Creating Humane And sustainable
Cities by Marc Pokemper / Getty Images
The United Nations has estimated that sometime
during 2007 the global balance between rural and urban populations will finally tip, and, for the first time in human history, the majority of the world''s population will be living in urban areas.
While urbanization is nothing new, the immense scale and speed with which it is now occurring--the vast conglomeration of such enormous numbers of people--is altering society socially, politically, economically and spiritually, in ways that will ultimately impact all of us.
Cities are the crucible of human diversity, a diversity of culture, lifestyle, life experience and expectation. They are the locus of humankind''s richest achievements and greatest deprivation. While cities bring members of the human family into close proximity, they also make evident the often vast gaps and disparities that separate us from one another. And even while the city''s infrastructure links our lives together more intimately, it can strain and tear the spiritual fabric in which our lives are woven together in harmony with those of our fellow humans and with the natural environment.
The challenges and promises of urbanization are numerous, but they can be distilled as the question of how we can build healthy and flourishing communities. The challenge of urbanization is, in the end, the challenge to become more human.
Active
citizenship and vibrant urban life are essential components of a good city and of civic identity. To restore these where they are lacking, citizens must be involved in the evolution of their cities. They must feel that the
public space is their communal ownership and responsibility. From the modest back street to the grand civic square these spaces belong to the citizen and make up the totality of the public domain, a public institution in its own right which, like any other, can embrace or frustrate our urban existence. The public domain is the theater of an urban culture. It is where citizenship is enacted, it is the glue that can bind an urban society.
Architect Sir Richard Rogers in Cities for a Small PlanetActive citizenship and vibrant urban life are essential components of a good city and of civic identity. To restore these where they are lacking, citizens must be involved in the evolution of their cities. They must feel that the public space is their communal ownership and responsibility. From the modest back street to the grand civic square these spaces belong to the citizen and make up the totality of the public domain, a public institution in its own right which, like any other, can embrace or frustrate our urban existence. The public domain is the theater of an urban culture. It is where citizenship is enacted, it is the glue that can bind an urban society.
Architect Sir Richard Rogers in Cities for a Small Planet