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Cities are the face of a country. Every country is known for the activities and functions of its city. Hence it is crucial to strategize and regulate the development of a city. Urban planning or City planning comes to play for designing, strategizing, and implementing the way a city has to be developed.
In today’s world, urban planning has to consider various aspects of a city, such as its urban sprawl, transit and connectivity, environment, pollution, and lack of space. This article attempts to appreciate the best city planning in the world based on various aspects of urban planning.

Here is a curetted list of top planned cities in the world based on sources like UNESCO and Indiatimes.
Related link:https://www.icytales.com/the-most-well-planned-cities-the-world/
Brasilia, Brazil- The Airplane plan
The city of Brasilia in Brazil is a well-planned city from the late 1950s. It was designed by the Brazilian architect Oscar Neimeyer with the co-ordination of urban planner Lucio Costa. Brasilia’s plan was emphasized to be the opposite of Rio De Janeiro, as it holds the history and cultural identity of the country.
Brasilia was visualized as a modern, multi-faceted city with advanced development and structured planning. This city is considered one of the rationally planned cities with wise space usage, clean lines of sewage, electricity, and stormwater.
This city has zoned land uses to date and is one of the very few cities in the world that does not accommodate mixed land use.
Watch the story of city planning of Brazil’s capital:
Singapore City, Singapore- Road Line Plan
Most countries around the world separate their spaces for urban and countryside development. Singapore, on the other hand, fits its urban and rural counterparts within its city limits itself. The land uses which could be found inside the city limits of Singapore include the Central Business District (CBD), Heartlands, Residential, Industrial uses, schools, hospitals, markets, etc.
The city evolves by the rule of redevelopment to keep updating as per the futuristic needs of the city following a “Road Line Plan” in which a portion of land belonging to the government is reserved for new construction or any infrastructure needs in the future.
This city also is called the “Garden city,” as the green cover has increased three times from 1986 to 2007. Singapore city planning is known for its practical solutions and its vision for futuristic and sustainable development. So Singapore features as a city of the best city planning of the world.
The Icy Tales team talked to Alvin Poh, Chairman of CLDY, on how integrating nature into urban development enhances city sustainability worldwide. Here is what he said:

“In my journey as an entrepreneur in Singapore, I’ve been privy to the remarkable transformation brought about by the ‘City in a Garden’ initiative, with Gardens by the Bay standing as a testament to this change.
The fusion of verdant vertical gardens into our city’s blueprint not only elevates its visual charm but also addresses critical environmental concerns like air pollution and the urban heat island phenomenon.
These living tapestries have emerged as effective tools in enriching biodiversity and purifying the air, rendering our urban milieu more habitable and sustainable.
Taking a leaf from Singapore’s book, cities around the world can embrace this forward-thinking strategy in urban planning.
By incentivizing the integration of green infrastructure into architectural designs, urban areas can metamorphose stark concrete expanses into vibrant, green canvases, markedly enhancing urban living standards.
Such initiatives also champion sustainability by trimming energy expenditures and carbon footprints, dovetailing with the international crusade against climate change.
For metropolises aspiring to mirror this paradigm, the crux lies in enacting policies that weave greenery into the fabric of both new and existing edifices.
Incentives for such green integrations can spur their widespread adoption, fundamentally redefining the urban tapestry to foster greener, more sustainable habitats.
In this way, urban landscapes can blossom into flourishing ecosystems that nurture both the planet and the well-being of their inhabitants.”
We interviewed Giacomo Piva, CMO and Co-Founder at Radical Storage, on this. Here is what he had to say:

