Millennial designers’ take on the future of the city

This year is one of the most eventful years so far in a decade that is already likely to be one of the most tumultuous for this generationówith all the economic crises, conflicts, ongoing pandemic and political upheavals in different parts of the world.

The 2020s also mark the period when millennials come to full adulthoodómany of them reaching milestones in their professional and life stages.

This idealistic, civic-minded and tech-savvy cohort is bent on giving back to the community at a time when society is in the midst of a significant upheaval.  As we near the mid-point of the roaring 20s, what is this generationís view of the future?

We sought the opinion of millennial designersóthose who are now taking the reins in helping shape the future of our cities. Emerging from the trauma of the past two years, how do they envision the rebounding and rebuilding of our urban environment?

The future of cities in a warming world

Mari Arias
Architect and environmental planner

Urbanization and rising population have been a major factor in the rise of global temperatures. Catastrophic weather events, extreme heat waves, rising oceans, destruction of 70 to 90 percent of coral reefs, and possible extinction of speciesóthese are just some of the consequences that the world may face if the issue of global warming continues to fall on deaf ears.

While the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has prescribed a 1.5-Celsius-degree limit to the increase of global temperatures to ensure livable conditions on Earth, there is an urgency to act upon this issue if we do not want ìthe world going to hell in a handcartî with this global climate crisis.

As bleak as the future may seem, cities have the capacity to curb and reverse the inevitable repercussions of global warming.

Cities and governments should invest and place more focus on the green economyólow carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive economic activities that bring about growth in income and employment. It aims for the reduction of environmental risks and scarcities by treating natural capital as a critical economic asset, which also acts as a livelihood source for majority of the populace.

To fully transition to a green economy, mainstreaming of policies, access to the necessary economic instruments, and capacity building are key foundations that need to be taken into consideration.

Connecting the real with the virtual, insights from gaming

 Jems Javier
Architect and gamer

Connectivity in the virtual world often comes across as a unilateral existence within the online world. But as technology further develops, the connectivity between the virtual and the real world becomes more tangible.

The augmented reality game Pokemon Go swept the world in 2016 and stayed true to its ìGoî pushing people to move and go outside to explore their city as they try to catch them all. The game is a mobile app with your avatar in a real-time 3D map, wherein the goal is to catch and collect the Pokemon that pops out in your screen.

What makes the game effective is the attention to detail in each of the in-game componentsófrom rewarding walking by hatching Pokemon eggs, selecting community-proposed areas as Pokestops or Pokegyms, to holding events in-game that translate to more exploration in the public realm.

Pokemon Go has proven that virtual reality has the power to transform spaces in the real world, and future trends point to more possibilities of this, particularly in public spaces.

Community engagement through digital platforms can promote interaction and appreciation for the neighborhood and reinvigorate public spaces, both online and offline.

The online aspect allows for a further reach of audience that the offline cannot do alone, but subsequently follows it with tangible results such as foot traffic and community activities.

Postpandemic active spaces

Karl Bautista
Architect and urban athlete

Long periods of being locked up inside our homes because of the pandemic had people wanting to go outside again. COVID-19 didnít only leave concerns about physical space and social distancing, but also health and well-being.

Some lived in homes where they could walk from one room to another and work out. But not everyone had that luxury. Space became a valuable commodity that not everyone could afford. Many had to be creative with the spaces they have to be able to do what they needed to do while keeping their health in check.

The fear of close contact with other individuals also caused team sports and gyms to close down. So when the restrictions were eased, only exercises that were socially distant, such as running and biking, were allowed. A healthier lifestyle has always been encouraged but COVID-19 made it more apparent that people needed more space for this to happen.

As soon as everyone was allowed to go outside, some have carried on this routine and continued to run and bike around the metro. However, the increase in the number of bikers caused a growing concern on road safety and, as result, more bike lanes are being put around the city. Runners also gather in places that have proper sidewalks and areas where itís safer for them to workout.

Wider sidewalks to accommodate bikes and open social spaces will definitely be considered in future town planning as these would allow people to have a more active lifestyle.

Inclusive public spaces in an economic recession

Mea Dalumpines
Architect and placemaker

The role of public space has never been more important in times of crises.

