Happiness-Centric Smart Cities

There is a need for urban planning to prioritize the well-being and happiness of citizens. Cities should evolve with a 'Happiness-centric' approach to enhance the quality of life for residents. For instance, the mixed-use blocks are raising the quality of life, as these developments foster more efficient and sustainable urban environments.

The preferences of homebuyers in the context of the city-based lifestyle, is connectivity, public infrastructure, and easy access to services such as creche facilities, fitness zones and socializing spaces in shaping happier lifestyles for citizens. Moreover, walkability, rather than a car-centric approach to city travel, should be emphasized. In fact, a lesser-known attribute of great city-planning is great walkability. With the rapid scale of urbanization, the urban designing too needs to scale, in order to address many modern-day human problems affecting one’s wellbeing.

There should be a collaboration between the governing bodies, developers and citizens to realize the full vision of a smart and happiness-centric city. These collaborative processes would prioritize the holistic well-being of citizens in the pursuit of creating more livable cities.