Key Issues> Urban development

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

CFACT Europe supports new approaches in urban development

Almost every week we read of the unveiling of some new example of "revolutionary" architecture in our cities. What we get, however, is very often the same stereotypical glass-and-steel structure that makes Western cities and towns more and more interchangeable. Besides aesthetic boredom, this "functionalistic" architecture often causes people to abandon city centers for the suburbs. Brussels is perhaps the European capitol whose architecture has suffered the most from this trend giving rise to the term, "Bruxelisation."

The development of cities affects natural habitats and vice versa. At CFACT Europe we hope to explore new initiatives that can lead to a new urbanism. Responsible stewardship must be applied not only to crucial wildlife habitats, but also to the places people live. Transparent, market oriented solutions can lead to a more harmonious, natural and aesthetically pleasing future for urban, rural and wildlife areas. New Environmentalism and New Urbanism are two faces of the same coin.