Issue 21: Urban Placemaking showcases how cities are reshaping spaces to balance nature, people and progress
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INSIGHT
Globally, 1 in 3 people say that climate change has affected big decisions in their family ‘a lot’, including where to live or work, according to the Peoples’ Climate Vote, a global opinion poll by the United Nations Development Programme.
Meanwhile, housing affordability concerns have reached record highs. The Gallup World Poll reports that 50% of OECD populations were dissatisfied with the availability of affordable housing in 2023/24, surpassing their concerns about healthcare and education. Additionally, a 2020 European Parliament report indicated that 80% of cities worldwide lack affordable housing options for the majority of their populations.
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85 Social Dwellings in Barcelona, designed by Peris + Toral Architects, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 RIBA International Prize. Photograph by José Hevia
This year’s Building Prosperity report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation highlights how prioritising a nature-positive, circular economy can deliver both environmental and economic benefits for Europe.
According to the study, European towns and cities could cover 90% of housing needs and prevent urban sprawl by implementing circular transformations. Circular strategies could unlock €22 billion in annual savings through reduced energy and water costs for households and businesses, while contributing €735 billion in value to society and businesses by 2035.
The circular strategies put forward include converting vacant commercial buildings to limit urban sprawl and reduce carbon emissions, using material-efficient designs and low-impact materials in construction, and increasing tree canopies and green-blue spaces in urban environments.
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SODA’s adaptive reuse of a 1970s HMRC office block has transformed it into much-needed homes in central Liverpool. Designed to serve both residents and the community, the project also features rooftop wild gardens. Photograph by Richard Chivers
STRATEGY
Across Europe, cities and governing bodies are tackling affordability and climate change through diverse strategies.
Paris is working to keep middle- and lower-income resident and small businesses in the city centre to maintain its diverse character through its mixité sociale policy which addresses the growing affordability crisis and economic segregation. This has seen former government buildings and commercial real estate transformed into publicly owned housing, and secured rents for selected independent businesses across neighbourhoods.
Helsinki is investing in a sustainable, modern transport system to connect neighbourhoods across its 327 islands. The city achieves the top ranking for urban mobility readiness, with sustainable mobility and public transit, car-free zones, cycling infrastructure, expansion of EV charging points, and further improvements to the city’s rail network all planned initiatives.
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Ilot Saint-Germain: Francois Brugel Architectes Associes, H2o Architectes and Antoine Regnault Architecture repurposed Ministry of Armed Forces office blocks into 254 social homes, complete with a kindergarten and sports hall for the wider neighbourhood. Photograph by Jared Chulski.
After an extreme weather event in 2011, Copenhagen decided to prioritise climate adaption by maximising green-blue spaces. These expanded green areas and new waterways support existing infrastructure and absorb stormwater, turning a climate challenge into a resource.
The EU pledged to plant 3 billion additional trees for 2030 with cities like Leuven furthering this initiative by de-paving neighbourhoods and replacing concrete with grass, wildflowers and trees to reduce flooding risks and the impact of hot summers.
Beyond green spaces and encouraging biodiversity, some studios are championing radically different strategies when it comes to urban spaces. Brooklyn-based Harrison Atelier has made designing for more than one species their central question and approach, challenging conventional human-centric design.
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Opera Park, an upcoming development in Copenhagen by Danish studio Cobe. Photograph by Francisco Tirado
DESIGN
New strategies by cities and designers are leading to large-scale projects that enhance public spaces, restore nature, and strengthen resilience and community—themes highlighted in our previous Spotlight on the Resilience of Cities.
Seoul's Garden City strategy involves significant investment in new outdoor gardens, while the "Seoul Green Road" aims to link the city's green spaces via a 2,063-kilometer path by 2026. Additionally, new projects are transforming uninhabited areas into public parks, designed to reduce fine dust, lower temperatures, and improve residents' access to nature.
In the US, the Great American Rail Trail is creating a coast-to-coast hiking and cycling route by linking existing paths to new trails along old rail corridors. Initiated in the 1980s and started in 2019, this ambitious project is approximately 55% complete and remains a long-term vision with ongoing development.
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Heatherwick Studio's design for a new public park on Nodeul Island, Seoul. Visualization by Heatherwick Studio / MIR
Large-scale city design tactics are also being used in smaller cities and towns, redesigning and repurposing existing architecture to create more vibrant and useful public spaces.
After repurposing its harbour and old railway line into new public spaces and scenic walkways that bring local communities and visitors together, Folkestone could now turn its focus on reviving high streets.
Architects [Y/N] Studio proposed transforming a former department store with a mixed-use approach that considers the needs of residents, visiting shoppers and the local business community. Using flexible structural elements, Folca could adapt to different uses on annual, seasonal, weekly or daily basis, exemplifying the concept of Profound Flexibility which we explored as part of our 2024 trends roundup.
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Folca: A concept by [Y/N] Studio for the mixed-use redevelopment of a former department store in Folkestone. Courtesy of [Y/N] Studio
