Central Business Districts must evolve into Central Social Districts. Does this reflect a shift in urban planning and development priorities?
- CBD (Central Business District): This is an area that is traditionally focused on economic activities. A CBD commonly contains high-density office buildings, financial institutions and commercial enterprises.
- CSD (Central Social District): This area has a focus on social interaction, community engagement and mixed-use development. These integrate all end users – namely residential, cultural, recreational and commercial.
- Changing Work Patterns: With the rise of remote work and flexible schedules, the demand for dense office-centric areas is diminishing.
- Urban Revitalisation: Integrating social elements will rejuvenate underutilised spaces, lead to a reduction in urban decay and will attract diverse populations.
- Quality of Life: Enhancing the social infrastructure contributes to improved mental and physical well-being. This will result in an enhanced sense of community.
- Economic Resilience: A mixed-use district can better withstand economic fluctuations by diversifying the types of activities and industries present. The risk of failure is, therefore, spread.