Lurbanisme

L'urbanisme, known in English as urban planning, is the discipline that studies and guides the development of cities and territories to balance social, economic, and environmental objectives. It encompasses decisions about land use, housing, transportation, public spaces, infrastructure, and the management of natural and built heritage.

It relies on tools such as master plans, zoning regulations, building codes, and environmental assessments to shape long‑term growth and daily functioning. Planning processes typically combine technical analysis with public participation, interagency coordination, and political decision‑making, resulting in regulatory plans and approved projects.

Practitioners include municipal and regional planners, architects, engineers, landscape architects, and community groups. Education and professional accreditation exist in many countries, reflecting a multidisciplinary field that intersects with economics, sociology, geography, and environmental science. Plans are implemented through permits, public investments, and the design of streets, parks, and transit.

Historically, modern urban planning emerged during industrialization in the 19th and 20th centuries, evolving through movements such as the Garden City, City Beautiful, and modernist planning. In the late 20th and 21st centuries, concerns about sustainability, density, and climate resilience shaped new approaches like smart growth and transit‑oriented development.

Contemporary l'urbanisme addresses housing affordability, mobility, climate adaptation, heritage preservation, and social equity, while grappling with governance fragmentation, funding limits, and the tension between market forces and the public interest.