Nice City – Nice Living is Possible

6 projects around the world that prove urban‘NICE’zation possible

Environment and surrounding cultures are the key factors in raising and shaping human lives. Undoubtedly, ‘cities’ affect people’s happiness and urbanization both positively and negatively. As now there has been a regular flow from suburbs into the city for jobs, the rush and sprint lifestyle and scarcity emerge. However, there might be potential solutions to these issues.

Let’s explore  6 challenging (and fun!) projects from around the world which aim to tackle urbanization issues in the depth of many aspects such as environment, transportation or even local economy issues. Behind these projects are cooperation from the ‘people’ and the organization of various ranges, they portray tangible proof of how everyone can be part of city development and make an urban‘NICE’zation possible. 

If you’re ready, let’s see how they do it!

Project 1: Solar-Powered Farmers’ Market  

A fresh food market that hits both the issues with one stone :  environment issue and local economy boom.

Grower’s Market is in Albuquerque city in New Mexico, USA. The farmers’ market allows locals, farmers or retailers to do business, piping more income and eventually leading to a rise in tourism to the community.

    Stimulating the local economy is not the only key feature of this market, it also prioritizes the environment issue . The market relies on natural fuel to drive the economy such as solar cells, cash machines or even devices for entertainment like speakers and amplifiers–-they all run on natural energy. Furthermore, the market aims to reduce plastic trash and packages by issuing a policy for people to bring their grocery bags and containers for their shopping. The market also nudges people to travel to the market by bicycles rather than cars by prioritizing bicycle parking lots and bicycle facilities.

Project 2 : Oslo–A city that prioritizes green transportation

Solving challenges through the cooperation of the authorities and the people.

In 2019, Oslo, Norway, was selected as the green city in the Europe region with the way they developed the city to match the environment-friendly criteria. One of Oslo’s priorities is the Eco-Friendly transportation system. The city issues a policy that encourages people to use their private cars less, use electric cars more and revolutionize the whole public transit system to reduce their carbon footprint. There emerged the Green Charge in Oslo, electric charging stations with corporations from various sectors and cities in Europe, to make the charging stations a fundamental infrastructure for the people either in the parking lots or in the apartments. The source of electricity comes from natural fuels such as sunlight and public electrical distributors. Within the next 10 years, Oslo is changing its taxis into wireless-charge electric ones.

In addition, the government also promoted reshaping some urban spaces to green footpaths instead of roads for automobiles, creating recreational spaces for leisure and culture. Allowing only bicycles and public transportation to get into the city, allows the urbanites to walk along nature, get healthier from exercising and still gain the same easy access to transit.

Project 3 : Restart Project: Electronic Waste Management under the theme “Don’t despair, just repair!”

 A project that contextualizes the online world of managing electronic waste.

Electronic waste has entered the global scene and has affected the environment broadly, as it increases along with technological advancement and a larger world population. However, common ground and understanding of electronic waste management are not quite prevalent. Some just throw them away without thinking of recycling, that’s the start of the ‘Restart Project’ in London, England. The project was launched in 2013 from the potential of the ‘common people in London who see society’s issues from the electronic waste piles. They wanted to create a new digital culture in the community where people do not discard electronic waste because they’re broken, but rather fix it, recycle it or create a new bond or even upcycle them. They started by holding a class in the community on how they can create a new meaning and usage out of these old pieces and promote the recycling culture in daily life.    

The Restart project has become a non-profit organization in 2018. There are more than 59 members who participate as activists. They are not only working in England but also work with members from other countries around the world such as Italy, Spain, Sweden and New Zealand. Their work also focuses on small cities because they believe that as long as people learn how to fix and lengthen the life of electronic devices, the world is getting one step closer to being saved from the environmental and economic crisis.

Project 4 : Rainbow village Taichung Rainbow Village: from an abandoned veteran village to the top landmark!

Hometown renovation to promote the local economy

This brilliant idea was started by a Taiwanese grandpa named Huang Yung-Fu, who is concerned that the remote veteran village that he is living in would soon be abandoned as people move to the economic area for employment. Investors are snatching lands and demolishing buildings, making them into another economic area. But, Huang’s grandpa had a vision that this village can transform into a new economic area through creativity, not through money. Grandpa Huang dedicated his time and portrayed his art skill in painting vibrant colours onto the walls, starting from his own house as a statement of his will to preserve his place. Neighbors all supported him to paint the whole village rainbow.

This eventually leads to grandpa Huang being able to preserve the area, not in the name of an old remote veteran village but as a cultural asset named ‘Rainbow Village’. Moreover, this village has become a popular tourist attraction in the past four years, with the tourism industry expanding including more local art shops for future tourists to visit.

Project 5: The Goods Line: A park for more creative space

Supporting the community and the city’s livelihood by utilizing Creative Space

‘The city is lonelier and more alienated than the suburban’ there goes the saying reflecting alienated private individuals’ lives in the cities. The new urban trend is to create projects that drive and facilitate creative culture spaces for people to live less lonely and connect to others more.

That is the essence of ‘The Goods Line’ project in Sydney, Australia where the old train railway was renovated into a park for urban people. The park is structured by full fundamental infrastructures such as seats for talking, free WI-FI for creative working and partying, a kids’ playground for sport and entertainment zones for both athletes and anyone who wants to join. The space has become a venue for festivals and events alike. People can stroll or initiate group activities to acquire new skills here–developing the city and making it even more urban-Niced. This is not just a forgotten place renovation but a public space project that connects people.

Project 6: Superkilen: A place that embraces diversity

Center space created for a better understanding of race

and cultural diversity

Wouldn’t the city be more welcoming if there is an accessible space where people can learn how to embrace diversity and enjoy the differences in humankind? This is what the ‘Superkilen’ project in Copenhagen, Denmark is trying to achieve by designing and constructing a park half a mile to portray ‘the beauty in diversity. 

The park exhibits 60 diverse design works from different countries and cultures around the world along the vibrant pink area, which has become a cultural studies space. The works are mostly decorated in surrealist styles where everyone gets a chance to enjoy them such as the distinct palm tree from China and typical benches in the park from Los Angeles. All of these decorations invite people to get in touch with different cultures and blend in between–urging them to learn more about the ‘other’ as they are also a part of ‘our’ world. 

These are just six of the cities with an interesting, effective yet practical development plan to tackle urbanization issues. If some of you, readers, are now sparked with some ideas for Bangkok in any method. , on any platform please reach us at the upcoming Bangkok Design Week 2023. Let’s create an urban‘NICE’zation together!

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Bangkok Design Week 2023

urban‘NICE’zation 

เมือง-มิตร-ดี

4-12 February 2023

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