Destined For Great Things

The future of urban living hinges on community, sustainability and innovative design

- Yaiza Canopoli

The world’s major cities have a lot going for them. But these opportunities come at a price — beyond the vibrant community and exciting experiences these places offer, they are in many ways unable to keep up with their own exponential growth, resulting in crowded streets as well as increasingly tight and unaffordable housing. Our homes have never been smaller, yet they’ve also never been as expensive — a paradox that defines the way we’re living through this period of intense urbanisation.

What makes matters worse is that many large cities are also highly polluted due to the sheer volume of construction, industrial production and road traffic, making them space-poor, expensive and unhealthy to live in. Ironically, those responsible for most of the world’s pollution, profiting off fossil fuels, land development and industrial production, are rarely those who suffer its consequences on a daily basis.

So, where does that leave architects and designers? In the built environment, the issues of sustainability and affordability are tricky to navigate but important to consider. Making the switch to more sustainable building materials and honing in on the creation of affordable housing and holistic community spaces should be prioritised across the board. Construction and development need to be minimised, with a greater emphasis on refurbishment and reuse of structures that are already in place.

These considerations came up at a series of panel discussions on 14 February 2023, when some of the world’s leading designers and architects convened in Bangkok. Organised by American Standard, the Design Catalyst conference asked how we can create healthy, liveable spaces for everyone in the context of highly urbanised cities plagued by climate change.