Creating an inclusive city

That was the complaint from a man polishing a car. According to him, I could have walked on the road instead. Reflecting on this incident, it seems to me that not only are zoning, crime prevention and traffic planning important to create inclusive cities; but the true picture lies in the details of where and how this happens on a local scale.

The traditionally male-dominated vision of cities produces and reproduces spaces according to preconceived gender roles. The city becomes divided spatially and temporally by gender. Designing an inclusive city would mean designing a city for everyone – a 24-hour city. So how do we create cities in the UK for the 50% of the population (the women), the disabled (23% of the working population), and the elderly (23%)? Also imagine the intersectionality – being an older woman with a disability. Not all older women are disabled, of course, but inclusion lies in considering as many people as we can.

Women have always found different ways to exist, define and protect themselves in the city. Crime and violence affect women more. From self-defence classes in Nairobi, to sex education and anti-violence campaigns, women act in pragmatic ways to protect themselves. Many cities have started creating ‘safety mapping’ for women. In Delhi, a live and open-source map called ‘Safetipin’, marking zones and areas which are unsafe, is being used. In Cairo, the ‘Harassmap’, marks out where women have been harassed. These maps help women in avoiding crime spots, but do not prevent crime. However, they do point out areas where urban planners and policing should concentrate. 

Another project in London was in a housing estate with a featureless green lawn. This space was locked up during weekends when it could actually be used. So, working with the residents, we created the seats so that people could sit and inhabit the space, particularly women, older people, and children. Recycled or reclaimed materials were used for the seats and local people were trained in stone-carving. The seats have been used by residents and people who work locally. The outdoor gym there is better used due to the seating while littering and crime has decreased. After our intervention, the local Council installed better street lighting which enables the CCTV to function better. Keys were given to the residents so that they could use the space during summer evenings and at weekends. Simple interventions have made the space accessible and safe for everyone.

Similarly, the voice of women professionals- architects, engineers, landscape architects, surveyors and town planners need to be heard. Their expertise is often overlooked, their work devalued and their contribution to the canon forgotten. Yet women’s work is critical to the sustainability of a profession that aspires to design high-quality buildings for the whole of society. Many cities are coming up with women-friendly housing and urban design.

As women increase their share of economic and political power, planners and developers are realising that they cannot be ignored. Women also live longer and so can work longer than men. In London, 26 women over 50 helped to co-design in the New Ground cohousing scheme (2016). In Vienna, a housing complex (2015) considered different stages of a woman's life by designing reconfigurable spaces. The flats incorporate the concept of the ‘eyes on the streets’, using balconies and windows that face the main street. In Barcelona, Col·lectiu Punt 6, a women’s collective, has redesigned its famous squares – closing some to cars; and adding seating and play areas – as well as working internationally with women from other cities.