Enhancing cities’ livability crucial to keeping residents happy

Cities across the globe are keen to be crowned as being among the most attractive places to live, work and play worldwide. Part of this aspiration lies in the importance of attracting local and foreign talents who can power their economic engine and, consequently, boost productivity. On top of that, cities want to be seen as vibrant and festive, as well as hubs for superpower individuals or enterprises. To achieve this, their urban designs must conjure up visions of a coveted life, such as dignified neighborhoods, affordable housing, leafy streets, well-connected public transport, reliable essential services and communal spaces. Defining livability is, therefore, an important step for policymakers and urban planners as they aim to design livable cities. In today’s globalized world, urban design is becoming an important determinant of a city’s success and must receive top priority within government agendas.
It is critical for urban planners and policymakers to explore the intersection of well-being research, behavioral economics and urban design to extract some useful insights for city planning. Ultimately, in order for cities to compete on livability, they have to create an environment that delivers great economic opportunities, a thriving labor market, family-friendly living, safety, affordability, reliable services, rule of law, and a quality life for its residents.
A number of prominent think tanks are studying the multifaceted aspects that improve the livability of cities. Important considerations include infrastructure, education, healthcare, culture, social networks, safety, housing and the environment. For instance, the Global Livability Index published by the Economist Intelligence Unit assesses the livability of 140 cities based on 30 qualitative and quantitative aspects across five themes: Stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. The list published for 2021 was particularly interesting as it explored how cities effectively managed the COVID-19 pandemic, taking into consideration the effects of their policies on resident well-being. Interestingly, six of the top 10 cities in the index were in either Australia or New Zealand, owing to those countries’ border restrictions that mitigated COVID-19 cases and enabled many of their residents to go about their lives relatively normally.
A number of themes could be further explored as part of urban planning, such as neighborhood zoning, environmental sustainability, creative amenities, housing quality and affordability, public transport, green spaces, pollution levels, healthcare facilities, educational settings, safety and security, sanitation and cleanliness, cultural and artistic offerings, and quality of government services. Equality within urban design must also be a key consideration to ensure diverse communities have equal access to all the amenities on offer. By taking a holistic approach to urban design, city governments can maximize livability and become thriving hubs for expatriate and citizen living alike.

It is pivotal to design cities around fostering inclusivity, social connections and community cohesion. 

Sara Al-Mulla

Perhaps a recurring and significant policy lever to consider is the impact of urban planning on the physical and mental health of residents. In addition to ensuring the presence and smooth functioning of healthcare facilities across cities, it is also critical to be mindful of other complexities and links that determine health status. Air pollution is a major risk factor for residents, as high exposure can lead to a number of adverse health consequences, such as respiratory illnesses, heart disease and lung cancer. City governments could counteract this challenge by expanding green spaces, boosting walkability or cycling and shifting toward more sustainable public transport infrastructure, enabling residents to be well connected without relying on private vehicle use.
In the same vein, an abundance of evidence reveals the importance of urban green spaces in elevating mental and physical health. Benefits include lower mortality rates, lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol levels, improved physical fitness levels, improved cognitive and immune function, and reduced rates of strokes, asthma, diabetes and heart disease. Mental health benefits were also significant, with research indicating the benefits of urban green spaces on improving relaxation and stress alleviation, boosting physical activity, elevating creativity and mindfulness, and enhancing social cohesion.
Access to adequate and affordable housing options is also an important factor in a city’s livability. A set of standards needs to be enforced to ensure housing is safe, spacious and healthy for all inhabitants, including families. Other important determinants to consider include connectivity to public transportation and the city network, a sense of safety, distance to the city center, local social connections and access to essential amenities, such as schools and universities, childcare centers, retail outlets, parks, healthcare facilities and cultural spaces.
It is pivotal to design cities around fostering inclusivity, social connections and community cohesion. Certain cities enjoy a vibrant spirit that is enlivened by its residents through social interactions. Public spaces offer people the opportunities to engage in diverse experiences that solidify relationships, boost creative expression, enrich personal memories, create stories and elevate happiness levels. It is vital that venues such as museums, art galleries, public libraries, neighborhood parks, cultural centers, opera houses, theme parks, nature reserves, plazas, shopping districts and sporting venues are available across various neighborhoods. Ultimately, city governments should leverage the notion of placemaking, which looks at how public spaces can foster distinctive connections with residents and, consequently, elevate well-being levels.
As the Arab region embraces more flexible residency options for foreign talents, it would be sagacious to discuss how cities can differentiate themselves in a manner that lures such communities. Moreover, it is also essential for citizens to avail of the various amenities that would surely enhance their well-being and their perceptions of cities.

• Sara Al-Mulla is an Emirati civil servant with an interest in human development policy and children’s literature. She can be contacted at www.amorelicious.com.