Three Themes

These themes have recurred in our work over the past 10 years as strong manifestations of wicked problems in cities. The three themes interact with and strengthen each other. They require a collaborative, exploratory yet pragmatic approach that we’ll discuss in the following pages.

Sustainability And Circularity

Participative Ecosystems

Humanising Technology

Cities threaten air and water quality, energy availability and waste management. But they also offer huge opportunities for circular system design. The UN’s 11th sustainable development goal is to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Increasing numbers of urban citizens want to get involved in local government, and take an active role in improving living conditions. These participative ecosystems present great opportunities for community-building and empowerment, but also demand new models of engagement.

Smart city policies and agendas are largely focused on technology and what it could do rather than what citizens need. We see an emerging need for a more human, bottom-up approach to urban technology, that empowers citizens to increase wellbeing, safety, health, and inclusion.