AN INTRODUCTION TO SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN

The way we form our urban areas, the spaces they create and the values they embody, has a profound effect on the quality of people's lives. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, we shape our cities, and afterwards our cities shape us. This paper outlines some of the ways in which architects, planners and urban designers, by shaping the built environment, influence the ability of people to meet their needs. The paper draws on Abraham Maslow's theory of human motivations to present a model for socially responsible planning and urban design. The framework is intended to assist existing planning strategies to mitigate various forms of social disadvantage. The model can help improve the prospects of people to meet their own needs, fulfil their potential and contribute to society.