Reframing Cities for Resilience: Embracing Complex & Uncertain Futures

We live in times of profuse change, where hyperconnectivity and fast-shifting influences are radically changing how we live, consume, work, and play. By challenging the traditional realms in which urban design and planning operate, this book asserts that not only must we do better, but that we can.

Arun argues that the first step toward adaptive and resilient futures is making a fuller spectrum of the complexity of cities comprehensible to all. Drawing upon diverse disciplines like cultural anthropology, evolutionary biology, economic theory, behavioral sciences, systems thinking, and technology, he provides fresh foundations for addressing decades of physical and social underinvestment and neglect across a range of urban challenges. They include transportation, housing affordability, healthcare, the elderly, education, and aspects of economic underinvestment. The need for adaptive governance is also discussed.

Arun’s narrative underscores how we must better embrace uncertainty to make our cities vibrant, comfortable, healthy, and inclusive while also being resilient and adaptive. He posits we do not need to predict the future to do this.

This book is essential for urban designers, planners, landscape architects, and postgraduate students in these fields. It is also a good primer for anyone wanting to understand the complex dynamics of cities.

Arun Jain is a multidisciplinary urban designer and strategist with over four decades of experience across professional practice, academia, institutions, city executive roles, and the UN. His work spans 46 countries and 150 cities, impacting over 90 public and private sector urban development projects. Arun enjoys cooking and is an avid collector of books and music.