multicity
Multicity is a term used in urban planning to describe metropolitan regions that feature multiple centers of economic and social activity rather than a single dominant core. It is often used interchangeably with polycentric city or metropolitan polycentricity to describe a spatial structure in which two or more urban nuclei anchor employment, culture, and services.
Key characteristics include multiple activity centers with urban cores connected by an integrated transport network, dispersed
Benefits can include reduced travel demand on any single center, shorter commutes for residents in peripheral
Challenges involve coordinating land-use planning, housing, and transportation across multiple jurisdictions; funding complexities; potential competition between
Assessment of multicity patterns uses metrics such as employment distribution across centers, travel-time matrices, and polycentricity
Notable examples discussed in urban planning literature include the Rhine-Ruhr region in Germany and the Randstad