Regenerative Cities: Centres for Liveability
Industrialisation changed the way cities were conceived. Historically, it has driven urbanisation at the cost of liveability presenting challenges such as demand for space, air quality and proximity to services.
Work drove people to cities but as new ways of working progress to new horizons, cities will need to become centres for liveability in order to remain attractive.
Liveability is becoming the primary factor for choosing to live in a city. A liveable city provides a high degree of physical and mental wellbeing to its inhabitants. According to the World Economic Forum, liveable cities are characterised by three factors: environmental sustainability, the safety and social connectivity of residents, and access to services related to quality of life. These services include affordable housing, strong mobility infrastructure, quality education, community and healthcare services, leisure activities, and cultural resources.
More than 80% of Western Europeans and North Americans live in urban areas, and the trend is expected to continue. Future demographic developments point to an aging population, higher proportions of singles, childless couples, and smaller nuclear family units. Therefore, sprawling suburbs may not be as pertinent as they once were. Cities will continue to improve housing and mobility infrastructure, develop new experiences centred around education, innovation, and shopping, and increase access to goods and services.
Proximity, convenience, and sustainable living spaces are becoming increasingly important factors for liveability in the future. Autonomous and digital goods and service economies will thrive in densely populated areas, but cities will also offer physical retail experiences that neither the digital service-economy nor rural living can compete with.
Future liveability in cities will depend greatly on cities' ability to create more sustainable and green living spaces for their residents. This will require rethinking the distribution and repurposing of resources, tackling pollution and congestion, and optimising how buildings and spaces are utilised. Cities will need to compete to attract the best talent and retain residents. Health will also be a significant factor contributing to urban liveability in the future. Individualised health, integrated with digital smart city ecosystems, will make cities attractive to their residents.