Opportunities and Challenges of Compact City

The growth of population and shortage of flat land has led to the common sense that compact city could be seen as the answer for sustainable future. Although the risks of negative outcome of compact city should be taken into the consideration, the potency of urban development should also be considered. A city with compact formation could provide the potential power supporting the economic growth. It could enhance the efficiency of public service, and gather the commercial events and bring more energy for the local social life.Urban sustainability could be divided into three aspect: environmental, social and economic. Environmentally sustainable development has been seen the most initial part of urban design. However, compact city policy could lead to the economic growth that is friendly to environment through creating the connection between economic events and environmental challenge. Urban designers could design an innovation hub that is aim to build an environmentally friendly commercial system. Not only environmental and economic urban design should be established, sustainable social life should also be accompanied with urban development, compact city should create a lively social life according to its high density population, and provide safe urban life for citizens. As for people who live in suburbs, compact city should create an equal opportunity for them to enjoy the liveable life, and provide convenient infrastructure since suburbs potentially have significant residential capacity.