Критерии и принципы создания комфортной городской среды

Six livability criteria that are essential for every neighborhood have been defined by the US Partnership for Sustainable Communities They are as follows:
Deliver additional transportation options. Create safe, dependable and cost effective transportation options to lower household transportation expenses, decrease energy use and reliance on foreign oil, improve air quality, lower greenhouse gas emissions and advance public health. Encourage equitable affordable housing. To improve mobility and reduce the cost of housing and transportation combined, increase the options for location and energy efficient housing for people of all ages, income levels, races and ethnicities. Boost economic competitiveness. Increase economic competitiveness by providing workers with dependable and prompt access to places of employment, opportunities for education, services and other necessities, as well as by expanding business access to markets. Support existing communities. To boost community revitalization, improve the effectiveness of public works investments, and protect rural landscapes, direct federal funding toward already existing communities using strategies like transit oriented, mixed use development and land recycling. Manage and leverage federal policies and investments. Align federal funding and policies to increase accountability and efficiency at all levels of government, remove obstacles to collaboration and promote the use of locally produced renewable energy as a source of energy. This will help the country prepare for future growth. Value communities and neighborhoods. Investing in wholesome, secure, and walkable neighborhoods—whether rural, urban, or suburban—will help to enhance the distinctive qualities of all communities.

Singapore developed ten livability principles for dense cities during a workshop hosted by the Urban Land Institute and Centre for Livable Cities in 2012. About sixty two leaders, specialists and practitioners from many fields of urban planning and development attended the workshop, where they provided the following guidelines. Principle 1 Plan for long term growth and renewal: Striving for long term urban renewal and expansion. Long term planning, responsive land policy, development control and smart design are all combined to achieve these goals. Principle 2 Embrace diversity and foster inclusiveness: Promote inclusivity and variety in order to improve social interaction. Principle 3 Draw nature closer to people: Bring nature closer to the public sphere by giving the city green space to unwind from the daily clamor of urban existence, which will reduce solar heat gain and improve air quality. Principle 4 Develop affordable mixed use neighborhoods: The construction of inexpensive, conveniently located, compact, self sufficient, and cost effective mixed use neighborhoods that share facilities. Principle 5 Make public spaces work harder: To make the most of every square foot of land, infrastructure should be installed in all public spaces to serve a variety of purposes. Principle 6 Prioritize green transport and building options: Offer other transportation options by creating an effective and linked public transport system and prioritize green building and transportation options. Principle 7 Relieve density with variety and add green boundaries: By mixing high rise and low rise structures, you may create a skyline that is more dynamic and lessens the feeling of being crowded. This will lessen density and add green borders. Principle 8 Activate spaces for greater safety: Enhancing "visual access" to locations would enable the community to act as a collective set of "eyes on the street," hence enhancing safety in neighborhoods. Principle 9 Promote innovative and nonconventional solutions: Encourage unconventional and new approaches by considering non traditional ways to overcome difficulties. Principle 10 Forge 3P partnerships: Combining "3P" (people, public, and private) partnerships allows the municipal administration and other stakeholders to certify that no actions are being taken that might have a detrimental impact on the quality of life for others.

Facilities that serve the local population as well as an adequate quantity of mixed uses in an acceptable allocation and ratio all contribute to the mixed use area's increased livability. These facilities include ones for education, entertainment, shopping, and health and medical care. An essential component of livability is the accessibility of those facilities. Similarly, as they have a significant positive impact on society, the environment and the economy, the neighborhood must have a sufficient number of public open spaces and other recreational facilities. Public parks, plazas and other open areas are crucial because they aid in easing the crowded feeling that mixed use communities frequently experience. Many of the studies emphasized the beneficial impacts of green spaces on people's health and overall well being. People are more likely to encounter each other when these open spaces are present, especially in communities with a variety of uses and a high population density. These social connections might strengthen the neighborhood's sense of belonging. Others contend; however, that because of overcrowding and the bad associations that go along with it, individuals prefer to retreat from social interaction in high density neighborhoods, causing each social group to be confined within itself. Giving individuals more opportunities to walk around their neighborhoods would boost the sense of security since more people will feel like they are being watched on the streets. However, other academics argue that as the number of residents and workers in a community increases, a sense of anonymity would develop, which might raise crime rates. Overall, community management plans and upkeep are frequently associated with a perceived sense of safety in the area. Additionally, the housing size inside a dense urban fabric has a significant impact on how satisfied locals are with their area. Some researchers contend that this feeling of compactness can be diminished by a well thought out design that considers the socioeconomic and cultural context of the residents and how they affect the overall neighborhood experience. While there is no set standard for dwelling size, a small dwelling size reduces the feeling of privacy and is one of the drawbacks associated with dense urban neighborhoods. The availability of a transportation system, together with a neighborhood's with a balanced mix of uses, is considered by scholars to be one of the most crucial factors in a neighborhood's livability. Although livability principles were not taken into consideration, conventional methods of transportation design mainly focused on the need to reduce traffic congestion, allow quick automotive circulation and satisfy parking demands. So, in order to make a neighborhood more livable, there must be a variety of transportation alternatives that are available and usable by people of all ages, from all socioeconomic backgrounds and from all financial levels.

