A new report from the UN, World Urbanisation Prospects 2025, gives us a better idea of how cities around the world are evolving. It provides an insight into current trends, as well as what we could expect in the near future. It will have an impact on everything from health and housing to commercial architecture and infrastructure.

Big change

Notably, there has been a change in how the UN defines urban areas. This actually means the overall ranking of biggest cities in the world is different. Traditionally, they used various country-specific definitions. That causes a problem though because they are not consistent, skewing the results. To address this, they are now using a new approach, Degrees of Urbanisation. It provides consistency by ensuring they factor in the same criteria.

The biggest headline from the report is Tokyo is no longer the most populous city in the world. It had the title for decades, serving as a case study of the development and problems in a massive metropolitan area. However, with the new ranking system, it falls to third with a population of 33 million. Interestingly, the number of residents is actually declining too.

The new rankings name Jakarta as the city with the biggest population. The total number of residents is closing in on 42 million. Critically, it is more densely populated today and the urban area also continues to grow. Dhaka got the second spot with a population close to 40 million.

Problems

Overall, the UN report claims a massive 45% of people around the planet live in a city. That is an incredible 25% increase since 1950. Projections estimate we could pass 66% by 2050. This will have a huge impact on key things like housing, commercial architecture, infrastructure, public space, and more in urban areas around the world.

Jakarta is a great example of the problems that happen when cities become so massive. It has serious issues with density, mobility, and air quality. There are risks of flooding and subsidence. Critically, close to 40% of the city is below sea level so it faces critical challenges.

One way the Indonesian Government is looking to address the problems in Jakarta is a “managed retreat”. This is a strategy to relocate the capital to a new administrative centre at Nusantara on Borneo. The plan got approval back in 2019. Since then there has been extensive planning to design buildings, public transport, and pedestrian infrastructure. Critically, the designs consider the local terrain and environment. The goal is to ensure the new city is adaptable and sustainable.

It will be interesting to see if the plans for Nusantara come to fruition. There is certainly support for them, and construction began in 2022, but such a big development and relocation comes with issues. Key here is focus on the logistics and impact on the environment.

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Coffey Architects understands the challenges of cities. There is a lot to think about to ensure they work effectively. Even more importantly, it is vital to look at the environment and health of residents. Good design goes a very long way.

If you need some help with a project, we’d love to work with you. We’re based in London, so we know all about working in a big city. Our portfolio is extensive, including commercial architecture, homes, housing and more. Whatever you are envisioning, we can give you creative solutions. So, get in touch today.