ABSTRACT
This chapter considers human needs. It reflects on the theories of human needs put forward by Maslow, Gough and Max Neef. It finds that there is broad support for the universality of human needs but disagreement as to their arrangement. The chapter adopts the position that needs do not have to be met in a particular order under normal circumstances; however, ultimately, they all need to be met for an individual or community to thrive. It observes that people are often ill equipped to distinguish needs from wants and often pursue wants to the detriment of their needs. The chapter concludes with a loose framework for human needs based on the work of Manfred Max Neef that may be used to assist in urban design.
