Everyone Counts—Creating Inclusive and Friendly Urban Spaces

While making contributions to the prosperity of cities, diverse population groups have the equal right to enjoy quality urban life. However, senior citizens, children, and the disabled are vulnerable when it comes to the access to urban resources and the participation of city’s decision-making. To make the well-beings brought by urban development available to all, it is essential for a city to be inclusive by paying more attention to the needs, benefits, and rights of the disadvantaged groups. The authors believe that the creation of inclusive and friendly urban spaces requires not only new design methods and approaches, but also changes of design philosophy and mindset.