What would your idea be of a perfect city be?

Question

How would it be designed? What would the governing structure be like? Who would live in it? What types of transportation, power, and communications systems would there be? What do you think a perfect (or close to it) city be like? Describe it in as much detail as possible. Details... gimme the details...

Interesting... I believe more people have ideas...

Answer 1

To define a perfect city you need first to define perfection. My definition goes as follows. A perfect thing would be:

1. Completely without confusion (completely clear and completely distinct.

2. Completely without conflict (completely coherent and completely compatible).

3. Completely without imprecision (having all necessary parts and no unnecessary parts).

The next problem is how to apply this definition to the definition of a perfect city.

1. Complete urban clarity and distinctness would translate as the absence of confusion in all urban identification. All items in the city, including its citizens, would have a unique identity - a name and/or number that would identify it and it alone. There would be no duplication of names of city components (down to the smallest detail) or citizens. This perfection of identification would optimally facilitate the management of the city.

2. Complete urban harmony (absence of conflict) would translate (in terms of coherence) as the absence of internal structural and political differences. In structural terms this would require a transportation system without the need for intersections or crossings of any kind. Ideally it would have a 'matter transmitting' transportation system, which would do away with the need for streets or roads. But failing that, it would have an aerial transport system designed like the airspace above an airport, but so that no vehicle was impeded by any other vehicle. The communications system would have similar properties to the transport system.

In political terms, it would require that all citizens have all main goals in common, and each citizen would have a function (an occupation) that was maximally conducive to the city's main goals, and thus to each citizen's main goals. There would be no political parties. The city would be managed by the citizens whose function it was to be city managers, and, indeed, each role in the city would be occupied by those best suited to perform its function.

Because citizens would have a unique indentity and have all their main goals in common, crime would be minimized. Crime would be further minimized by the installation of an automated and impartial tracking system that kept a record of where each citizen was at all times.

So much for city coherence, now city compatibility. To be perfect, the city would not conflict in any way with its environment. This would include other cities (indeed, other groups of people anywhere) and the natural environment. It would engage in no activity that would bring it into conflict either commercial, political, or environmental. Ideally, it would be self-sufficient and would use only renewable resources.

3. A completely precise city would be exactly as large and as populated as it needed to be to carry out its functions. It would be neither too big for its environment nor too small to comfortably house its citizens. What's more, every function in the city would be precisely calculated for optimum efficiency. The city would have exactly as much energy (and other resources) as it needed and would waste none.

Well, there's probably a lot more to be said. But I think this is a start.

An important question is, would people be happy to live in a perfect city?

Answer 2

I have come to view my college campus as a city of sorts and it seems like it would be a very useful thing to follow in the design of a city.

The city would be divided into however many population zones. In these zones a variety of people (and thus with different jobs interests, backgrounds, and incomes) would live in houses of their own choosing and purchase-so a mixed income neighborhood-in the same community. Around these communities and in them would be open space for activities and parks designed into the geography of the land. The streets would be straightforward and sidewalks ample. Local stores would be implemented into the communities at walkable/bike-able distances.

To keep the city connected important, non residential areas would connect the communities so that places of work surround the sections and provide a means of mixing. In addition the major civic buildings (government, theater, concert halls, stadiums) would be distributed throughout communities so that while one might have the library the other might have something else. Schools would not be located in the communities but in the outside zones described above, in the areas of theses sections closest to the communities.


The the communities would have their own governing bodies but all of these would belong to a larger whole. People would be able to be a member of either the smaller or the larger governing body. The only difference being that while in the smaller one only leadership roles would be elected (so that is more a town hall style government) in the larger one, which orientates all the smaller bodies, deals with city wide issues, and which would contain equal representation from each community.all positions would be elected in city wide. Issues to be addressed would come both from organized committees of expertise but also from the general public. City wide issues would be voted by all eligible members of the city (so everyone of voting age). Everyone would pay taxes, part of which would go to overall city maintenance, part of which would go towards the community. The use of the community money would be decided at the the local level meetings-to have a decision regarding small amounts of money use several motions of support and 2/3s vote would be needed only, for larger amounts several motions of support and 2/3s would be needed to carry the issue over the next meeting, giving others a chance to attend, and then 2/3s would be needed at that following meeting.

Over all infrastructure would be direct. Outlining the city, in a major corridor would be all major businesses not contained in the work and school areas. This area would be designed so that it would be accessible from every section but also so that part of it will be close to every community. Trails would provide alternate means of travel and would be more direct, going through the parks to cut distances the roads might not. Buses would be a well organized means of mass transport and would provide easy transportation anywhere within the city from any location on a road. There would be a central bus station in the school and work area. Public safety through ample fire and police support-implemented at the community leavel but run by a single organzing body- would be a major but friendly presence.

Moving away from college inspired ideas: Each community would provide its own basic power supply from wind and solar. To back this up, in a low impact area, there would be a natural gas power plant, or if available, hydro powered. The entire city would be wireless. Phone and cable services would be house hold choices.

Currently that is all I can think of saying. It's probably not complete but that is my take with several minutes of thought

Answer 3

I have a feeling I'm doing your homework for you, but I like this question so...


1. Mass transit grid subsidized by provincial government (free or very cheap transit for everyone). Every city needs this. I would like a city that has more people using transit than cars, because said transit system is ran so efficiently that it is actually faster to take transit.
1b. Suburbs connected directly to transit grid, eliminating the need for super highways, and by association, cars.

2. There would be a liberal ammount of low income housing available in downtown area. This would draw transients away form suburbs and isolate them, making crime less wide spread.

3. Safety spots in poorest areas of downtown. These spots would administer sterile syringes, bandages, and water to drug users. This would significantly cut down on disease via dirty needles.

4. The highest paying jobs (pound for pound) in the city segment would be hospital workers (including doctors and nurses), 911 dispatchers, and teachers. These are the three fundamental human resources for a good city.

5. The city would aggressively pursue any festival or carnival or circus that is taking bids. These things draw tourists, who feed money into the local economy. These events also allow the city to showcase itself. And not least of all, raise citizens morale.

6. The city would have an NHL franchise. Period.

7. The city would rely on hydro electricity, but would make real attempts to use as much wind power as possible. These are sustainable, efficient, non-polluting power sources. For a city to thrive it must be sustainable.

8. The city would host at least one major International company.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

my perfect city would be a small christian community out in the country. it would be a mix of blue collar and white collar workers. but there would be good jobs for people who were well educated. it would be a small town, no big buildings. and there wouldnt be rush hour traffic. or crime. there would be lots of farmers and fields. no real need for big shopping centers but there would probably be a wal-mart within a 20 minute drive. high speed internet might have to be gotten by satellite but thats allright.

...lol this is sounding a lot like the town i grew up in. but even that town is getting big. i like smaller towns.

Answer 5

Either New York, or Washington DC.

Answer 6

Austin...without all the transplants.

Answer 7

San Diego is pretty damn close.

Answer 8

one that doesnt smell like urine is a great start