Question 3

Q: Urbanization presents both opportunities and challenges. How do you see the role of architects evolving in shaping future cities to accommodate the growing population while maintaining a sense of identity and community?

A: Architects need to write, speak and design about urbanization. Future cities need to relook at their public and private land to make the best use of creating community and neighborhoods. In the United States, much of architects’ and urban designers’ work is to help to reuse streets, add density for housing and combine uses for walkable connections to needed services. Sprawling development, new towns in the countryside, and single use residential zones are the antithesis of future sustainable and liveable urbanization. Many forms of mobility, connected open spaces, pedestrian emphases and mixed-use buildings are components of this shaping of future cities.