There are several challenges to livability. These challenges can be subdivided into several categories such as Urbanization and population growth, income distribution and affordability issues, environmental sustainability and climate challenge and urban planning and infrastructure development.

Urbanization and population growth pose challenges to livability as cities become overcrowded, leading to increased traffic congestion, inadequate housing and strain on resources such as water and energy. Furthermore, rapid urbanization and population growth often result in the loss of green spaces and biodiversity, further compromising the quality of life in cities. Additionally, these challenges can exacerbate social inequalities and create a lack of access to essential services and amenities for certain populations within urban areas.

Income inequality and affordability issues further impact livability, as lower income individuals struggle to access affordable housing, healthcare and education, widening the gap between socioeconomic classes. Some cities still lack good quality affordable housing. This is forcing many families to make difficult trade offs between housing quality, space, and neighborhood amenities. In Bangkok, for example, many residents must make lengthy commutes from the suburbs into the city for work due to a lack of affordable housing in the urban core. Many people reside in deteriorated dwellings, which lacks amenities like running water, heating and cooling, and sanitary facilities and is particularly susceptible to flooding.

Environmental sustainability and climate challenges threaten livability by causing pollution, extreme weather events and the degradation of natural resources. One of the biggest challenges is figuring out how to lessen traffic and create effective transportation systems that can accommodate an expanding urban population. Additionally, circumstances brought on by local patterns of land use, transportation, and energy consumption in addition to global environmental change. These conditions affect the abilities of cities to maintain their infrastructures, provide a reliable supply of services, and support the lives and livelihoods of people.

Urban planning and infrastructure development play an important role in laying the foundation for livable cities. Investments in critical services like schools, particularly for people living in rural areas who lack access to high quality educational institutions, parks, and other necessities for an active daily lifestyle. For instance, residents who live in an area with a variety of social infrastructure can take care of their daily needs close by, walk to the store and interact with their neighbors. Residents' opportunities to be active and interact with friends are reduced when they must travel outside of their neighborhood to meet these needs in the absence of a diverse social infrastructure close to home.

Recent studies on the topic of livability have pointed out some common trends that cities have adopted to improve livability in the long term. This improvement can be achieved through:

Technology and smart cities play a crucial role in creating livable cities. By integrating technology into urban planning and development, cities can improve efficiency, sustainability and quality of life for their residents. This includes implementing smart grids to manage energy consumption, using sensors and data analytics to monitor and address environmental issues, and providing digital platforms for citizen engagement and participation. Additionally, smart cities leverage technology to enhance mobility through intelligent transportation systems, such as smart traffic management and real time public transportation updates.

Integration of nature and green spaces is another key aspect of smart cities. By incorporating parks, gardens, and green infrastructure into urban planning, smart cities prioritize the well being of residents and promote a healthier environment. These green spaces not only provide recreational areas for residents but also help improve air quality, reduce the heat island effect and support biodiversity. Overall, the integration of nature into smart cities creates a more sustainable and enjoyable living environment for their inhabitants.

Remote work has also had a significant impact on the livability of smart cities. With the ability to work from anywhere, residents have more flexibility in choosing where they want to live. This has led to a decentralization of urban areas, reducing traffic congestion and improving the quality of life for residents by allowing them to escape crowded city centers. Additionally, remote work has also fostered a stronger sense of community as people have more time to engage in local activities and connect with their neighbors.

Changing demographics and evolving needs have also influenced the development of smart cities. As the population ages, there is a growing demand for age friendly infrastructure and services, such as accessible transportation and healthcare facilities. Moreover, the increasing focus on sustainability and environmental conservation has prompted smart cities to prioritize renewable energy sources and implement eco friendly practices to reduce their carbon footprint.