Module 5 of course on Building Smart and Green Cities and Towns happened last October 28, 2020. The session featured Mr. Alykan Mohamed and Professor Mary Anne Ocampo, both urban planners from Sasaki Associate, Inc., a Boston-based multidisciplinary firm with an integrated planning and design philosophy.
Mr. Alykhan Mohamed, Associate Planner at Sasaki opened the discussion by giving a glimpse to the future of transport and mobility with the development of ‘autonomous vehicles’ or driverless cars around the globe. While the technology and infrastructure are present, he emphasized that urban planners, designers, and even government officials must practice agency and play their roles in ensuring that these transformative technologies develop towards the betterment of cities and towns.
Prof. Mary Anne Ocampo, Principal at Sasaki and Lecturer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, discussed resilience of communities in both urban and rural settings. She introduces the concept of ‘resilience’ from an ecological point of view that is concerned with long-term viability with respect to interconnectedness of humans and ecosystems. She presented their projects and studies, concerning the informal community in Muntinlupa and the urban agricultural development of Ananas in Silang Cavite. She stressed that the power of design belongs to everyone. Employing such mindsets is critical in defining a place and making it resilient and sustainable.
