Creating the social city
Listen now on the 'A is for Architecture' podcast
This week I’m publishing a recent podcast, featured on “A is for Architecture” titled ‘The social city’. You can listen to the podcast episode on various platforms:
In the episode, I discuss themes from my book, Unlocking Sustainable Cities: A Manifesto for Real Change arguing against the isolating nature of contemporary cities and propose a transformative approach to urban sustainability through key systems like transport, energy, nature, and community, with an emphasis on creating a more compassionate and social city.
To do this, I argue for a radical shift in how we design and inhabit urban environments, asserting that in contrast to the isolation of the modern city we need to prioritize community and well-being over efficiency and economic growth.
My main argument centres around:
A critique of Current Growth-based Urbanism: where the prevailing model of city development has led to fragmented, isolating environments where consumerism often takes precedence over genuine social connection.
The Need for Compassion: advocating for building “compassionate cities” that prioritize the needs of vulnerable populations, enhancing social infrastructure, and a sense of collective responsibility.
Transformative Urban Systems: I outline practical pathways for change across major urban systems like: Transport: Moving away from car dominance toward accessible public transport, cycling, and walkability to reconnect neighborhoods; Energy: Transitioning to localized, community-owned renewable energy systems; Nature: Integrating more green and blue spaces to improve well-being and biodiversity; Community: Emphasizing the design of physical spaces that facilitate interaction and collaboration, such as community hubs and shared spaces.
I end the podcast by exploring A Manifesto for Real Change which you can read here. It’s a call to action to move beyond superficial sustainability to implement systemic changes that foster a truly social and resilient urban future. Ultimately, creating a sustainable city is about creating a social city where people thrive together.
Thanks to Ambrose Gillick.