Nigerian-born public speaker, Dr. Osemeike Gloria Eyieyien, has called on urban planners in the United Kingdom to rethink their approach to city design. She argues that cities should be designed to foster human connection, peaceful coexistence, and productive community life, rather than just focusing on physical infrastructure. Eyieyien made these remarks at TEDx Wibsey in Bradford, United Kingdom, highlighting the need for a new approach to urban planning.
Eyieyien's presentation, entitled "The Future Is Social Product: Designing Cities for Connection," emphasized the importance of placing people and relationships at the centre of discussions about the future of the built environment. She noted that the rapid development of cities and growing reliance on technology and infrastructure should not obscure the need to create neighbourhoods and public spaces that encourage interaction among residents of different backgrounds.
According to Eyieyien, cities should be places "where people want to truly belong," and social interaction and connection among people of different backgrounds can contribute to peace, unity, and development. She described cities as more than collections of buildings, roads, and public infrastructure, saying they are living social environments shaped by the relationships and interactions that occur within them.
Eyieyien challenged city planners and engineers to consider how the physical environment can be designed to bring people together, rather than merely providing places for them to live. She suggested that the concept of the "social product" shifts attention from merely creating physical spaces to considering the social value those spaces can generate. This approach can help create opportunities for people to meet, connect, and participate in community life.
The issue is particularly relevant to Bradford, according to Eyieyien, due to the diversity of its communities, cultures, and identities. As Bradford and other UK cities continue to evolve, the challenge is not simply how to accommodate growing populations, but how to create places where people can establish meaningful connections. Eyieyien advocated making belonging an intentional consideration in urban planning.
Eyieyien's message resonated with the audience at TEDx Wibsey, where she encouraged a rethink of the relationship between urban design and community life. She asked questions that should encourage a rethink of this relationship, such as what happens when a street encourages people to stop and talk, or when a public space becomes a place where neighbours gather.
The city of the future should be designed not merely as a place of residence but as a space for human interaction and participation, according to Eyieyien. She concluded that the future city should not simply be a place where people live, but a place where people meet, connect, participate, and belong.
Key points
- Dr. Osemeike Gloria Eyieyien challenges UK urban planners to prioritize human connection and a sense of belonging in city design.
