Cities & Urban Life

25 Urban Planning Decisions That Made Some Cities Great and Others Miserable

Fact 1 of 254%

Barcelona’s iconic grid was designed to literally let the city breathe.

The distinctive octagonal blocks of the Eixample district.

Ildefons Cerdà invented the word 'urbanization' while redesigning Barcelona to prevent epidemics. His grid features chamfered corners to improve sunlight and ventilation at every intersection.

"Cerdà’s 1859 plan increased life expectancy by decades."

This design prioritized public health over property density, creating the most walkable city layout in Europe.

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