Profit vs. People: The Contested Landscape of Urban Planning
Uncontrolled urban expansion has exceeded limits, raising concerns among residents and city planners alike.
The hustle for profit in urban planning haunts the beauty of architecture and degrades the livability of new constructions, as underscored by Helga Guðrún Vilmundardóttir, the latest chairwoman of the Icelandic Association of Architects, in an interview with Morgunblaðið.
Even as she acknowledges urban densification's potential benefits, Vilmundardóttir issues a warning. "The density of the settlement and the distance between buildings are such that apartments lack natural light for much of the year," she notes. "The well-being of residents and users should be paramount, and Icelandic architecture should provide a healthy platform for our society to thrive."
Amplifying Architects' Voices
Vilmundardóttir champions a louder and more assertive role for architects in molding public debates and urban growth policies. "Architects ought to speak up in discussions about the shaping and development of cities," she insists. "Our work isn't merely about the aesthetics or efficiency of buildings; it's about crafting everyday life experiences."
Centering Residents First
Designing structures is more than a mere interplay of aesthetics and efficiency for Vilmundardóttir—it's about framing human existence. "The residents and their needs should always precede the genesis of new constructions," she stresses. "We create surroundings for people to live in, and that's something we must excel at."
Profit-driven urban planning, guided by the monetary returns it promises, can lead to several quandaries, most notably increased housing costs, the erosion of architectural uniqueness, and dwindling public spaces. This approach jeopardizes the visual appeal and functionality of buildings, adversely affecting residents' quality of life.
Architects wield considerable influence over urban growth policies by advocating sustainable designs that balance economic viability with community needs and environmental considerations. They can foster robust engagement with communities to ensure their aspirations are mirrored in urban infrastructures. Further, architects can collaborate with policymakers to synergize architectural objectives with broader societal aspirations, ensuring developments enrich, rather than compromise, urban landscapes.
Mayor Architects' Mark
Architects can embellish urban growth policies by promoting inclusive zoning that fosters affordability and mixed-use developments paving the way for thriving, diverse communities. They can advocate for denser, mixed-use developments to check urban sprawl and optimize land utilization. Lastly, they can champion compact, multi-modal communities that blend seamlessly with sustainability objectives, refining both environmental impacts and livability.
Urban planning that prizes profits over people has its place, but it must not hijack the art of creating liveable, sustainable, and aesthetically rich urban spaces. Architects, armed with expertise and a willingness to engage, can play a critical role in reshaping urban growth towards more inclusive, green, and artistically vibrant cityscapes that cater to both its inhabitants and investors.
- Architects, such as Helga Guðrún Vilmundardóttir, assert that urban livability should be prioritized over profit, and they call for a louder voice in shaping public debates and urban growth policies.
- The well-being of residents and users should be the primary concern in urban planning, Vilmundardóttir notes, as densification can lead to apartments lacking natural light during certain seasons.
- Sustainable designs that balance economic viability with community needs and environmental considerations can be advocated by architects to enrich, rather than compromise, urban landscapes.
- Urban planning that prioritizes profits can lead to increased housing costs, erosion of architectural uniqueness, and dwindling public spaces, potentially jeopardizing the visual appeal and functionality of buildings, and adversely affecting residents' quality of life.