The pandemic proved the vital role of public space amid lockdowns, restrictions and the need for a safe environment to socialize and decompress.

With the looming economic recession, public space is expected to play a significant role not just in reviving economic investments in growth centers and downtowns, but also in providing a space for informal economies to thrive and for economic efficiency to prosper.  In this era of austerity, public spaces will play a vital role in providing the shared infrastructure needed to jumpstart the economy.

The traditional economic impacts of public space have always been recognized, evident in the growing private sector investments surrounding masterplanned growth centers.  The emergence of mixed-use developments–with high-value housing units, privately-owned spaces, and increased land and property values–has created a significant impact on traditional economic metrics.

However, this does not accurately measure the impact on inclusive economic growth especially in disenfranchised communities and blighted downtowns.  In some cases, higher property values fail to address the needs of the informal economy and even fuel displacement.

Planners, designers, and policy-makers should thus rethink the way we see public space as an economic engine. Public space stakeholders should ask critical questions about who benefits the public realm, who enjoys the economic and social value of a place, and how it is distributed.

That can be digested by means of examining socioeconomic trends such as demographics, employment, and poverty, to name a few. But what is critical in times of economic upheavals is to examine what other factors contribute to the traditional economic values of public space.  Thriving cities and downtowns are successful if everyone can benefit from and feel attached to it.

Locally empowered activation

Blight, unemployment, and stagnation have negatively impacted small businesses trying to coast amid a crisis, eventually affecting communities.

Because of this, it is important to recognize the role of the naturally and locally empowered activation in our public spaces.  Allowing communities to dictate how their cities should be planned and designed, how policies should shape their spaces is key in fighting the ìdeclineî that cities and downtowns have wrestled over in times of economic disenfranchisement.

Empowering communities to take over their public spaces is critical in turning a place around, in turning public perception into something positive. This creates a resurgenceóa momentum that would allow small businesses to thrive and support its stakeholders.

Public space is a natural asset to the productivity of a community and the idea of ìpublicî as a level playing field is why public space is the best incubator for emerging economies and entrepreneurs including street vendors and informal workers

Informal economies

In times of crises, informal economies are a vital source of livelihoods that strengthen economic activity.

More than half of the worldís population currently live in cities and this contributed to the emergence of widespread informality brought about by the uncertainty of formal employment.  Despite this, policies imposed on public spaces fail to recognize and support informal economies–sometimes, even creating more barriers to their productivity.

Because of this, street vendors tend to take over spaces for different functions at different times.  It is important to recognize the significant role of informal economies to the overall economy and how it impacts the way public space is used.  Public spaces are for all and not for a select few.  Sharing the space with all members of the community is important to maintain the economic activity that feeds our cities.

Road infrastructure

Equitable use of public space does not end with informal economies.

Public spaces include our roads and sidewalks, which facilitates efficiency and mobility.  Road infrastructure is a critical piece of public space and should also be inclusive not just to private transportation but to pedestrians and cyclists.  The pandemic proved to many city dwellers that there is more to cars than mobility and that biking has saved jobs and businesses amid stringent lockdowns and public transportation deficiencies.

Small businesses thrived through the emergence of motorcycle and bike delivery services.  Critical workers switched to biking when there were limited options for public transit.  Mobility is a key factor in boosting economic activity and public roads must be inclusive to all forms of transit.

With this, singular-use facilities–such as car-centric spaces, including parking lots and buildings–should play a role in strengthening equity in cities.

Parking structures should be more mixed-use, allowing for more uses aside from car parking.  Large open lots can be used for recreation and an incubator for emerging businesses, both formal and informal, via time-share, mixed-use schemes.

In this postpandemic era, the economic value of public spaces must be evaluated not just through traditional economic metrics but also in how it empowers local community, contributes to productivity, and serves as a catalyst for formal and informal economies.

Public spaces must be inclusive, dynamic, and a vital conduit between regional and urban centers.  Cities should be shaped by the community it serves by building amenities that will be critical in the rebuilding of our economy and connections between cities and other communities.    Inclusive policies strengthened by community placemaking strategies will help promote inclusive economic activity that will drive recovery in these critical times.