The mixed-use complex as eco-city concept

Within the variety of sustainable city and building approaches the in-between scale is usually overlooked. Eco-concepts focus either on large structural systems on the city scale or on smaller building level possibilities at an architectural scale. Integration of the two scales might be considered when constructing completely new city lay-outs, but even then, the sustainable measurements are typically separated to scale. The intention of this paper is to explore specific concepts and approaches for integration of sustainable layers and, in particular to examine the suitability of the mixed-use complex as strategic ecological intervention. Spatially, economically and politically most often established as an independent structure, the mixed-use complex can be regarded as a strong opportunity to initiate essential eco-values within a short-time realisation framework.