“The integration of nature and urban development is extremely important for addressing many contemporary challenges, such as urban heat, air and water quality, and biodiversity loss. It also helps with the mental and physical well-being of citizens.
Therefore, I think it is essential for sustainable cities globally to follow the steps of Singapore and reshape not only the landscape of our cities but also the laws behind their construction and adaptability to future demands.
Many lessons can be learned from Singapore’s experience to harmonize urban living with environmental conservation.
These include holistic urban planning so that ecological networks become a fundamental part of urban planning; vertical greenery, which improves air quality, mitigates the impact of the urban heat island effect, and creates new natural habitats; but most importantly, innovative solutions, such as utilizing the space on rooftops and bridges, to maximize space and tailor greenery solutions.”
Chandigarh, India- The Grid Pattern
A curetted list of best city planning in the world, giving insights into their planning and strategies. The famous French Architect Le Corbusier planned the city of Chandigarh in India. This city’s plan is unique as it is analogous to the human body. The Central Business District is considered as the head, and open areas, green and recreational areas as the Lungs.
The cultural and educational institutions serve as the intellect, while the road networks serve as the circulatory system. The industrial area serves as the viscera.
The road network is popularly known as the” 7V Network,” where V stands for Voice De Circulation. The 8th V is the Network for cyclists and pedestrians. The 7V Network intersects at right angles, forming a grid pattern like the plan of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Chandigarh City also has a unique plan for its industrial area to reduce the adverse effects of industries in the city. These aspects of urban planning makes Chandigarh one of the best-planned city in the world.
Seoul, South Korea- The Planning for People
The city of Seoul in South Korea has undergone exponential population growth in the past, which has resulted in haphazard growth and rapid development of slums inside the city. Urban sprawl became a common phenomenon over the years in Seoul.
In the year 1966, the city management came up with a “Green city development plan” that majorly focused on compact development through the famous Feng-Shui principle. It planned for the development of 7 new towns in the vicinity to Seoul to combat its overpopulation.
The city’s plans are strategized democratically by seeing public opinion through methods like public policy workshops, contests, and polls. This strategy differentiates Seoul’s city planning from the rest of the world. Also, it has helped in the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the city through sustainable development.
Copenhagen, Denmark- The Finger Plan
The famous Finger Plan of Copenhagen was first implemented in 1947. The urban planners behind this city planning are Eiler Rasmussen and Christian Erhardt. This plan was earlier called the” Peter” Bredsdorff urban plan focuses on metropolitan train lines and green areas. It’s surely an example of the best city planning in the world today.
Central Copenhagen is considered the palm of the finger plan. This city has the most extensive bicycle infrastructure. The city’s urban designer Jan Gehl was hired to make New York City more bicycle-friendly.
This city also regulated its green spaces in frequent small areas. This plan does not accommodate playground development, moving away from conventional methods. It uses imagination-based play for children.
Zurich, Switzerland- Transit-Oriented Development
Zurich is known as the world’s best transit city. It was also designed by the French architect Le Corbusier in the late 1960s.
The city has a high frequency of bus lines and inter-connected transport. The system is also extremely flexible. The citizens of Zurich use public transport majorly. Car usage in the city is very minimal, which has led to a significant reduction in noise, pollution and traffic accidents. Parking issues are also absent in the town since the 1970s when public transport coverage was enhanced.
The city has a 40-year history of constant up-gradation to traffic and lessening the impacts of private transport. Hence, Zurich still exists as the epitome of the best city planning in the world.
Kobe, Japan – The City of Design
Kobe is a city that is located in the center of the Japanese Archipelago. This city is known for its cityscape- its mountains, sea and exotic architecture. This city was reconstructed in 1995 following the Great Hanshin Earthquake.
This city is called the city of design due to the extensive use of creativity. The city plan focuses on the mutual strength of neighbourhoods and the resilience of buildings in the city. The highlights of the city plan include the connection between the structure of the physical city and the socio-functional organization.
This model of urbanization works on the principles of land use classification, reconstruction, density overlook, and reorganization. This city majorly constitutes mixed land use. The unconventional focus on creativity and design makes it one of the best city planners in the world.
Shanghai, China- Planned Urbanization
Another example of the best city planning in the world, Shanghai is known for its distinguished history and skylines. It has an extensive public transport system. This city holds the record for having the most extensive bus route within nearly 1000 bus lines, operated by numerous transportation companies.
This city has experienced three eras of urbanization owing to its rapid but controlled urbanization. There is an exhibition center for Shanghai’s urban planning. Shanghai stands as one of the most well- planned cities in the world for its practical strategies for managing urban development and sprawl.
Auroville, India- The City of the Future
Auroville is the city known for spiritual tourism in India. This city’s plan is famous throughout the world, for it is planned with the concept of Galaxy. This city has several names- City of Dawn, City of the Future, and City the Earth needs.
French Architect Roger Anger planned the city in 1965. The center of Auroville, Matrimandir, is considered the soul of the city. The city has an integrated master plan with the urban and rural areas complementing each other.
It has an optimum mix of densities that creates a sense of peace and rhythm to the place.
Bilbao, Spain- Planning for an Industrial City
Bilbao is an industrial city in Spain where financial blooming happened in the late 19th century and early 20th century. It has industries ranging from iron and steel, shipbuilding to textile sectors.
This city has learned its urban planning strategies from past deterioration due to industrial development. The city planning in this city focuses on environmental and urban regeneration while not compromising on cultural identity.
The investments are spent on human resources development and technological transformation. This city is an example of how city planning can balance industrial development with the life of the city.
Other cities as Examples of the Best City Planning in the World
Montreal, Canada, is a multicultural francophone city that is also a hub for aerospace, biomedical, finance, high-tech, and cultural industries. It is known for the walkability of its streets and efficient public transportation. It is one of the best city planning that has taught sustainable development goals in its master plan.
Berlin is a structured city known for its historical and cultural identity. This city is planned strategically with efficient public transport and water transport. The city’s culture is kept alive through its architecture, graffiti, and shopping streets.
Many cities in the world are embodiments of the best city planning. These cities stand out from the rest, as they have focused on contemporary issues of urban planning and have succeeded in bringing balance in all aspects of city planning. They set examples of sustainable development in urban planning.
Comment on the city which you think has the best city planning in the world.
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Guest Author: Saket Kumar
Last Updated on by Saket Kumar