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Rethinking urban space in response to demographic change
Cities under pressure : growth, decline, and transformation
Across the world, cities are changing. Some are growing fast, while others are shrinking. This creates new challenges for society : how can people live together in dense, changing environments ? How can we keep cities sustainable, inclusive, and connected ?
Urbanisation is one of the biggest transitions of our time. More and more people move to cities in search of work, education, and better living conditions. This can create overcrowding, traffic, pollution, and pressure on housing, water, and public services. In the meantime, other cities face economic decline and population loss, leading to empty buildings, poverty, and social isolation.
To face these changes, urban planning must adapt. City leaders, architects, and citizens ask new questions : how do we build for the future ? How do we create green spaces, affordable housing, and safe public areas ? How do we connect people from different cultures, generations, and economic backgrounds ?
The way we design and organise cities reflects our values and determines the quality of life for millions. In this sense, urban space is not just physical : it is deeply social and political.
Cities in motion : the cases of Lagos, Detroit, and London
In Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, the population is growing rapidly, over 20 million people live there today. This fast growth brings energy and innovation, but also major problems : traffic jams, precarious housing, pollution, and a lack of infrastructure. Projects like the Eko Atlantic development aim to modernise parts of the city, but many residents still struggle with basic needs. Lagos shows the urgent need for inclusive and resilient urban planning.
In contrast, Detroit, in the United States, has faced the opposite problem : urban decline. Once a powerful center of the car industry, it lost thousands of jobs and residents in the 20th century. Many areas were abandoned. However, in recent years, the city has begun to reinvent itself through art, community projects, and green spaces. It is a powerful example of urban regeneration after an economic downturn.
London, a global capital, offers another perspective. Its population is still growing and becoming more diverse, but also more unequal. Housing prices are high, and many workers struggle to live close to their jobs. The city invests in public transport, mixed-use buildings, and social housing, but the balance between growth and affordability remains fragile.
These examples show that urban transitions are not the same everywhere but they raise common questions : how do we share space, maintain social bonds, and plan for a better urban future ?
