Upgrading Urban Appeal

Although speakers rejected the idea that the pandemic made suburban addresses more attractive – a question we’ve previously discussed in Redefining Communities – they agreed that people have become more exacting when selecting an urban area to call home. Beauty, culture and inclusivity are increasingly important considerations for cities looking to attract and retain residents.

The Housing Cost Question

Speakers agreed that more needs to be done to make housing accessible, or else world-class cities could risk losing their edge for talent and cultural capital. Rather than focusing on government-supported initiatives, panellists spotlit private-public partnerships that reposition affordable housing as a tool to broadly increase quality of life.

Reconceptualising City Living for Next-Gen Work

Speakers discussed how cities can respond to, and even support, residents’ remote and hybrid work schedules – evolving the considerations we explore in Time Shifting: New Consumer Routines. Discussions also centred around how transit and community can support people who want to trade cramped downtown-adjacent communities for neighbourhoods further out.

Practical Sustainability for Big Cities

Experts at Wrldcty offered diverse pathways towards improving the environmental impact of cities, building on the case studies we presented in Resilient Cities. From districts engineered to support biodiversity to car-disincentivising schemes, a multi-pronged approach is needed to ensure urban longevity.