RETHINKING MOVEMENT

Abstract

Today, there are numerous transportation methods that are constantly changing our landscape. Despite the diversity of transportation options, our approach toward movement has become outdated. The emergence of autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, sustainable power sources and advanced infrastructure are currently shaping the way we move throughout the world. The advantages of these technologies are clear; high performance, low to no carbon emissions, automatic systems, and improved safety are clearly the direction of the future. However, their adaptation and implementation is slow and ineffective. Emerging technology presents a viable opportunity to design architecture and mobility as a synergetic system that can facilitate movement, improve accessibility, and reclaim the human experience from outdated infrastructure. It is therefore important to rethink how we move through space in order to design for human wellness. This thesis will explore transportation problems in cities, emerging technologies, sustainable practices, and design guidelines and precedents in search of an efficient moving, self-sufficient, wellness focused future.