When I moved to Amsterdam, I wasn’t starting from scratch. I had a strong network of friends and a sense of familiarity with the city.

But even with that foundation, I quickly realised that feeling at home in a place is about more than just knowing people - it’s about how the environment around you shapes your daily life.

As someone working in urban development, I’ve spent years researching how cities can support well-being, connection, and create spaces where people truly feel like they belong. Last year, I was part of the team behind Den magiska formeln till lycka i staden (The Magical Formula for Happiness in the City), a report exploring the science of well-being in urban spaces.

One thing became clear: urbanisation isn’t slowing down. Today, over 50% of the world’s population lives in cities, and by 2050, that number is expected to rise to nearly 70%. (Find link to statement from UN here.)

Cities offer opportunities, access to healthcare, education, and innovation in ways that rural areas often can’t. Yet, at the same time, we are witnessing a rise in mental and physical health issues among urban populations.

Why is that?

If cities are meant to improve our quality of life, why do so many people feel disconnected, anxious, and unwell in them? Why do urban spaces often fail to support the very people they are built for?

This is where urban design needs to be reexamined. It’s not enough for cities to be efficient - they need to help us thrive.

The Role of Community Architecture in Everyday Life

A well-planned city moves people efficiently - but does it inspire them?  

A neighbourhood can have a park - but does it invite people to stay?  

An apartment block can provide housing - but does it create a sense of home?  

The built environment has an enormous influence on how we feel every day. It can either nurture well-being or slowly drain us without us realising it. That’s why community architecture can’t just be about practical design - it needs to be about human flourishing.  

One of the most influential figures in this field is Jan Gehl, the Danish architect and urban design consultant whose work has reshaped cities across the world.

Gehl argues that urban spaces should be designed for people first, not cars, and that small, human-scale interventions - like prioritising walkability, designing vibrant public squares, and creating inviting social spaces - make the difference between a city that simply functions and one that truly thrives. His research has shown that when cities shift their focus from vehicles to people, they become healthier, safer, and more connected.

It sounds obvious, doesn’t it? Of course, cities should be designed for people. 

Yet, when we look around, why don’t we see more of it? 

Why are so many urban spaces still dominated by highways, lifeless plazas, and streets that push people to the margins instead of inviting them in?

I’ve written about this before in Designing Streets for People, Not Cars - The Key to Liveable Cities, where I discuss how rethinking our streets is one of the most effective ways to bring life back into our urban spaces. When we prioritise pedestrians and cyclists, we do more than reduce congestion - we create opportunities for interaction, chance encounters, and stronger communities.   

Measuring More Than Infrastructure - The Flourishing Index  

Most cities measure success through infrastructure and economic growth, but what if we measured how spaces make people feel?  

At Brent Cross Town in London, the developers have introduced the Flourishing Index - a groundbreaking approach to urban planning that tracks well-being rather than just function.

Instead of simply counting buildings, roads, and green spaces, the Flourishing Index measures:  

- Social engagement – Are people forming real connections?  

- Access to green spaces – Are public spaces actually being used?  

- Mental & physical health – Does the built environment contribute to well-being?  

- Community interactions – Are there places where people naturally come together?   

Brent Cross Town’s vision is to create one of the most health-focused urban developments in the UK, proving that cities should be designed for people, not just for efficiency.  

Brent Cross Town - A Case Study in Human-Centered Development

Brent Cross Town is more than just another mixed-use development; it exemplifies a shift in urban planning where well-being is a fundamental design principle. Prioritising walkability and cyclist-first infrastructure, it transforms streets into social spaces rather than mere transit corridors.

Public spaces are designed with purpose, ensuring that plazas, parks, and green corridors actively support interaction and a sense of belonging. By integrating residential, commercial, and communal functions, the development reduces isolation and builds a more dynamic urban experience.

Perhaps most significantly, Brent Cross Town applies the Flourishing Index in real time, going beyond traditional metrics to assess how people truly engage with their surroundings. This data-driven approach ensures that urban design actively enhances social connectivity and well-being.

More than a collection of green spaces and pedestrian pathways, Brent Cross Town redefines urban life, creating an environment that is not only functional but deeply attuned to human needs.

How to Build Spaces That Help Us Flourish 

A great public space isn’t great just because it’s there - it’s great because it gives something to the people who use it.  

Brent Cross Town is an example for this, ensuring that spaces actively enhance daily life by focusing on mental, physical, and social well-being rather than just aesthetics. But it doesn’t take a massive redevelopment project to create spaces that support human connection.   

Well-designed spaces shape behaviour in ways we might not expect.  

- Car-free streets encourage people to walk and talk, making neighbourhoods feel safer and more alive.  

- Community gardens don’t just add greenery- they create opportunities for people to connect. (Amsterdams initiative to adopt plantings on the street is one example)

- Well-placed seating isn’t just for resting - it invites interaction, slowing life down in a way that support connection.  

Jan Gehl has long emphasised that cities designed for people, not cars, allow communities to thrive. When we create environments built for human movement and interaction - not just efficiency - people flourish.  

Real community isn’t built through forced interaction - it happens in small, unexpected ways.

The right design can encourage this:  

- Narrower streets naturally create more eye contact and chance encounters.  

- Shaded seating areas make parks more inviting, turning them into real gathering places.  

- Multi-use spaces mean a plaza can be a marketplace in the morning, a playground in the afternoon, and a concert venue at night.

The goal is simple: design spaces that give back to people and allow for natural, unplanned moments of joy and connection.

Let’s Wrap This Up

This is much more than just about design - it’s about agency.

But what do I mean by that?

It means that, as citizens, we have the power to shape the spaces around us.

The built environment doesn’t just belong to developers, planners, or city officials - it belongs to the people who use it every day.

We influence the value of a place simply by how we engage with it.  

A park thrives when people use it.

A street feels safer when more pedestrians and cyclists claim it.

A public square gains purpose when it becomes a gathering place.  

Agency means recognising that we do more than inhabit spaces - we define them.

And because of that, we have the right to demand more.

To ask for better design.

To push for spaces that aren’t just practical but meaningful to us all.

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