What is a human-centric city, and how to create it

The transition to a human-centric model is reshaping our approach to urban development. This shift necessitates a comprehensive reevaluation of urban policy, architecture, infrastructure, and financing mechanisms. In this article, we look into the defining characteristics of such cities and examine best practices that are setting new standards.

A modern city is more than just a place to live; it is a dynamic environment that shapes habits, impacts health, and determines overall well-being. But why is this transformation significant not only for its residents but also for the state and businesses?Let's explore the multiple implications of this urban evolution.

What is a human-centric city?

A human-centric (anthropocentric) city is a place where the basis for planning and design is its residents, and not the existing conditions: infrastructure, cars, administrative logic, or production. In simple terms, a human-centric metropolis is a city that can meet the changing needs of people at any stage of their lives.

The anthropocentricity of the city is based on the following principles:

1. The principle of accessibility: Citizens should be able to use transport without barriers, receive social services, and residential real estate should be designed for and by people.

2. The principle of safety: City residents should feel calm in it — from aspects of physical safety (access to assistance, wide illuminated streets) to issues of social security.

3. The principle of involvement: City residents can participate in the design; that is, city residents should have the right to express their wishes regarding the appearance and structure of the city, as well as participate in the discussion, choose the ideas they like, and offer their concepts.

4. The principle of comfort: City residents should be pleased to be in it. This applies not only to cleanliness and silence, which is ensured by competent zoning, but also, for example, the presence of green areas, cultural places, and landscaped areas for rest and leisure.

Why is human-centric economics profitable?

The anthropocentricity of a city is profitable for several reasons:

1. The attractiveness of the city for investors: This is because a metropolis that develops human-centric principles is more comfortable for people: the standard of living there is an order of magnitude higher than in other cities. This makes it attractive not only for tourists, but also for entrepreneurs developing their business, as well as “talents” and “brains” whose work brings profit to companies and tax deductions to the city.

2. Increasing the productivity of city residents: A human-centric city makes it more comfortable, pleasant, and safe for its residents. Creating favourable conditions for life and work frees up human resources for work. residents rest better and work better, which has a positive effect on labor productivity.

3. Saving money: For example, the creation of sports and green areas, the organisation of parks and embankments, and recreation areas have a positive effect on the environment, as well as the psychological and physical well-being of the residents of the metropolis. Investments in effective and competent anthropocentrism have a positive impact on expenses in other areas — expenses on medical care, as well as housing and utilities, are reduced.

Best practices

In urban planning, it is important to ensure the satisfaction of basic human needs without harming the ecological and social environment, writes Stefano Serafini, PhD, scientific director of the International Society of Biourbanism (Italy), in an essay submitted for participation in the conference “The Future of the World. A New Platform for Global Growth”:

“It is important to free this concept from the prevalence of excessive development, private speculation that contradicts public interests, the dominance of automobile transport, and, in general, from the idea that there cannot be a strong and harmonious relationship between the city and the natural environment.”

Laboratory city (Copenhagen)

The capital of Denmark has become famous as a laboratory for testing human-centric city concepts. Each district of Copenhagen is built as a separate ecosystem, where they carefully and economically treat not only the area, but also natural resources: water, air, and land. 

The city is actively engaged in “bicyclisation”: 28 bicycle highways have been built there. All of them are separated from the roads and allow you to get to any point in the city quickly and safely on two-wheeled transport. Moreover, the traffic lights on the main transport arteries are set up so that cyclists get into the “green wave” without taking their feet off the pedals.

Restoration of the Cheonggyecheon River (Seoul)

The Cheonggyecheon River has always been an important part of the city, but in the 20th century, it was covered with concrete slabs. A motorway was built over it to modernise the city and make it more comfortable for traveling by car. However, this affected the ecological situation in Seoul and worsened the quality of life of people in it. From 2003 to 2005, concrete slabs were removed from this area (thereby closing the highway), the riverbed was restored, and the water and banks of the Cheonggyecheon were cleaned.

The program also included the construction of parks, pedestrian paths, bridges, and recreation areas. Restoring the river helped improve the quality of air and water in the area, restore lost flora and fauna, popularise the space among residents and increase their interest in ecology and urbanism, attract tourists and investments to the city, and increase the value of real estate near the Cheonggyecheon River.

Gardens by the Bay (Singapore)

The author of one of the essays for the international project “The Future of the World: A New Platform for Global Growth”. Janashantha Apeksha (Sri Lanka) noted Singapore as one of the successful examples: “Singapore’s green urban planning is a leading example of how cities can integrate nature into urban life. Singapore’s iconic Gardens by the Bay park demonstrates the potential of green infrastructure for developing biodiversity and improving urban air quality. 

Incorporating lush greenery into the urban fabric not only improves the quality of life for city residents but also mitigates the urban heat island effect, demonstrating the long-term benefits of environmental investments.”

Royal Adelaide Hospital

In 2017, the Royal Adelaide Hospital opened in the Australian city of Adelaide. This is a unique medical institution in terms of technology: it is one of the most advanced in the world due to the use of environmentally friendly technologies and high-tech equipment. For example, at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, materials are sorted using automatically controlled devices. It is especially interesting to note the architectural component of the medical institution: the hospital looks more like a bright design project, and the green area near the hospital makes the environment around it more diverse and has a positive effect on the overall appearance of Adelaide and the level of comfort in the city.

Who and how should invest

All parties that are interested in creating a human-centred metropolis should invest in the development of the city.

• The state needs to invest in strategic planning for the development of territories, the creation and implementation of programs that co-finance infrastructure and social projects. In addition, various benefits and subsidies for those organizations that create socially useful spaces can work in favor of the formation of an anthropocentric city.

• Businesses can also create conditions that develop human-centricity. For example, representatives of the development sphere can invest not only in areas but also in communities — this can be mixed-use development, integrating various objects from different spheres into a single useful whole, improvement measures (for example, installing sculptures), creating public spaces, and supporting local projects. In addition, entrepreneurship can invest in the development of transport, digital infrastructure, and services of a human-centric city. And business itself in the modern world strives for anthropocentrism: its main focus is the people working in the company. The main values ​​​​of such a business are flexibility, transparency, and empathy. These elements in the approach create conditions not only for increasing profitability but also for increasing the sustainability of companies.

• Residents of such megacities also actively participate in their development. They need to participate in surveys, public discussions, and events, as well as initiate events that improve the life of the city.

New tools, technologies, and channels

What tools and technologies can be used to create a human-centric city?

• Mobile technologies: They make it possible to receive feedback from residents in real time, as well as learn about the features of the structure of life in a certain area

• Digital modelling (Digital Twins): A digital twin is a virtual model of objects, systems, processes, or people that can reproduce the form and actions of the original. Digital Twins technologies allow you to plan and evaluate the impact of planned projects

• Socially significant communication projects: They are needed for the most effective communication between all the elements that form a human-centric city

• GIS systems: They can be used to analyse the urban environment, identifying “blank spots”, that is, inefficiently used areas. In addition, GIS systems are used to form environmental well-being in the city

• Platforms for surveys and interaction with residents: They are needed so that people are actively involved in decision-making regarding their place of residence. A striking example of such a practice is voting for improvement on the Ukrainian service “Diia”. This platform conducts surveys on socially significant topics, and the results help cities make decisions, taking into account the opinions of citizens

• ESG investments are important for the formation of a sustainable environment: For example, in Berlin, as part of the renovation program, such an ESG practice as sorting building materials was used: all waste was carefully selected and sent for recycling

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