Retrofit2050: Re-engineering the city 2020-2050: Urban foresight and transition management

October 2010 to March 2014

Prof Malcolm Eames, Cardiff University

Aims: To develop the knowledge and capability to overcome the separation between the “what” and “how” of urban scale retrofitting in order promote a managed socio-technical transition in built environment and urban infrastructure. By working with key stakeholders to illuminate challenging but realistic social and technological options and pathways for the systemic retrofitting of two core UK city-regions (Cardiff/South East Wales and Manchester)

Objectives:

  • Explore and advance both theoretical and practical understandings of processes of systems innovation and transition in an urban context.
  • Analyse through case studies, modelling and international comparison, the technical and social processes underpinning such transitions.
  • Identify and characterise prospective disruptive technologies and systems innovations which will underpin a transition to sustainability in the built environment (over the period 2020–2030).
  • Articulate and appraise regionally specific visions and prospective pathways for urban scale retrofitting of the built environment.
  • To develop and test an integrated socio-technical support system that practically assist in improving effectiveness and efficiency of retrofitting processes.