Each city has a soul, but how can we find the soul of each city, street, and neighbourhood in our daily life, in our buildings and cities?
It’s a difficult, ever-changing world we are living in today. Since the end of the 20th century, we have found ourselves in a state of ongoing crisis, marked by financial and humanitarian turmoil, wars, migration flows and extreme weather events brought on by climate change.
The pandemic has revealed that we have failed as a global community, as citizens of the world, in the way we treat one another. It exposed how we overlook the “invisible” among us, those without titles or recognition, yet those essential to the rhythm of our cities. Without nurses, drivers, garbage collectors, police officers, among others, our cities would stand still.
Pandemic has also taught us about management and hybrid use of spaces: we have seen how schools, and gyms, were converted into hospitals, for example. Only now, here in Spain, we are beginning to uncover the aftermath of a long 3 month home confinement.
To face this complexity, we need to work in open thinking ecosystems, where not only architects and urban planners are involved, but also sociologists, philosophers, start-up entrepreneurs, researchers, technology developers, and private partners. It is through this collective effort that real change can happen.
We are also working towards a city and urbanism that contributes to the wellbeing of the citizens, where they can live and work under good environmental conditions in well-designed spaces allowing human interactions. Architects and urban planners should engage directly with citizens and local communities, young, adult, elderly alike, listening to them and understanding their needs.
Cities will also have to face the demographic challenge posed by increasing life expectancy and an ageing of population. This includes supporting active and independent living for the elderly, with special attention to the issue of loneliness.
Public space is a common good, a shared resource, where citizens may live, participate, and shape new dynamics, turning it into a space of their own. The problem is that in our cities, including those in France and Spain, around 80% of urban space is still dominated by vehicles. Not to talk about the city subsoil, which is often unprepared to support essential city infrastructure such as pipelines, cables and sewer network.
All these changes require smart planning to re-design neighbourhoods, limit vehicle traffic, and rethink spaces and materials. Public spaces should also promote inclusion, for example, integrating art like wall paintings to evoke emotions and connect with local artists. Additionally, the acoustic landscape plays a key role in urban design. Sarah Al Saman’s doctoral thesis explores how mapping neighbourhood soundscapes impacts residents’ wellbeing and emotions.
The ground floors of some buildings, often used as commercial spaces, could be repurposed to benefit residents , fostering spaces that encourage human interactions. Similarly, private spaces like kitchens, often relegated to poorly lit, secondary areas, could be redesigned as central hubs for family time and meals.
It is also important to preserve existing buildings, adapting them for new uses where needed, while new buildings should be designed with future adaptability in mind. For example, 8 years ago we designed a “reversible parking lot” at the Montpellier train station, anticipating changes in transport patterns. We proposed a convertible structure, with greater height between floors and an adaptable façade that would allow its possible eventual use as housing for people in vulnerable or disadvantaged situation, promoting human dignity.
Before designing, we must listen and step out of our comfort zone. This will take time, but with a collective effort we can truly shape a better future for our cities.
People’s involvement is fundamental for making the change happen, requiring a blend of public-private cooperation and active citizen participation. It is not just about punctual discussions with the population, but a continuous dialogue between all sectors. For example, when we managed the «agro-cities» project, we involved everyone, not only those whose space would be affected, but also opposition politicians, builders, architects, urban planners, while, to insure the project’s success, we applied lessons learned from previous experiences.
Direct contact of urban planners with the population is crucial. In Italy, for example, a mayor goes and spends a whole day in a neighbourhood once a week. This hands-on approach is the only way to address fears, resolve misunderstandings, and engage the community.
In this «agro-cities» project, we planned high-density buildings, some up to 17 stories tall, with nearly 40% of its surface dedicated to public space. People are more likely to accept density and skyscrapers if they receive something consensual in return. In our project, for example, citizen acceptance and support was critical, as they requested public spaces and the urban agriculture in exchange. Ultimately, fear of change often stems for ignorance or misinformation, which can only be addressed through direct communication.
To complete this vision and to address social inequalities, we must start with housing. Housing and public space must go hand in hand, ensuring everyone has a right to a decent roof over their heads. This is closely tied the land prices and political decisions. In Paris, for example, any private project built must contain a percentage of social housing, typically between 30-40%. This percentage can be reduced depending on the neighbourhood’s existing social housing, but it is mandated by law.
Such policies prevent cities turning into real estate products rather than communities, which is particularly important in countries with land scarcity or high land prices.
Social housing organizations, like those in France, and mixed projects, with public and private cooperation, are key to making this vision a reality.