Interdisciplinary Methodology for rethinking the urban layout via Multi Criteria analysis and indicator application

The ever progressing development of contemporary metropolises has led to a rethinking of the structural composition of human settlements. These days the focus is no longer only on meeting the needs of expanding cities, but on the contrary, finding a suitable method to govern the transformations of existing structures. Therefore also the methodology in studying and analysing human settlements must change. This paper aims to rethink the idea of contemporary city spaces, considering also the requalification of existing urban infrastructure. The aim of the research is a future configuration of urban infrastructure in twenty years from now: a range of indicators will be used on the economic, functional and social level that can direct the rethinking of such structures by proposing them in a defined urban morphology and in the flexible system of values. The intention of this interdisciplinary group’s collaboration is to develop a multi-criteria method to support the design process of the urban layouts. Following the analysis of urban structure data collected from an area in question, qualitative and quantitative indicators will be identified through a series of goals. They will be subdivided by macro-topics such as environment, economy and social life, which serve as main “pillars” of the system. Due to its key role in urban infrastructure, the mobility macro topic intersects the other pillars horizontally. For the development of this methodology, two contrary solutions will be proposed, the metabolistic and naturalistic point of view. By way of balancing the four macro-topic variables, three different solutions will emerge: one of equilibrium, a naturalistic one and a metabolic one. The scale of the analysis can be further enhanced, leading with the use of adapted indicators, for example, to possible implementations of green technologies on buildings or other city structures. This may then lead to a change of the overall structure in the direction of the preferred solutions mentioned above. This methodology is demonstrated with the help of structural matrixes, evaluation possibilities, and scenarios, all brought together in graphical sequences that underline the overall thought process through a case study, emphasizing the individual steps