The structure of existing infrastructure and systems perpetuate unsustainable working and living patterns and it is difficult for people to avoid environmental impacts such as carbon emissions, even if there is a will to do so. Methodologies are therefore needed to understand how existing infrastructure and built environments can be transformed to enable low carbon lifestyles.

The ‘Urban Sustainability Transformation Through Building Adaptive Pathways’ study explores this area. A new urban transformation methodology called the Building Adaptive Pathways is applied to a case study site in Pretoria, South Africa. Findings generated by the application of the methodology, and the methodology itself, are critically reviewed to ascertain the value of the approach.

The study concludes that the methodology presents a valuable alternative approach for addressing urban sustainability transformation and makes recommendations for its further development.

The study has been presented at CIB International Conference on the Smart Built Environment and forms the basis for further work in this area.