Future Cities, Traditional Solutions: The Case for Heritage-Based Urban Design

The places we inhabit define us, shaping our daily lives: where we go, how we move, how we spend our time, and even our health. And this has been the case for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Today’s cities did not spring up overnight. They have developed and grown over time to serve the needs of their inhabitants, and the most successful cities has done so in a way that makes best use of the natural environment in which they are located

Ancient cities did not have modern technology and energy-intensive systems to heat buildings in winters a cool buildings in summer. There weren’t sophisticated transport systems providing fast access to resources and each other.

Traditional practices, planning and construction methods may hold the key to revolutionizing our modern cities, merging historical wisdom with contemporary needs to create sustainable urban spaces. So, what can we learn from the past, to help ensure a more sustainable future for our cities?

15-Minute Cities

?The concept of “15-minute city” was popularized by Franco-Colombian researcher Carlos Moreno, who unveiled a vision for urban life where essential destinations like schools, grocery stores, and workplaces are reachable within a 15 minute walk from home.

Picture this: you step out for a quick coffee run, picking up essentials like vitamins and snacks on the way, when your phone pings with a surprise work meeting. No panic—just a short stroll to the office, as your work and daily stops are all within reach.

The 15-minute city leverages convenience to promote sustainability by reducing the need for travel, thereby lowering carbon emissions and minimizing environmental impact. By creating walkable neighborhoods where essential services are close by, the quality of resident’s life is also improved.

An enticing concept, but not without its critics. It could drive up housing costs, potentially pricing out lower-income residents and increasing class divisions. Emphasis on speed over inclusivity could create accessibility challenges for people with disabilities. And concentrating essential services within local zones risks overwhelming facilities in times of crisis, as seen during COVID-19.

Despite these concerns, it’s important to note that the principles behind the 15-minute city are not new. ?Morocco’s Marrakesh embodies the concept of a 15-minute city. Officially established in 1070, its centuries-old design still to this day encourages accessibility, sustainability, and community engagement. The city's Medina is a compact, self-contained area where essential amenities—markets, mosques, baths, and schools—are located within a short walk of residential areas. This thoughtful layout allows residents to access daily necessities without the burden of long journeys, fostering a sense of community and connection – much as they would have done centuries ago.

Ancient Innovations

There is much more to learn from the past that city design and planning too. Whilst it is great that today, we have a vast array of modern technology to enhance our lives, this often comes at an environmental cost. However, generations before us were constantly innovating to improve their living and working conditions – often in ways that complimented and utilized the natural environment. Let’s take for example early air-cooling technology. With evidence of examples dating back to 4000 B.C. in Iran’s, ‘malqaf’ wind catchers harness the cooler air from above, directing it down through vertical shafts to naturally cool the spaces below. This zero-energy, low impact ‘technology’ is still used today with Egyptian architect Kamal El Kafrawi’s work on Qatar University being a notable modern example.

Protecting and preserving traditional knowledge

The value of understanding and being inspired by ancient practices is becoming a growing trend, and we are increasingly seeing developers seeking to harness traditional knowledge to address sustainability challenges in cities. To encourage this movement, the Earthna Prize, launched by Qatar Foundation’s Earthna Centre for a Sustainable Future, aims to support projects and organizations that preserve, integrate, and apply traditional knowledge and cultural heritage to tackle contemporary sustainability issues

It is also essential for those all those involved in city planning to work together to identify what can be learned from successful, sustainable cities around the world. As part of this, Earthna is also developing an ‘arid-cities network’ that connects experts and city leaders to foster exchange of knowledge—both new and old—and create practical solutions for sustainable urban environments in regions facing similar environmental challenges.

I’ll be attending, the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Cairo?on 5 November 2024, which will also provide a valuable platform for bringing together global stakeholders and policymakers. I look forward to connecting with many fellow ‘city enthusiasts’ to explore how traditional knowledge from diverse cultures can enhance modern urban planning, and identify best practice that leverages time-tested wisdom.

The history of urban design has a rich narrative, and there is much yet to be explored. By grasping the principles and historical context of urban design, we can continue to develop our cities and communities in ways that foster sustainability and enhance liveability for everyone.