Sustainable Urban Design: A New Tool and Approach on The Talking Headways Podcast

Discover how the Sustainable Urban Design Framework helps planners create livable, sustainable communities. Nico Larco from the University of Oregon explores a new tool and book in the latest “Talking Headways” podcast.

2 minute read

August 14, 2024, 7:00 AM PDT

By nlarco


Bike parked on urban sidewalk with large street trees.

Damian / Adobe Stock

Urban planners are increasingly grappling with the difficult task of how to create more sustainable and livable communities. This has been challenging as sustainability in urban design is a complicated topic that includes a wide range of scales, disciplines, and areas of expertise. In the latest episode of the “Talking Headways” podcast, Nico Larco from the University of Oregon discusses a new, comprehensive approach based on the Sustainable Urban Design Framework and how it can be used by planners, designers, elected officials, and community stakeholders.  The framework organizes a new book by Larco and Kaarin Knudson titled the Sustainable Urban Design Handbook (excerpts here). 

The podcast gives an overview on the framework and describes its five sustainability-focused outcome areas (Energy Use and GHG based on Transportation and Land Use, Water, Ecology and Habitat, Energy Use and GHG Production (Non-Transportation), and Equity and Health) and four scales of intervention (Region/City, District/Neighborhood, Block/Street, Project/Parcel).  

The podcast also dives deep on a few topics such as the critical role density plays in many aspects of sustainable communities.  Often, in the US, sustainable approaches seem to be a band-aid trying to address a lack of underlying density.  Creating density requires a multifaceted approach and can impact mode choice, stormwater management, ecological health, energy use, and resident's cost of living, access to goods and services, amount of physical activity, safety, and ability to improve their socio-economic condition.  

This podcast serves as a quick introduction to this new tool that can help with design, planning, and community engagement around sustainability and livability.

Thursday, August 8, 2024 in Streetsblog USA

courses user

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges. Corey D, Transportation Planner

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges.

Corey D, Transportation Planner

Ready to give your planning career a boost?

Graphic with blue background, flags, and text reading 2024 Presidential Election

Where 2024 Presidential Candidates Stand on 12 Issues Important to Urban Planners

Whether you’re yet undecided or have already cast your early vote, here is a roundup of the key positions of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on important urban planning policies.

October 31, 2024 - Planetizen

Amtrak Coast Starlight passenger train passing over bridge in Altamont Pass, California.

Amtrak Expanding Service in California’s Central Valley

Amtrak is planning a major expansion to the passenger rail lines connecting the Central Valley and the Bay Area.

November 4, 2024 - The Modesto Bee

Commercial street in small rural U.S. town with storefronts and clocktower.

Progressive Planning in Ideologically Conservative Communities

Planners must work in diverse political environments including conservative jurisdictions that are skeptical of new issues and perspectives. Here are ways to reconcile conflicting goals.

November 7, 2024 - Todd Litman

Aerial view of rainbow painted four-way crosswalk in the Castro district, San Francisco, California.

San Francisco Implements ‘Daylighting’ at Intersections

Vehicles are prohibited from parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk as part of the city’s Vision Zero efforts to eliminate traffic deaths and make roads safer.

1 hour ago - SFGate

View of Washington state capitol dome in Olympia, Washington at golden hour.

Washington Voters Keep Carbon Tax

An initiative that would have ended the state’s “cap and invest” program failed, leaving the program in place.

2 hours ago - Governing

Close-up of four Tesla sedans parked and plugged in at charging station.

The Future of Electric Vehicles Under Trump

Will Elon Musk’s influence temper Trump’s anti-EV stance?

3 hours ago - Wired

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.