DESIGNING SUSTAINABLE CITIES IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD

摘要

Some five years ago, I attended a presentation in Mumbai (India) by a building contractor describing merits of urbanisation. The main issues concerned the practical advantages of providing good housing, clean water, electricity and infrastructure to localised areas compared with taking and managing the facilities for small towns located at long distances in a vast country like India. The concept seemed different to that in the West, where tranquillity, gardens, open spaces and single-family dwellings represent quality of life. Urbanisation is often linked with noise, congestion and environmental pollution. However, the problems with cities in the developing world would appear to be the result of unplanned movement of population drawn to the cities in search of economic benefits.