GETTING IT RIGHT
Models For Seattle
What does responsible growth actually look like? The world's most successful cities pair housing growth with investments in parks, tree canopy, public space, mobility, and climate resilience.
Barcelona, Spain
Making Density More Livable
Barcelona has become one of the world's leading examples of how dense urban growth can improve quality of life when paired with investments in public space. Through its internationally recognized "Superblocks" program, the city reclaimed streets from vehicle traffic and transformed them into pedestrian-oriented public spaces with greenery, recreation areas, and gathering places. The Urban Institute notes that the initiative was designed not only to reduce emissions and improve mobility, but also to expand equitable access to green space and neighborhood amenities. Barcelona's approach demonstrates that density succeeds when public space is treated as essential infrastructure rather than an afterthought. Seattle can learn from this model by ensuring that housing growth is accompanied by investments in parks, public spaces, walkability, and neighborhood livability.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Growing Housing and Green Space Together
Vancouver is often cited internationally as a model for combining housing growth, density, transit, and environmental quality. The city's planning philosophy—sometimes referred to as "Vancouverism"—focuses on concentrating housing near transit while preserving access to green space, waterfronts, parks, and public amenities. Vancouver's EcoDensity initiative explicitly linked density, affordability, environmental sustainability, and neighborhood livability, arguing that compact urban growth can reduce sprawl while supporting healthier and more climate-resilient communities. Rather than viewing density and livability as competing priorities, Vancouver planned for both together. Seattle faces many of the same growth pressures and can learn from Vancouver's efforts to pair housing growth with investments in public space and urban greenery.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Planning for Climate and Community
Copenhagen has become a global model for climate-smart urban development by integrating housing, transportation, parks, and climate resilience into a unified planning strategy. The city has invested heavily in bicycle infrastructure, public transit, waterfront access, and neighborhood parks while continuing to accommodate growth. Copenhagen's planning philosophy recognizes that successful density depends on access to public amenities and green space, not simply additional housing units. Municipal policy has long prioritized ensuring residents can reach parks and open spaces easily, reflecting the belief that public space is essential to urban health and livability. Copenhagen demonstrates how cities can grow while strengthening climate resilience, mobility, and quality of life simultaneously.
Bogotá, Colombia
Public Space as Essential Infrastructure
Bogotá has earned international recognition for using parks, green space, and public infrastructure to improve equity and quality of life across a rapidly growing city. Investments in parks, bicycle networks, public transit, and community spaces have helped expand access to opportunity while improving public health and mobility. The city's extensive public realm including Simón Bolívar Metropolitan Park and its connected network of public spaces reflects a planning philosophy that treats public space as critical infrastructure rather than a luxury. Bogotá's experience shows that equitable growth requires investments not only in housing, but also in the parks, transportation systems, and community spaces that support thriving neighborhoods.
