Behind the beauty of cities

Abstract

Every city is unique in terms of its size, climate, culture and economic development. Since the industrial revolution, cities have grown rapidly in size and power. Cities can be engines of economic progress and social reform with complete infrastructure, good transportation system and centers of education, commerce, politics and culture. However, cities can also be dumping grounds for poverty, pollution and places of disease, crowding and crime. The burden question is whether cities should be categorized as heaven or hell as city dwellers feel negative effects and stress of urban life? The scope of this paper is to provide input for a clearer understanding whether cities are dream or bad places to occupy and how cities could be designed with best strategies to minimize their efficiency, functionality and sustainability. This paper involved secondary data which were collected from journals, proceedings, books, related agencies and internet sources as well. A sustainable city is a city that can function effectively and prosper continuously, providing the residents with a better quality of life far into the future. But, establishing and sustaining cities are not always easy, with too many problems to handle. For example, high densities of automobiles, factories and commercial enterprises in city areas increases air pollution and cause other environmental problems. Thus, many of the approaches that planners, political leaders and ordinary citizens are taking to make their cities safer, cleaner, healthier and more pleasant are helping cities become more sustainable. Increase of awareness and environmental education among the residents, together with good planning and zoning are the most important strategies to sustaining the cities to be a 'heavenly' place to live. Moreover, proponents of smart growth and new urbanism concepts would be the better solutions to the challenges posed by urban or city.