Complexity, Uncertainty, and Urgency

This chapter critically examines complexity as it relates to the built environment. It argues that cities are open-ended complex systems with ever-expanding networks and interactions. And as they grow, the number of connections within, between, and beyond their networks increases exponentially. This complicates both understanding and managing them. Given the growing brittleness and non-linearity of contemporary conditions, recognizing and embracing this complexity is crucial to addressing the risks and vulnerabilities cities face. This calls for resilient strategies that move beyond prediction, emphasizing the need for flexible approaches to uncertain futures that cannot be known.