Cities

Cities are more than just buildings and roads; they’re ecosystems of human life. From the people who live there to the infrastructure that keeps things running, everything has its place. Cities thrive on diversity, bringing together people from different cultures, backgrounds, and professions. This mix is what gives every city its unique personality. Cities are hubs for innovation, trade, and culture, making them vibrant centers of activity and opportunity.

What do you think makes your city special or unique?

While cities are known for their tall buildings and busy streets, green spaces are the lungs of the urban environment. Parks provide places for people to relax, exercise, and connect with nature. They also play a key role in improving air quality and creating habitats for wildlife. Some cities even have urban forests, botanical gardens, or riverside trails that offer an escape from the hustle and bustle. These spaces aren’t just nice to have, they’re essential for a healthier and more livable city.

Buildings in cities vary greatly, from cozy homes to multi-family residences to towering skyscrapers. Skyscrapers dominate downtown areas, providing office spaces and apartments, while residential buildings in connecting neighborhoods are often designed for families. Public buildings include libraries, hospitals, religious structures, and city halls, all of which serve essential purposes and reflect the city’s identity. Many cities feature historic buildings that tell stories of their past, alongside modern designs that showcase cutting-edge architecture. Each structure, no matter its size, plays a role in shaping how people experience the city.

Together, these built and natural environments shape the character of a city. Architecture defines the city’s skyline and tells its story, while green spaces support physical and mental well-being. Cities that successfully blend the two offer more inclusive, engaging, and inspiring environments for residents and visitors.

What is your favorite green space in your city, and why?

Getting around is a huge part of city life. Cities where people can walk and bike offset car use. Cities with connected bike lanes, bus stops, and train stations help people move quickly and efficiently. Well-designed transport reduces traffic and car use, lowers pollution, and connects people to work, school, and leisure activities. Cities like Tokyo, New York, London, and Paris are famous for their extensive subway systems, while others like Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Tokyo lead the way in bike-friendly infrastructure. A reliable and accessible transportation system is key to making cities feel connected and convenient for everyone. Walkable cities are essential for the health of human life. When people can walk to the store, or the library, or to work, they connect with other people.

Check your city’s walk score and think about how it could be improved.

How do you usually get around your city, and what would you improve?

Neighborhoods are the building blocks of cities, each with distinct features and functions. Some neighborhoods are filled with historic homes and tree-lined streets, while others are bustling with high-rise apartments, shops, and offices. Residential areas often include schools, parks, and small grocery stores, creating a sense of convenience for families. In contrast, commercial neighborhoods might have a mix of restaurants, retail stores, and entertainment venues. Together, these diverse neighborhoods bring vibrancy and life to cities, offering spaces where people live, work, and socialize. The [15 minute walk] is a pertinent way to connect where you live to where you work, go to school, get your food, and recreate. Neighborhoods that are walkable connect the community!

What’s your favorite neighborhood, and what makes it stand out?

Cities are for everyone. Cities are places where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. What is there to do in your city? Can you play in a park, or is there a place to watch a play? Can you go to museums or visit botanical gardens? Is there a zoo? Are there dog parks? Can you play basketball, soccer, tennis, or pickleball outside? Does your city have a historic city tour? City tours take you to the downtown area, share significant landmarks, and discuss the city’s culture and history. Is there a place to shop and a farmer’s market selling local produce and products? Does your city have theaters, symphonies, libraries, and more? In this exercise, make a word map of things that are fun to do in your community. Make sure to think about options in all seasons and during the day and night. Think of music performances, plays, celebrations, festivals, too! Create a city map and identify 10 destinations you’d like to visit.

What makes your city unique?

