CITIES AS A REFLECTION OF SOCIETY
Great cities are complex places, requiring a holistic and dynamic response according to BDP Head of Urbanism Francis Glare. Here he shares his views ahead of ‘the Future Makkah’ event
ambitions and values of a population. Cities engender civic pride and project a visual ‘brand’ of the place to the outside world. Makkah is a clear embodiment of these principles and in considering ‘Future Makkah’, we should respect and learn from the historical development of the place and its people. Nevertheless, we can learn from other great places. As a rule, successful urban places are civilised, equitable, resilient and adaptable. • Civilised – a civilised society tends to the interests of the wider community, a sense of public purpose that directs us away from the society of individuals which unchecked, tends to be dysfunctional, chaotic and self-destructive.
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• Equitable –creating opportunities for all, so that private initiative that can be exercised by all members of society.
• Resilient – Having the capacity to adapt and exercising responsibility in the sustainable use of resources.
• Adaptable – Managing city development in a way that is responsive to societies’ needs and the externalities bearing upon it. In short, our great cities are Places for People.
Te complex city requires a holistic response Te city that is master-planned by a single hand, without due
consideration of the true complexity of the urban dynamic, is rarely a success or truly sustainable. Some of the most single-minded visions have become best known as disastrous urban places, think of Brasilia or the Banlieu (suburbs) of Paris for example. Moreover, in the rush to build bigger, higher, denser, we are in danger of creating machines for living which lack soul and humanity – undermining society. Unfortunately such single minded visions can appeal to those who are
responsible for managing our cities. Tere is a conflict between the desire for a simple visual vision – the sales image, the ‘Grand Design’ – and what we really need which is an Urban Development Framework. Tis is itself still visionary; clear about the role, purpose and ambition of the city. We need to have greater confidence in the process of city planning and development so that we are not just concerned with what the place will
ities are a powerful and inescapable reflection of the society that inhabits them. Generations of collective decision making allow an environment to evolve that physically embodies the desires,
look like, but equally concerned with how it meets societies’ needs and creates opportunities. Te City of Makkah is coming under huge pressure to expand, through
redevelopment and expansion and the Future Makkah conference is a timely exposition of the challenges facing the city and the development models and solutions that might be considered in response to these challenges.
Creating places for people An approach focused on creating places for people will ensure that issues
of scale, density and infrastructure are managed within a humane reference framework, not simply one of technological possibilities. Technology will not save us; how we lead our lives individually and collectively – the way we behave – will be critical to delivering a sustainable future. So here’s a quick guide to a more people-based approach to master- planning that encourages behavioural change, will help us move from creating successful places where ‘design’ works, to fostering successful communities, where society works: • View the city as first and foremost a social space • Foster a return to civilisation; a focus on society rather than individuals, that brings the environmental, economic and social together into a sustainable whole
• Avoid the grand, ‘architectural’ vision • Recognise the absolute underpin of environmental sustainability • Promote Development Frameworks as opposed to simple masterplans or blueprints. As a multi-disciplinary practice of town planners, architects and engineers, BDP is working across the MENA region, collaborating with city authorities and planning departments to help develop an understanding of their urban dynamic and to prepare bespoke urban development plans based on a clear vision of the future role of the city. We are confident that this conference will be a chance for BDP to learn about the specific issues and challenges affecting the cities of Saudi Arabia and we look forward to contributing to the debate on Future Makkah. Francis Glare joins a host of elite panellists on 17th of June at 14.45 to discuss ‘Te Developers Challenge: Developing relevant, sustainable and profitable projects while protecting religious and cultural heritage” l
JUNE 2011 I CITYSCAPE I 27
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