Cities that work with natural cycles - Moein Nodehi (478)
Shownotes
Moein Nodehi, Founder and CEO of Biotonomy, argues that cities have been built in a way that disrupts almost every natural cycle, and that every building decision stays in the city for about a hundred years.
Water is his first concern: paving caps the ground, groundwater is taken and never put back, and designers are barely taught what water is. He adds wind, food and green space, then puts the responsibility on every developer, architect and builder rather than waiting for policy, citing a wastewater reuse project the city later turned into standards. He closes on holistic design, grey water reuse, paving the road for the next generation, and doing what is needed.
(00:00) Cities against natural cycles
(05:00) Why cities exist
(08:30) Growing constructively
(10:15) Water, the cycle we don't understand
(13:19) Wind and food cycles
(16:02) Green is how water gets back
(17:40) Whose responsibility?
(20:53) Build it, then the policy follows
(22:35) Fears: water and heat
(25:38) Human wellbeing and nature
(29:01) The solutions are easier
(33:18) Holistic design and the greenhouse
(36:33) Water recycling within reach
(41:03) Paving the road
(44:32) Be bold, do what is needed
Pairs with episode 477
What is The Future for Cities?
If you would like to support the podcast, check out the Building Better Cities book or our Patreon!
Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).