10 Cities With "Perfect" Urban Design & 10 With Weird Layouts
Make It Or Break It
Thoughtful, long-term visions for a city are what keep our worldwide hubs running smoothly, for both businesses and residents. Sadly, many cities face a sharp increase in population, or governments decide to prioritize commercialization over quality of life, which can lead to issues of housing inequality, traffic congestion, and unsustainable practices. When good urban planning is used, however, cities can transform the lives of their residents financially, emotionally, physically, and socially.
1. Copenhagen
Denmark’s capital is highly praised for its good urban planning and sustainability practices. The city makes use of extensive cycling networks, public transportation, green spaces, and renewable energy, all while prioritizing community-oriented spaces for its community members.
2. Singapore
The city is often considered one of the best examples of urban planning worldwide. Built with a long-term vision in mind, the city has an excellent public transportation system, affordable housing, and integrated green spaces. With a focus on citizen well-being, the city balances economic, social, and environmental goals that have enabled it to provide for its high population for years.
3. Washington
Thanks to the L’Enfant Plan, which was designed for the city back in 1791, Washington, D.C has maintained its success in urban planning for centuries. The city makes use of a grid system, wider avenues to connect key areas, and includes public spaces that connect to important national buildings.
4. Chandigarh
Located in India, Chandigarh is a great example of good urban planning. This is thanks to a human-focused, functional layout, with an emphasis on green spaces. The city also took inspiration from the human body, with the capital complex as the “head,” the commercial center as the “heart,” and more leisure-based activities as the “lungs.”
5. Tokyo
Tokyo’s incredibly effective urban planning stems from its highly efficient public transportation system, mixed-use zoning, and decentralized districts that allow dwellings to function more autonomously. Even with a total population of 37 million people, the city remains safe and clean thanks to its dedicated urban design.
6. Bilbao
After declining for years and suffering a flood in 1983, city members banded together to transform their home in the year 2000. They cleaned up the highly polluted Nervion River, built new public transportation, and revitalized their public spaces to encourage community togetherness.
7. New York City
The island of Manhattan is prized for its grid system, which was developed back in 1811. The grid system is highly adaptable, and the city also makes a consistent attempt to prioritize projects developed with community members.
8. Amsterdam
Amsterdam's canal system plays an important role in its urban planning, as it prioritizes non-car transportation. The city also has an excellent public transportation network, and is focused on building sustainable, community-oriented spaces where possible.
9. Paris
Paris is well-loved for its grand boulevards, public spaces, and unified aesthetic. It uses the 15-minute city concept and makes use of pedestrian-friendly spaces, well-ventilated streets, and mixed-use zoning to deter long commutes.
10. Barcelona
Barcelona makes good use of the Superilla initiative, which prioritizes pedestrians and cyclists over vehicles. It also makes use of a grid layout, making the city easy to navigate. Barcelona has also made use of the 15-minute city concept and makes a consistent effort to ensure that essential services are within walking distance of your home.
1. Jakarta
Indonesia’s capital constantly struggles with traffic congestion, inadequate infrastructure, and environmental issues. In fact, the city is sinking due to excessive groundwater pumping, and constant development within the city has led to water pollution and environmental issues.
2. Houston
Texas’s capital favors cars, leading to problems with traffic congestion. The city also has a surprising lack of zoning laws, which means residential homes can be situated next to industrial areas. The city is also susceptible to flooding due to its ineffective drainage system.
3. Dubai
Despite its seemingly lavish lifestyle, the city of Dubai is not sustainable. Its car-centric design creates a disconnected city, making walking or public transportation difficult. It also has a high energy consumption and is associated with significant environmental impacts.
4. Boston
The Massachusetts capital is said to have complex and outdated zoning laws, making housing costs extremely expensive. It’s also said to have a very car-centric approach to living, and has been pricing out lower-income neighborhoods for several years.
5. Naypyidaw
Known as a “ghost city,” Myanmar’s Capital has been prioritizing military-scale infrastructure over human needs for years. The city is huge, even including a massive highway and airport system, but only has a total population of around 1 million.
6. Atlanta
Nestled in the state of Georgia, Atlanta has been criticized for its ineffective city organization. The city has ruined the surrounding green spaces and forests, leading to pollution issues. Furthermore, the city lacks comprehensive public transit and constantly struggles with displacement and gentrification.
7. Dhaka
Bangladesh’s capital has faced a plethora of challenges when it comes to urban planning. Their current infrastructure is overwhelmed by population growth, while the city faces a shortage of skilled planners to achieve its goals. The city also lacks proper infrastructure guidelines, public spaces, and increased issues with housing inequality.
8. São Paulo
Located in Brazil, this city experienced rapid, unplanned growth that caused several key issues. The poorer communities were pushed to the city’s borders, living in informal settlements in environmentally sensitive zones. The city also struggles with traffic congestion, long commutes, and overcrowded homes.
9. Brasilia
Brasilia is the capital city of Brazil, and the rush to meet population growth left well-thought-out infrastructure in the dust. The city was designed for about 500,000 people, but now houses over 3 million. Brasilia is car-centric, with little pedestrian-friendly architecture, a lack of public space, and social and economic segregation.
10. La Rinconada
This Peruvian city grew rapidly thanks to an unprecedented gold rush. While never intended to be a permanent settlement, the influx of people led to hurried infrastructure. The city lacks running water, drainage, and waste management systems, and is now in a cycle of poverty and lawlessness.
