Designed to live together

“Half of humanity now lives in cities, and within two decades, nearly 60 per cent of the world’s people will be urban dwellers…As cities grow in size and population, harmony among the spatial, social and environmental aspects of a city and between their inhabitants becomes of paramount importance. This harmony hinges on two key pillars: equity and sustainability…” State of the World’s Cities 2008/2009, Harmonious Cities.

Planned urbanization maximizes the capacity of cities to generate employment and wealth, and to foster diversity and social cohesion between different classes, cultures, ethnicities and religions.

Cities designed to live together create opportunities, enable connection and interaction, and facilitate sustainable use of shared resources.

World Cities Day 2015 and its theme Designed to live together promotes togetherness and harmony, making our cities and neighbourhoods inclusive and livable.

How cities can be designed for all to live together

Planned cities not only generate jobs and opportunities, but also help build socially integrated, livable, open neighborhoods. Urban design facilitates the togetherness and social harmony in cities.

Urban design for social mix and integration - planning residential areas with different possibilities in terms of typology and price enables residents from different backgrounds and income levels to live together.

Urban design for inclusion and equality – designing through participative processes helps people come together around shared goals and visions, and promotes everyone’s equal access to services, jobs and opportunities.

Urban design for sustainable use of shared resources – designing compact, denser cities reduces the over exploitation of natural resources, and facilitates common living by enabling equal access to land, food and water for all

Urban design for lively, healthy, safe and economically thriving neighborhoods – designing public spaces, parks, playgrounds, streets with pedestrian space and commercial activities help create a vibrant public life for all residents.