Abstract

This paper sketches out the relationships between urban design and sustainable development. More than half of greenhouse gas emissions are created in and by cities where the majority of population lives and works, where up to 80% of energy is consumed. Urban design principles can address the challenges in a comprehensive way, facilitating the conciliation between development and sustainability. The most challenging project for any city is to address a both its competitive status and its ecological stewardship. Thus, the paper attempts to establish relationship between energy saving, public transportation development, environmental policies and contemporary urban through research on some new design principles. Indeed, energy, infrastructure, and environment seems to be the new key factors for reaching a sustainable development, as well as to better off the quality of contemporary urban life. The paper outlines the importance of specific subjects for urban design, such as: • quality of the environment and living standards as a factor of public attraction; • public transportation efficiency for better sustainable development; • energy saving policy and its relevance for urban design;