citybuilding

Citybuilding refers to the multidisciplinary process of designing and managing urban spaces to meet the needs of residents and businesses. It encompasses land use, housing, transportation, utilities, economy, environment, and governance, and is practiced by planners, policymakers, engineers, architects, and developers.

The aims of citybuilding are to create functional, equitable, and sustainable places. Core concerns include zoning, infrastructure networks, public services, housing affordability, and resilience to hazards. Planning processes commonly involve the creation of master plans, regulatory frameworks, public participation, and impact assessments. Tools used in citybuilding include geographic information systems, modeling, scenario analysis, and capital investment planning.

Historically, citybuilding practices trace back to ancient civilizations and evolved through modernization in the 19th and 20th centuries with reform movements, zoning, and large-scale infrastructure projects. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, approaches have increasingly emphasized sustainable development, smart growth, mixed-use development, and transit-oriented design to address growth, climate change, and quality of life.

In popular culture, citybuilding is also a genre of video games that simulate urban development and management. Players design layouts, allocate resources, balance budgets, and strive for efficiency and livability within simulated environments. Notable titles in this genre include SimCity and Cities: Skylines.