Not skyscrapers brightly lit by giant screens, not flying cars, not claustrophobic atmospheres bathed in endless rain. The future of the world's cities is heading in a very different direction from the eerie panoramas imagined by Philip K. Dick and brought to life by Ridley Scott in Blade Runner’s depiction of 2000s Los Angeles. Or at least, this reflects the global intention of metropolises in the face of climate change and ongoing geopolitical and economic crises.
Cities generate over 80% of global GDP, yet are also responsible for 70% of carbon emissions. They are now tasked with a collective mission: to change course without losing their identity — in fact, to reinforce it — in pursuit of meaningful, quality transformation. According to the World Economic Forum, €3.1 trillion in private funding will be available by 2030 for investment in renewable energy, public transport, waste management, and water systems. ‘By 2050, if 70% of the population resides in cities and fewer than a third currently have a climate and health strategy, a substantial portion of the global populace will be unprepared for climate and health challenges,’ emphasised Lauren Sorkin-Yeo, Executive Director of the Resilient Cities Network.
The challenge of transformation is underway, as staying competitive becomes crucial in a global era of transition. This is no longer about political ambitions — unlike the sweeping urban renewal of Haussmann’s Paris in the 19th century or Fascist-era Rome, both of which still gave unique identity to the Ville Lumière and the Eternal City. Today’s goal is to create a new model of livability: less car-centric, more human-centred — achieved through sustainable mobility, urban regeneration, and expanded green space.
For instance, the Rome of the Jubilees - including the year 2000 and the present day - has advocated for the revitalisation of major communication routes, such as the newly pedestrianised large Piazza Pia, located in front of the Vatican and accessible via the Castel Sant'Angelo subway. Turin, by contrast, has accelerated its post-industrial transformation not only through PNRR funds and innovative urban planning, but also thanks to the active involvement of its universities — powerful drivers of a dynamic economic ecosystem. Consider the western area near Corso Francia, home to the new Grugliasco campus, or the northern sector around Corso Marche with the rehabilitation of the Cavallerizza. Similarly, on 25 July, the masterplan for the regeneration project ‘Aurora-Barriera’ was unveiled, funded with €25.8 million under the Territorial Projects of the National Metro Plus Programme 2021–2027. What are the details of the master plan concerning a population of 90,000 people? The creation of greener, more liveable urban areas, enhanced lighting, the revitalisation of disused or closed spaces, and the initiation of the construction of Metro Line 2.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Barcelona emerged as a pioneer in urban regeneration with its Waterfront initiative. Today, the city continues to lead by revaluating the harbour and beach into a unique urban space, promoting both quality of the city and tourism. In addition, just before the Coronavirus pandemic, Barcelona launched the La Borda cooperative housing project — a former industrial site transformed into a Scandinavian-inspired residential model. Subsequently, Lyon, France’s third-largest city, also adopted a strategy centred on active citizen participation. This led to the development of Pan Bleu, a coordinated plan involving 55 municipalities and home to 1.2 million residents, where central and peripheral areas are reconnected. The city also introduced Trame Verte — a garden city concept. The foundation was public surface transport connected with extensive pedestrian boulevards or cycle paths. A comprehensive lighting plan complemented this, culminating in the creation of the Festival de la Lumière, which continues to be celebrated annually. However, Lyon’s crowning achievement is undoubtedly La Confluence — an ambitious urban renewal project at the meeting point of the Rhône and Saône rivers. Once an industrial zone, the area has since evolved into a cutting-edge digital district.
Taking up the mantle of urban renewal, Montreal, the most European metropolis in North America, has embarked on an ambitious development strategy aimed at reducing its carbon footprint. This follows the restyling of its historic centre and the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal. Sustainability serves as the green thread running through the ‘2050 Land Use and Mobility Plan’, which envisions a comprehensive redevelopment strategy, including the innovation of so-called ‘sponge’ neighbourhoods. These districts are designed to naturally absorb and manage rainwater, thereby reducing flood risks through features such as permeable pavements and roof gardens. On its website, Ice reintroduced its Euro 2.2 billion plan for the Place Versailles area, which includes 6,000 housing units, a school, a hotel, two commercial towers, and parks. Following a similar path, Pittsburgh has managed to boost its population by 1.6% according to the US Census Bureau, thanks to improvements in its industrial infrastructure. Transitioning from the Rust Belt's key foundries, the city now boasts multifunctional buildings for smart and digital activities. For instance, Smart Curbs, an automated pavement management system utilising AI to enforce parking rules, was praised as a model example at the Urban Transformation Summit in San Francisco. The initiative, a partnership between local authorities and the private company Automotus, has resulted in a 41% decrease in double-parking, reduced pollutant emissions and an adoption rate of electric vehicles five times higher than the national average.
Photo by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos on Unsplash