for urban and landscape energy transitions that preserve or develop livable environments in both cities and regions. While UN habitat claims the compact livable city, consisting from density, permanence, and mixture, the EU Landscape Convention postulates the valorization of the balanced everyday life landscape, aiming at sustainability, identity, and diversity. Both assume that a spatial and systemic energy transition requires a careful approach to dealing with historically evolved urban and landscape structures, keeping in mind that there is enormous capacity for making compact cities and sustainable landscapes livable. Facing the climate change tempo, the challenge is to act gentle without losing speed in transition.