The healthy city: Its function and its future

The author describes urban health and what constitutes a healthy city. Emphasis is placed on the importance of the various parts of the city/organism communicating with each other and remaining responsive and flexible. The healthy city/organism must be competent for each of its members/parts and for the community as a whole. Several overall requirements that are presented as important for a healthy city are: that the city's responses to its developmental needs, its organizations and its people be appropriate and effective; that the city have the ability to modify itself and change to meet the always emerging, changing requirements for life; that it be competent so that its inhabitants use it; and that it perform an educational role for its citizens. In presenting actions to create a more healthy city the relative value of responding to the symptoms and dealing with underlying issues to create a context for success is discussed, as are specific actions.