Defining a social city
What is a social city?
Cities and the way they are designed and built have an impact on the social interactions of their residents. Poor urban transportation networks, for example, can keep people from regularly seeing their family and friends. In a social city people in charge make decisions based on the needs of their residents. A social city is a city that helps people connect with each other.
How do cities influence our social interactions?
Jane-Frances Kelly from the Grattan Institute underlines that cities offer their residents the basic ingredients for social interactions and social relationships. First of all, cities provide means of urban transportation that enable people to get from A to B to see family and friends. Secondly, people find different places in cities where they can socialize. Parks, cafes, bars, or cinemas are examples of places in urban environments that influence social connection. The design of cities can either encourage or hinder residents’ social lives and consequently their physical and mental health.
A social city aims at making it as easy as possible for residents to see other people and stay independent. Several aspects have to be considered by city officials to turn their city into a social city:
- City structure
When designing buildings and streets, the social connection of residents should become one of the main goals. Mobility is essential for residents to feel independent, competent and connected with others. Another part of planning the city structure that has to be considered is the need to commute to the workplace. Commuting influences our daily routine and the longer a person has to commute the less time they will have to spend with family and friends. Commuting is also often very stressful and frustrating and hence may influence people negatively.
- Neighbourhoods
To make a city a social city, it is important that residents feel a sense of belonging. This can be achieved by creating local relationships since they increase personal wellbeing. One key element in neighbourhoods can be common places including parks, green spaces and public squares. Furthermore, local events and activities can strengthen a sense of belonging in this neighbourhood. Additionally, nearby private places such as shops, cafes, restaurants, shopping centres can be used by residents to meet up with family and friends.
- Streets
Streets in a social city can be designed not only for vehicles but also for pedestrians to walk and socialize on. Well-designed pedestrian areas can become a place where people living in the same neighbourhood meet and talk.
Social cities aim at providing their residents with the best possibilities to see friends and family, to create a sense of belonging and to feel home where they live. The design of a social city includes great urban transportation, buildings and streets that encourage social connection and events and activities in neighbourhoods that strengthen a local sense of identity. At the end of the day, social cities are about the people living in the city and their wellbeing.