Sustainable Urban Village Renewal Approach with Considerations in Adaptability and Recyclability: Conceptual Design and Case Studies

In an era marked by rapid urbanization, urban villages stand as unique yet transitional outcomes of urban growth, originally developed to accommodate low-income residents. Urban villages nowadays face challenges such as over-crowding, inadequate infrastructure, and land use conflicts, and the common practices for renewal involve demolition and re-construction, which also contribute to significant energy consumption and waste generation while addressing issues. This paper presents a brief review of the previous research on sustainable urban renewal and explores a conceptual alternative approach of redevelopment without demolition—using a novel vertical extension system with a focus on adaptability, sustainability, and recyclability. The innovative system employs lightweight, prefabricated, and interlocking post-and-beam structures using sustainable timber materials, aiming to achieve efficient renovation while minimizing waste and resource consumption. Through case studies, the paper demonstrates the viability of the proposed standardized design approach to different urban village projects, contributing to a vibrant and resilient urban society for current and future generations.