ABSTRACT
At the end of the twentieth century nearly half of the global population was living in cities, and this figure is expected to rise to 60 per cent by 2030 (Girardet 2004). In many developed countries already more than two-thirds live in cities (Australia: 91 per cent; the UK: 90 per cent; Germany: 88 per cent; the US: 78 per cent; Austria: 68 per cent; Switzerland: 67 per cent) (World Bank 2004). Urban growth and economic growth are linked and research shows that city dwellers currently have higher consumption rates than rural dwellers, linked to their higher spending power. The high consumption levels and concentration of people in cities mean that the ecological footprint of many cities is often many times their own areas; that of London has been calculated to be 125 times its area of 159,000 hectare at nearly 20 million hectare (Girardet 1999a). As the current urbanisation trend persists, considering how to reduce the environmental and social impacts of cities is becoming ever more urgent. The compact city is believed to offer many opportunities to reduce some of these impacts and develop sustainable communities. Characteristics of sustainable cities
compact living
mixed land uses
public transport-oriented designs
pedestrian-friendly streets
well-defined public spaces
integration of nature in developments
developments based on walking and cycling distances (Lock 2000)
