Over the past few years, sprawling urban landscapes have started looking less
like concrete jungles. In 2016, Barcelona introduced the idea of
“superblocks”
— large, pedestrian-focused spaces fringed with trees that divert traffic to the
outskirts of the area. And London has been removing concrete tunnels and
reintroducing native plants on its way to becoming the first National Park
City.
COVID-19 has
accelerated additional changes to cityscapes:
Seattle
has closed roads to make more social distancing space for pedestrians, many of
which will remain closed. Other cities, such as Amsterdam, are rethinking
the entire urban ecosystem — implementing economic
models that prioritize
the planet and people over profits.
These changes have made cities easier for pedestrians to navigate; introduced
more recreational areas; and made loud, overwhelming spaces more welcoming,
intimate and sustainable. While these features may be more pleasant for local
residents, this shift toward mindful urban design is more than just “nice to
have.” It is essential.
According to The Ideal City — a book recently
released by SPACE10 and
gestalten — 1.5 million
people move to urban areas worldwide every week. More than half the world’s
population has been living in cities since
2007, and that is expected
to increase to 60 percent by 2030. Cities account for 3 percent of the land
surface on this planet, but they are responsible for more than 70 percent of
carbon emissions. Because they are at the heart of the climate problem, they
must also be at the heart of the
solution.
The move toward greener, healthier, more sustainable, more inclusive, and safer
cities isn’t just better for the environment. These spaces contribute to a
higher quality of life, foster community, encourage collaboration, and are more
resilient and economically productive. In their research, the authors of The
Ideal City identified five guiding principles they say should steer every
city’s development moving forward: resourcefulness, accessibility, shared
resources,
safety
and desirability: “We argue for a people- and planet-focused approach that
celebrates diversity and innovation, while remembering that all humans have
similar intrinsic needs — for community, safety, inclusion and wonder,” they
write.
Here’s what these five principles look like in practice:
The resourceful city
Schoonschip, a floating community in
Amsterdam (pictured above), is made up of 26 connected dwellings. They share water, energy and
waste solutions, all of which are off-grid and decentralized. The community has
an electric car-sharing system and garden roofs, where they grow food. Residents
jointly take responsibility for the area, creating a resilient and cohesive
neighborhood that emphasizes resourcefulness.
Resourceful cities are ecologically and economically sustainable, and they lean
heavily on circular models — with closed water, nutrition, material and energy
loops — which makes them self-sufficient, like Schoonschip. When building for
resourcefulness, material use is closely considered and nothing is wasted.
Future-forward designers are increasingly thinking about natural materials and
modular designs, which can respond to changing needs. In the case of Schoonschip
— and countless other communities around the world — the need to adapt to the
climate emergency and rising sea levels is top of mind.
The accessible city
Caracas' Metrocable | Image credit: The Gondola Project
Prior to the construction of the Caracas
Metrocable,
residents living in hilltop barrios in Venezuela’s capital city had to walk
hours to reach medical clinics, schools and job opportunities. The Metrocable —
a two-kilometer gondola line — is integrated into the city’s public
transportation system, offering locals a quick, safe and accessible way to reach
facilities and opportunities previously closed off to them.
The Ideal City’s authors note that “the way we design our built environment,
and allow or deny access to it, has a serious impact on public health, economic
mobility and quality of life.” An accessible city is built with diversity,
inclusion and equality in mind. Accessibility offered through features such as
the Metrocable ensure everyone has fair and equal access to urban services and
facilities — which, in turn, fosters community involvement and empowerment.
The shared city
A variety of public transportation options are necessary to meet people’s needs,
but occasionally cars are needed, too. Enter Zipcar,
the largest car-sharing business in the world, which made its debut in 1999.
Since then, a myriad of sharing services has been developed; and now, people
around the world share homes, skills, and resources.
While urban design is largely focused on buildings and infrastructure, vibrant
cities are created by residents. People can move through their daily lives in
separate bubbles; but co-creation and cooperation create the foundation of a
community-focused city. Sharing tangible items and intangible resources seeds a
sense of togetherness and participation; plus, it reduces waste, builds trust
and empathy, increases wellbeing, and reduces crime.
The safe city
For the Kwanlin Dün First Nation in northern Canada, safety comes in the
form of unarmed community
members.
The alternative policing program consists of community safety officers who
conduct neighborhood patrols, have conversations with locals, and aid people who
need assistance. They focus on crime prevention and respond to urgent safety
concerns. As members of the community themselves, they are better equipped to
curtail potentially problematic situations than the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police because of the trust and respect they’ve fostered with their neighbors.
Creating safe cities isn’t only about cutting crime. It requires getting to the
core root causes of problems and preventing them from happening in the first
place. With that in mind, the ideal city requires dignity for all — ensuring
vulnerable residents are not at risk of social marginalization and homelessness.
It also requires creating an urban environment resilient to climate
change
while providing access to resources and facilities that foster physical and
mental wellbeing.
The desirable city
Image credit: Taryn Elliott/Pexels
What good is an ideal city if it isn’t appealing to live in? A desirable city is
one designed on a human scale, so that everything a person might need — fresh
food, education, jobs, health care — can be reached with a 15-minute walk.
People should be prioritized over cars and spare space should be reserved for
them. Urban public spaces designed for
pleasure
were popping up around the globe prior to the pandemic, and COVID-19 has
accelerated their creation.
But beyond this, the ideal city should be fun and vibrant; and rich with
culture, art and activities. It should invite people into public spaces and
encourage them to interact with each other, explore and relax. While high
employment and low crime rates are important, the ideal city must also have the
right vibe. As the authors note: “We need a city that is not just a machine for
living. The ideal city has a personality that speaks to us. Even if we can’t put
our finger on why, the ideal city feels good to be in.”
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JoAnna Haugen is a writer, speaker and solutions advocate who has worked in the travel and tourism industry for her entire career. She is also the founder of Rooted — a solutions platform at the intersection of sustainable tourism, social impact and storytelling. A returned US Peace Corps volunteer, international election observer and intrepid traveler, JoAnna helps tourism professionals decolonize travel and support sustainability using strategic communication skills.
Published Mar 16, 2021 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 12pm GMT / 1pm CET