Beyond Steel and Concrete: Connecting to nature In urban development

As global urbanisation accelerates toward housing 68% of humanity by 2050, cities worldwide are pivoting from rigid concrete paradigms to nature-integrated development approaches. This shift represents a fundamental rethinking of urban spaces, recognising cities as ecosystems where biophilic design and nature-based solutions can address our most pressing global challenges. Cities implementing nature-based solutions have documented temperature reductions, significant improvements in air quality, and measurable enhancements to public health and well-being. Cities are increasingly adopting advanced applications to monitor environmental conditions, biomimicry-inspired architecture, such as the Hudayriyat Island in Abu Dhabi, the Esplanade Theatre in Singapore, the National Aquatics Center in Beijing, that draw lessons from natural systems, and comprehensive biodiversity corridors that connect fragmented habitats across urban landscapes. Despite regional variations in implementation, the core principles remain consistent: cities function better when they work with rather than against natural systems. By establishing urban socio-ecological corridors that connect cities with strategic ecosystems, such as the Jubail Mangrove Park in Abu Dhabi, countries can transform cities into living ecosystems that nurture both humanity and biodiversity.