The city of tomorrow

By Kathrin Pinter - 1 May 2016

Vienna is one of the fastest growing metropolises in the German-speaking region, and all signs point to a continuation of this dynamic growth in the coming years.

Following on from Charles Montgomery’s book Happy City. Transforming our lives through urban design, Vienna reveals the essence of what it takes to make a city that promotes health and happiness. It is not simply a planning, architecture, urban design or engineering issue. It is all about shaping an urban environment that facilitates social interaction and develops a community.

It is a message that is as surprising as it is hopeful. By retrofitting our cities for happiness, we can tackle the urgent challenges of our age. The happy city, the green city and the low-carbon city are the same place, and we can all help build it.

Montgomery places himself squarely on the side of improving quality of life. “[…] cities must be regarded as more than engines of wealth”, he emphasizes; “they must be viewed as systems that should be shaped to improve human well-being.”

In this sense Vienna, forms part of an élite group of cities much envied for their global recognition and favorable reputation. In this regard, the city has been voted the most livable city in the world for the seventh time according to the 2015 “Quality of Living” survey released by global consultancy Mercer. The survey compares the political, social and economic climate, medical care, education and infrastructural conditions such as public transport, power and water supply. It also takes into the consideration recreational offering such as restaurants, theaters, cinemas, sports facilities, the availability of all kinds of consumer goods from food to cars, as well as environmental conditions - from green space to air quality.

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