Queer Urban Design: Planning for Inclusive Cities
Evolving theories in urban design seekto reframe how cities are built andexperienced. As theory and practicegrows more empathetic towards theneeds of its diverse stakeholders,queer urban design brings a broad andholistic shift to understanding identityand community in publicly inhabitedspaces. The approach challengestraditional – often rigid – methods ofcity planning by applying principles ofqueer theory to reflect fluidity andinterconnectedness. On occasion ofPride Month 2024, Arch Daily investigates the building blocks of”queer urban design” to influence cityplanning practices to be more inclusive.
Essentially, queer urban designfocuses on creating safe andinclusive spaces for LGBTQ+communities. It aims to cultivate amore inclusive vision of adaptablecities that cater to various humanexperiences. In some instances,queer urban design has manifestedas a rejection of the notion of apreordained order in the field. Theview of cities as dynamicecosystems that contain diversityand interconnectedness takescenter stage.
