Avi Friedman

McGill University | McGill · School of Architecture

Green roofs are the integration of plant material and its supporting structures in buildings. Such an approach provides a habitat for local flora and fauna, helps manage storm water, reduces heat demand in winter and the cooling load in the summer, enhances the aesthetic values of dwellings, provides the occupants with comfort and amenities and str...

Higher-density communities are commonly perceived by the public as places with reduced public open spaces. Yet, when properly designed, such projects can have a variety of well thought of outdoor places that address the recreational needs of all dwellers. In addition, the function that those spaces play, their physical arrangements and locations in...

Separation of land uses in the post-World War II era saw the development of communities made only of residences. Yet, when properly planned, activities such as working, shopping, sitting at a café, visiting a gym can take place in neighborhoods to increase walkability and contribute to the place’s social sustainability. Woven into the residents’ li...

A rapidly changing demographic makeup, environmental concerns and the emergence of new lifestyle trends have created demands for housing types that are small, flexible and resource-efficient. Paramount among those changes is the rise of nontraditional and small households. In addition, the average age of the population in most nations has also cons...

Zoning regulations and codes that guided the planning of post-World War II communities regarded the fast and efficient movement of private cars as one of their central goals. Street design has been based on engineering conventions that made it easy for drivers to reach their destination while in parallel, unintentionally, reducing the comfort level...

Dense urban forms are vital to achieving sustainable neighborhoods. When a large number of people reside in a community, a wide range of amenities and planning strategies become economically viable and possible to introduce. Public transit, commercial and institutional amenities can all become part of the design which will also make the place walka...

The site’s natural attributes need to be considered at the outset of a planning process. Those attributes include precipitation, wind direction , sun path, soil condition, topography , flora and fauna to name a few. Further, these aspects are not limited to the building site, but they need to be examined as part of a regional context. This chapter...

An increase interest in waterfront development has made shorelines a valued commodity sometimes to the loss of nature. The need to guard the environmental value of shorelines while making them accessible to the public, present new challenges to planners. This chapter explores the urban evolution of shoreline settlements, present guidelines for thei...

Current modes of community and dwelling design are undergoing rethinking of their philosophy and form . Common post World War II development practices no longer address present and future societal challenges. The need to halt overconsumption of natural resources and explore alternative design and practices is evident. At the turn of the twenty-firs...