重新思考未来的城市

“A city comes into being forthe sake of life, but existsfor the sake of living well.”– Aristotle1 Evolution of Human-Centric UrbanismWhy Here, Why NowIn Focus: Nordic ModelImpact of the Built EnvironmentRise of TechnologyImpact on WellbeingOld Challenges, New ApproachesCommunities for Lifelong WellbeingDesigning Quality of LifeTechnology as Invisible ForceEffective GovernanceInterdisciplinary DesignIn focus: Urbanism in DubaiRethinking the Role of GovernmentHuman-Centric ParadigmFuture of Human-Centric CitiesAuthorsReferencesTable of Contents 100632425254162124290935364044474950 Why Here,Why NowThe city is a space of promise and peril, community and individual.For much of human history, cities have been the nexus point forsocial, cultural, and economic trends. From ancient Athens toOttoman Istanbul and contemporary San Francisco, cities haveoperated as a collective canvas where history, art, philosophy, andcommerce collide to propel humanity forward.As human civilization advances –now clearly visible in the realm oftechnological innovation – the studyand design of cities is following in lockstep. Never before has the humble andadmittedly mundane field of urbanplanning and development been afixture of mainstream debate in theway it is today. From mainstreamnewspapers to TED talks, people of allbackgrounds and from various fieldsare fascinated by how the constructionof their cities influences society andthemselves. City authorities and urbanplanners have taken note and theresult is a push towards human-centric urbanism.Our cities don’t have to be constructedsolely around defence or commerce,as they had been in the past. They canhelp us become happier and healthierpeople. As we all become more lonelystaring into our smartphones, the urbanlandscape can offer residents a wayto find community.2Through subtleplanning tricks to get people moving –like some of the fascinating bike shareprograms popping up in cities fromArgentina to Denmark – the city can beour guide to happiness in an increasinglyfast-paced and isolated world.Cities are home to the majority ofthe world’s population, generate themajority of global gross domesticproduct (GDP), and are forecast by theUnited Nations to explode in growth overthe next two decades. Over the next 14years, there will be another billion urbandwellers globally. By the year 2050, twoout of three people in the world will livein cities. With so many people moving to(and between) cities, urbanism as a fieldof study and realm of debate has takenon new immediacy.6 3 Despite advances in human civilizationand technology, people in cities aroundthe world are increasingly unhappy.Disunity is growing as urbanists stillstruggle with how best to balance theneeds of the economy with individualwellbeing. This challenge is furthercompounded by the expansion of citiesaround the world.Can urban planning, effective municipalmanagement and the correct applicationof technological innovation enable citiesto handle growing and increasinglyunhappy populations? Through theirinformed imagination, can urbanistsmake society better, foster closercommunities, and produce happierindividuals? This report is the resultof a thorough review of the current,multifaceted conversation aroundurbanism as expressed in mainstreampublications and scholarly work. Wefound that the answer to the abovequestions depend on where you sit, buturbanists are increasingly convinced thata human-centric approach is the bestway forward. By placing residents andtheir needs at the centre of urbanism,cities can improve society, make peoplehappier, and organize human society ina more perfect manner.Why Here, Why NowOld Challenges,New Approaches This push towards human-centricurbanism is not confined solely tothe West but is also taking root andgathering momentum in the emergingworld. The definition of human-centricurbanism eludes one simple sentence.Human-centric urbanism places therelationship between the individualand the city at the centre of urbandesign and planning. By understandingthe individual’s needs, urban plannerscan seek to build a better environmentthat encourages growth, community,health, and productivity.From Medellin to Dubai and Taiwan,emerging cities are experimenting withrevolutionary concepts to make citiesmore liveable, happy, and productive.While the field of urbanism was bornin the West and Western cities continueto make invaluable contributions tothe field, the emerging world is fastbecoming the space of real innovationin human-centric urbanism. 4 Photo credit: WikipediaEvolution of Human-Centric UrbanismBefore the Industrial Revolution,cities were hives of commerceorganized to protect theeconomy. As people poured intourban areas from the countrysidein the 19th century, disease andthe health of residents becamea grave concern for municipalauthorities trying to keep theeconomy growing at full speed.510 Yet, planners have struggled to maximize the efficiencyof the urban environment within these parameters.W