ENVDES 202: Advanced Urban Design Studio–Emeryville, 2023
Instructors
Mona Lovgreen and Amit Price Patel, DIALOG
Pol Fité Matamoros, PhD candidate in Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning
About the Studio
Emeryville, “Scarcity to Abundance”
Focusing on “Scarcity and Abundance” the fall 2023 Master of Urban Design studio chose Emeryville as their selected site. The studio embodied the intricate dance between scarcity and abundance that defines urban planning in California. It engaged students in addressing the state’s notable challenges—limited natural resources and a dense population—against a backdrop of vast cultural diversity, economic vitality, and innovation.
Emeryville, with its industrial past and current urban diversity, served as an exemplary case study. Despite its constrained size and potential environmental issues, its strategic position and infrastructure make it an ideal laboratory for exploring sustainable, high-density housing and mixed-use development. Students were tasked with creating design solutions that not only meet the acute need for housing but also promote sustainable land use and enhance community well-being, steering Emeryville towards becoming a more resilient and vibrant urban area. The studio strived to educate future urban planners and designers to navigate and harmonize the complexities of resource scarcity and the richness of opportunity through thoughtful, holistic approaches.