Cities face practical challenges that impact daily life, including overcrowded public transport, insufficient housing, and waste management issues. Traffic congestion is a common problem, as is the need for more affordable housing to accommodate growing populations. Pollution from vehicles, industries, and waste is another pressing concern. Cities struggle with balancing development and preserving green spaces. However, urban areas are tackling these challenges with innovative solutions, like creating people-friendly streets, adding bike lanes, expanding public transport systems, building energy-efficient homes, and investing in renewable energy sources to create a healthier and more sustainable future. Vacant buildings and vacant lots are key opportunities for adding shared green spaces and reusing existing spaces for housing and public community needs.

What do you think is the biggest challenge your city faces, and how can it be solved?

New York City is one of the most well-known cities in the world. Located in the United States, it is famous for its towering skyscrapers, fast-paced lifestyle, and global influence. NYC has five boroughs or neighborhoods: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island, each with its personality. New York is a center for business, fashion, media, and the arts. It’s home to landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, and the Empire State Building. It also has world-famous institutions like the United Nations headquarters, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Broadway theaters.

With over 8 million residents and people from more than 180 countries, New York is a symbol of diversity and opportunity. Its subway system runs 24/7, and its neighborhoods are full of life. What makes New York City special to you? Would you like to visit or live there? Create a mini fact sheet about New York, highlighting five unique aspects of the city.

If you had one day in New York City, where would you go first and why?

Tokyo is the capital of Japan and one of the most technologically advanced cities in the world. With a population of over 37 million in the greater metropolitan area, Tokyo is the largest and most densely populated urban area globally. Tokyo is known for its mix of ancient tradition and futuristic innovation. You can find peaceful temples and shrines right next to neon-lit skyscrapers and high-speed trains. The city is extremely clean and organized, with a world-class public transport system that includes bullet trains (Shinkansen). Popular districts include Shibuya, known for its famous crossing and fashion, and Akihabara, famous for electronics and anime culture. Tokyo hosted the Olympics in 1964 and again in 2021 (postponed from 2020). What does Tokyo teach us about blending the old and the new? Draw or list three things about Tokyo’s culture that stand out to you.

Would you rather visit a temple or a robot café in Tokyo? Why?

The world has changed a lot over the past 70 years. One of the most significant changes has been the rapid growth in the number and size of cities. In 1955, only a small number of cities had populations over 1 million. By 2016, there were more than 500 cities with populations exceeding 1 million!

This growth is known as urbanization, the process where more people move from rural areas (the countryside) into cities. Factors like job opportunities, education, transportation, and healthcare attract people to urban areas. While urbanization brings progress and innovation, it also creates challenges like overcrowding, pollution, and pressure on housing and services. Cities must grow wisely to remain livable and sustainable. Use a world map or a graph to compare how cities have grown between 1955 and 2016. Which regions grew the most? Why do you think more people moved to cities at that time? Imagine what cities might look like in 2200; draw or describe your vision.

Do you think cities will be larger or smaller in the future? What would your dream future city look like?

• What is a key feature that contributes to a city’s uniqueness?
  • The number of skyscrapers
  • Diversity of people, cultures, and professions
  • Its geographic size
  • Having only one type of industry
• What is one important role of green spaces in cities?
  • To increase property prices
  • To sell the lands in the future
  • To replace tall buildings
  • To improve air quality and provide habitats for wildlife
• Why are well-designed transportation systems important for cities?
  • They reduce traffic and pollution
  • They encourage car ownership
  • They make cities more expensive to live in
  • They limit access to leisure activities
• What is one key feature of residential neighborhoods in cities?
  • They only consist of high-rise apartments
  • They include schools, parks, and small grocery stores
  • They are primarily commercial areas
  • They lack public infrastructure
• What role do public buildings like libraries and hospitals play in a city?
  • They dominate the city skyline
  • They are primarily for tourists
  • They serve essential purposes for residents and reflect the city’s identity
  • They replace residential spaces
• What is one major challenge cities face, and how are they solving it?
  • Balancing development and preserving green spaces, solved by innovative solutions like renewable energy investments.
  • Overcrowding in schools, solved by building fewer classrooms
  • Traffic congestion, solved by increasing private car ownership
  • Housing shortages, solved by removing public housing