Designing cities for everyone: What neurodivergent people wish planners knew
How well do our cities support neurodivergent people? My research into neurodiversity and the built environment reveals critical gaps in urban design, wayfinding, and accessibility—showing how many public spaces unintentionally exclude those with cognitive differences.
From sensory overwhelm in transport hubs to navigation barriers in city layouts, neurodivergent individuals and families face daily challenges that remain overlooked in mainstream urban planning. This article explores the key findings, the real-life impact of poor design, and practical ways to make cities more inclusive.
What a lone tree can teach us about social sustainability
What makes a place thrive? Some spaces naturally foster connection, movement, and engagement, while others struggle to stay relevant. Social sustainability is about creating places that last—not just physically, but socially. In this post, we explore what makes a space truly sustainable and how we can design places that people want to be in for generations to come.
The future of sustainable cities is social—here’s why
Social sustainability is often overlooked in urban planning, yet it’s essential for thriving, resilient communities. This article explores why housing affordability, wellbeing metrics, and social value must be embedded into development policies—and outlines key actions to make it happen.
Social benefits of schools and how we we do better in 2024
Education has been a somewhat slow evolver in a world that is rapidly changing. Delivery of education and schools is tied up in government processes and embedded practices.
In this piece I've explored how we as social planners and urban designers can have some influence in this space, but ultimately there is a big and complex web that is education and its future.