We often blame city life for our stress, but rarely pause to look at what’s causing it. A lot of that stress is a result of urban design. Commuting, the lack of green spaces, hot pavements, and disconnected residential patterns not only complicate everyday life; they also slowly exhaust people. 

These conditions affect more than just our routines; these conditions influence our connections to the surroundings, our safety within the environment, and our ability to interact with others. When urban design overlooks basic human needs, such as comfort, rest, and social interaction, it alters how we relate to the city and to each other.

The built environment has a quiet and steady influence on mood, behavior, and well-being. And to improve how cities feel, we need to pay closer attention to how they function at a human level.

The Invisible Wounds of Urban Life

Cities are remarkable feats of human collaboration, but many continue to be built on outdated assumptions. Various decisions, such as the preference for cars over people, the surgical sectioning of neighborhoods through highways, and the wiping out of green space in the name of density, have scarred people.

Urban life has become synonymous with stress. According to the 2022 WHO report, individuals living in urban regions are 21% more vulnerable to developing anxiety disorders and are 39% more prone to developing mood disorders. Part of it is social isolation caused by high-rise apartments, long commutes, and disproportionate outdoor space that leave urban dwellers lonely even when surrounded by a crowd. Cities are also at the forefront of the climate crisis. The urban heat islands make heat waves more severe, and streets in cities flood quickly.

These issues are a part of a broader pattern. The results of such negligence in city planning are felt in everyday life when comfort, connection, and climate are not taken into consideration. The damage may not be obvious, but it goes deep. Recognizing these patterns is the first step in designing cities that restore, rather than exhaust, the people who live in them.

Public Spaces That Build Belonging

Public spaces are central to urban planning. They’re intentionally designed to support social life, safety, and a sense of place. When planned and cared for properly, public spaces can rebuild community ties, encourage daily interaction, and bring life to a neighbourhood. Simple interventions like a shaded bench, a well-lit plaza, or a street closed to cars on weekends can make a visible difference.

A strong example of this is Medellín, Colombia. Once known for violence, the city began transforming in the early 2000s. Under the leadership of urban planner Alejandro Echeverri, Medellín introduced public libraries, cable cars to connect hillside neighbourhoods, and green communal spaces that were safe and accessible. These were not mere beautification campaigns, but the restoration of dignity and inclusion in communities that had been left behind.

Belonging doesn’t need a grand design. It can be found in the corner where older people can sit and talk, on the ramp that provides wheelchair access, or in the mural that conveys the neighborhood’s narrative.

Design for Mental Wellbeing

The connection between cities and mental state is no longer a conceptual factor; it can be measured. In a 2019 study by the Barcelona Institute of Global Health, it was found that children living in a place with more green space show increased attention span and emotional control. Even adults enjoy the positive effects of the daily exposure to greenery, walkable streets, and interesting public places.

Urbanist Jane Jacobs once wrote, “There must be eyes on the street”. She was referring to human-scale architecture windows on the ground floors, street life, and local stores that provide safety and energy. But her insight goes beyond crime prevention. Environments that support casual encounters, slow movement, and visual connection help people feel more rooted in their surroundings.

Cities That Invite Movement, Not Just Transit

In most cities, mobility is defined as the ability to travel from Point A to Point B within the shortest time. However, movement is not always a matter of speed; rather, when aided by considered urban design, it can be fun, spontaneous, and inclusive.

Barcelona’s Superblocks (Superilles) are a strong example. These are groups of streets where car access is restricted, and priority is given to pedestrians and cyclists. Within them, people walk freely, children play, markets pop up, and neighbors interact in ways that typical traffic-heavy streets rarely allow. According to a 2021 study, Superblocks led to increased physical activity, improved air quality, and reduced noise levels.

Planning for Climate and Care

Urban design can make a significant difference in creating resilience, not only for infrastructure but also for people, as climate shocks become more frequent. Designers in Rotterdam, Netherlands, have developed Water Squares, a public plaza. On dry days, they serve as gathering spaces. But when heavy rain hits, they help prevent flooding by temporarily storing excess water. It’s a smart blend of function and public use..

Cities can also tackle heat through design. Temperature stress can be mitigated through the use of trees, cool roofs, and ventilated public spaces. The first Heat Action Plan in India was developed by the city of Ahmedabad. It combined early warning systems with community outreach, urban greening, and practical design measures to reduce heat-related deaths.

What Kind of City Do We Want to Live In?

When we talk about better cities, the conversation often stops at policy or architecture. But design is also shaped by what people ask for, accept, or push back against. It’s about everyday choices: where we sit, how we walk, what we notice, and who gets left out.

A thoughtful urban design can mitigate stress, foster social trust, support mental health, and enable cities to be more responsive to the impacts of climate change. It can transform public spaces into places of connection, make streets feel safer, and provide people with more reasons to spend time outdoors.

Healing a city doesn’t always require a complete overhaul. It starts by paying attention to what people need and designing with those needs in mind.