30 Cool Examples of Great Urban Planning (31 Photos)

Big cities are full of opportunities, but no less problems. Traffic noise, stressful commutes and pollution all have a direct impact on our health and well-being, and city planners have a responsibility to ensure we don't all go crazy just living our lives in a big city. And here is a selection of cases when they did an excellent job.





1. Lottery for diligent drivers in Stockholm, Sweden



Drivers who do not exceed the speed limit automatically take part in a lottery, the prize fund of which is formed from fines collected from violators. As a result, the average speed of urban traffic decreased from 32 to 25 km/h - by 22%.

2. Illuminated crossing in France: lights turn on automatically to warn drivers of a pedestrian





3. It's never too late to correct a mistake. Dusseldorf, Germany



4. Residential complex "Horseshoe" with a park in the middle, Berlin



5. Utrecht, Netherlands, 1982-2020



6. “I don’t know why, but I just like it when urban elements flow around nature like this. Stockholm, Sweden"



7. Functional and incredibly beautiful



8. Edinburgh, Scotland



9. Concrete sewer pipes that were turned into a restaurant’s summer veranda



10. Trash bin for use by cyclists in Denmark



11. Just a couple of years ago, these mini-gardens in Paris were parking spaces. They were planted with fruit trees and flowering shrubs



12. Reversible benches that allow people to choose which way they want to face



13. “My city, Delhi, is redoing its shitty, car-centric, useless roads; half of one such road has been restored"



14. Miami, Florida



15. Before - room for two, after - for 24



16. Vienna gas storage tanks, built in 1896 and converted into multi-use buildings from 1995 to 2001



17. Gion Quarter, Kyoto, Japan



18. Heated sidewalk



19. Quince Street, Philadelphia. Give me narrow streets!”



20. “Humpy crossings for the blind are everywhere in France; I hope it’s the same in other countries.”



21. “Forget about cars and build cities for lovers and friends” - Lewis Mumford



22. Traffic light with a mirror allowing drivers to see pedestrians/cyclists in blind spots



23. This sidewalk tile shows a map of the area.



24. “A year ago we had the opportunity to redesign our street and we are very pleased with the result.”



25. In 2017, a car wash in Stamford, UK, was replaced with these beautiful new Georgian townhouses



26. New apartments in Colombes, France, near Paris



27. Barcelona: now and in 1990



28. Roundabout in Nantes, France, with entrance to underground parking



29. “In my city, street parking is being removed in some places and these “parklets” are being created. Much better use of space"



30. Forbidden City, Beijing: aerial view