A village’s sound is not just more subdued, but also more intentional. The slow pace of an afternoon stroll, the sound of footsteps on stone, and the murmur of discussion in corner cafés. Future cities are increasingly striving to imitate this—not as a relic, but as a development.
For decades, urban planners have pursued vertical growth, frequently at the price of horizontal connectivity. But now there’s a noticeable change. Compact, habitable areas that operate more like independent microcosms than urban sprawl are becoming more and more popular, from Melbourne to Malmö. This was made possible by technology, and it became necessary due to climate anxiety.
Why Future Cities Might Look More Like Villages Again
| Driver | Description |
|---|---|
| Remote Work & Technology | Enabled decentralized living, minimizing reliance on centralized business districts |
| “15-Minute City” Planning | Focus on accessibility to work, leisure, and services within walking distance |
| Environmental Sustainability | Compact, low-emission design models counteract urban sprawl and climate degradation |
| Health & Lifestyle | Walkability and green spaces offer notably improved physical and mental well-being |
| Community Cohesion | Smaller-scale design fosters stronger social ties and shared responsibility |
| Economic Inclusion | Mixed-income housing and local services promote affordability and equity |
| Source | Based on expert insights from IBA’27 Stuttgart and climate-focused urban planning frameworks |
Although it wasn’t the cause, the COVID-19 epidemic was a catalyst. Already, remote work was becoming more and more common. The sudden end of regular journeys only served to highlight a long-standing reality: people want flexibility, not fluorescent lights. Cities are decentralizing as there is less of a desire to congregate close to corporate skyscrapers. Clusters—dense, deliberate, walkable, and remarkably reminiscent of old town centers—are what are starting to emerge.
This ethos is well embodied by the 15-minute city, which is promoted by intellectuals such as Carlos Moreno. It suggests that all metropolitan dwellers should be able to walk or bicycle their way within 15 minutes to job, healthcare, education, food, and recreation. The concept is old, but the expression is new. The first 15-minute cities were villages, formed by human rhythm and necessity.
Planners are re-engineering systems rather than merely appropriating aesthetics. A prosperous village-like community encourages shared governance, a variety of housing options, and a multi-layered public life in addition to having a cobbled plaza. It prioritizes quality above quantity. It gives encounter precedence over throughput.
The necessity of this concept has significantly increased due to climate concerns. In addition to consuming habitats, sprawling urbanization also use energy at unsustainable rates. A small, walkable district can save resources and drastically cut pollution. The same is true for construction footprints, food logistics, and water systems.
Urban agriculture is one striking example. Rooftop farms and local greenhouses are emerging as viable additions to industrial supply chains in places such as Singapore and Paris. They mimic rural communities’ self-reliance by incorporating food production into daily life, but they use solar panels rather than windmills.
Mental health comes next. The obscurity of high-rises can be debilitating. In the past, long trips, heavy traffic, and nonstop noise were considered the costs of opportunity. They now seem like preventable side effects. Human-scale streetscapes, communal gardens, and green spaces provide psychological respite that many people didn’t know they were lacking until they had it again.
A discussion with Stefanie Weavers of IBA’27 Stuttgart greatly impressed me. She placed emphasis on a city’s emotional experience in addition to its ecological and spatial architecture. “You must have a sense of belonging,” she stated. More than any number, the remark stuck in my mind.
Her efforts to reimagine Stuttgart are more concerned with creating connections between people, places, and services than they are with building new structures. It is a blueprint that views cities as living things to be nourished rather than as riddles to be solved.
A story is also told by the economics. Wealth circulates differently in cities that rely more on local marketplaces and less on mega-malls. Supporting small, locally owned companies, such as cafes, tailors, and grocers, helps maintain neighborhoods, create jobs, and encourage independence. When these ecosystems are integrated into areas with mixed-income housing, it’s especially creative.
Once considered a fringe lifestyle, downshifting now seems like a natural progression of this change. Individuals are reframing what it means to live “well” and reassessing goal. For many, that means putting community first, lowering stress levels, and enhancing health—all of which village-style living does very well.
For example, about 10% of people in Romania are thinking about relocating to the countryside. That number reflects a shifting interaction between people and place and goes beyond simple statistics. Support for zoning amendments that permit co-housing, tiny homes, and shared land stewardship is rising, even among urban residents.
This does not imply that skyscrapers are no longer useful. However, success may no longer be defined by their dominance. Even in cities with millions of residents, design at human scale is made possible by technology, particularly digital planning tools, GIS data, and community feedback platforms.
Additionally, this village mindset can be integrated with smart city advancements. A mega-city format is not necessary for community-run energy cooperatives, digital transportation boards, or sensors that track air quality. They flourish in crowded, human-centered environments.
The current challenge for urban leaders is to become closer rather than taller. In addition to being poetic, developing communities where public art reflects local identity, cafes serve as co-working spaces, and grandparents can accompany their children to school is especially good for civic resilience.
This concept also offers a long-term solution if affordability crises worsen. Essential workers, such as teachers, nurses, and artists, who are frequently priced out of advancement, are being retained by cities through mixed-use complexes with staggered rent patterns and communal land trusts.
We don’t have to decide between tradition and innovation. Future cities can incorporate the finest aspects of contemporary life while retaining the closeness of a village. They can be both emotionally satisfying and technologically advanced.
Perhaps instead of limitless skylines, the city of the future will have a bakery on the corner, children playing outdoors, and someone waving from across the square. A city that is built to feel like home above all else, in addition to being efficient.
