Sacha Menz, Michèle Rüegg Hormes (eds.)
2026
Lars Müller Publishers
Book launch 21 October 2026, 18:30 | ZAZ Bellerive, Zentrum Architektur Zürich, Höschgasse 3, 8008 Zürich.
This publication summarises the results of five years of groundbreaking research at the Future Cities Laboratory (FCL) Global and 15 years of interdisciplinary, international collaboration at the Singapore-ETH Centre, including the outcomes and practical impacts achieved.
From its beginnings in Singapore to its expansion into Europe with a second hub in Zurich, FCL has brought together scholars, engineers, designers and policymakers to think and act across scales and cultures. The research of FCL focuses on settlement systems that capture the networked realities of contemporary urbanisation beyond traditional cities. These settlement systems include neighbourhoods, hinterlands, ecosystems, water and energy flows, mobility networks, as well as cycles of production and consumption. They remind us that urbanisation is both spatial and temporal, shaped by rhythms of agriculture, commuting, neighbourhood lifecycles and challenges of climate change. Engaging with this complexity requires new research methods and tools. FCL uses complexity science, network theory, simulations and modelling to understand feedback loops, resilience, and adaptation.
The Future Cities Laboratory Global book provides a comprehensive overview of 15 years of pioneering research into urban sustainability, conducted as part of an inter- and transdisciplinary programme and an international research collaboration between ETH Zurich and the Singaporean universities NUS, NTU and SUTD. It summarises the research carried out over the last five years at FCL Global and presents the findings, results, and impacts.
Beyond theory, FCL works directly with governments, agencies, and communities. This book gives insight into FCL’s multifaceted research on future sustainable urban development and the actions taken to translate this knowledge into tangible results by supporting and guiding decision-makers within governmental and political entities towards sustainable urban transformation.
FCL Global Book Launch
Please join us at the book launch! Together with our guests, we celebrate FCL’s achievements and discuss the challenges and future directions of urban sustainability research.