How Do We Build the City of the Future?
What qualities equip a city to thrive?
Expensive cities are losing their edge, and new communities form as priorities shift. How do we build cities that will sustain and satisfy for generations to come?
Make Transportation Easy and Accessible
Dependency on cars is killing the planet and killing many people’s time - and quality of life. In the US, workers commute an average of about 27 minutes each way, almost an hour a day. That time adds up fast, and even longer commutes are all too common.
Making public transportation affordable and streamlined is a must. Buses and light rails should connect the main attractions of a city as well as allow for smooth travel from downtown to surrounding areas. Nearby suburbs, nature offerings like hiking trails and ski resorts, and gathering places like concert venues feel instantly closer when there’s a bus route or train from the city.
In too many cities, public transportation is overpriced and fragmented. The city of the future will be easy for anyone to navigate, even without a car.
Provide Community Resources for Sustainability
Mindfulness about what we put in our bodies and our yards has a rising portion of homeowners turning to gardening and composting. Spending money on watering large, green lawns is slowly becoming a thing of the past, while backyard gardens gain popularity. The pandemic certainly sped this trend along, as many people found themselves with extra time on their hands and desperate to get outdoors, but the push to grow our own food and reuse our own table scraps was gaining steam even before 2020.
The city of the future will speed this effort along and make at-home gardening and composting more accessible through education and community resources. Community compost, for example, can help new homeowners get a healthy garden started at low cost. Local, shared gardens where renters can hone their green thumb and grow their own produce will put the dream of being self-sustained within reach for those who don’t yet own a home.
Commit to a Smaller Carbon Footprint and Less Waste
It’s past time to go green. Quality recycling programs that don’t end up dumping trash back into landfills, and that service city buildings and parks, drive overall city waste much lower and allow residents to rest easy that their recycling efforts will pay off. Single-use plastic bans or restrictions contribute to a more intentional, less wasteful community mindset.
City governments can also implement renewable energy policies and initiate programs to make solar panels and alternative energy more affordable and accessible to make a significant slice in the population’s carbon footprint.
Fund Education
Schools in the city of the future are well-funded, with reasonable class sizes and plenty of classroom materials. There’s no shortage of resources and pay for teachers, and as a result the schools in the community are focal points of joy and partnership. Gatherings at school for plays, concerts, and sporting events bring members of each neighborhood together on a regular basis and fuel connection.
Incorporate Open Spaces and Trails
Living near open space is a top priority for a multitude of reasons. Parks and trails provide a location for easy family outings, exercise opportunities, socialization for pets, and convenient spaces to pass a weekend day with friends. Even those who appreciate the city-dweller lifestyle also seek time in nature and treasure any opportunity to soak up the sun.
Open Communal Amenities
In the city of the future, access to well-kept recreation centers, gyms, and courts is widespread. People come together for fitness classes and competitive sports, meeting new community members and contributing to a healthy population in the process.
Host High-interest Events
With working from home becoming the new norm, people are seeking connection outside of work more than ever. Networking events, sports leagues, and cultural activities fill the calendar in the ideal city. Weekend farmer’s markets and craft fairs spotlight local vendors and keep consumption local. Seasonal events like holiday markets and Oktoberfest bring residents together and infuse festivity and joy into the community. Half the fun of living near a city lies in enjoying the opportunities to socialize and stay busy, so the ideal city of the future provides plenty of reasons to get out and connect!
If you know just where you’d like to live but you’re not finding an existing home that meets your needs, Atmos has the solution. At Atmos, we help you build the home of your dreams so you can be a part of your ideal community. Build intentionally, from design to construction, when you build with Atmos.
