Close your eyes. Imagine it’s 2050.
You’re standing on your apartment’s balcony, overlooking a cityscape that, at first glance, doesn’t seem too different from a few decades ago.
The same buildings dominate the skyline, structures that have stood for generations.
Yet, look closer, and they pulse with a new kind of energy – a cleaner, smarter, leaner energy.
Streets once clogged with traffic and fumes have transformed into spaces reclaimed by people. The roar of fuel-powered engines has given way to the gentle hum of a handful of electric vehicles. Most car traffic has been replaced with bike lanes and public transit running purely on green energy.
Streets are now lined with trees, providing cooling shade against rising temperatures brought on by climate change. Neighborhoods once on the brink of abandonment are now buzzing with activity. At their heart are former office buildings that have been transformed into dynamic mixed-use spaces that blend apartments, workspaces, and cultural venues.
Building façades are covered in vegetation that acts as natural carbon sinks. Solar panels not only crown rooftops, but are also seamlessly integrated throughout the exterior surfaces. Inside, smart systems optimize every aspect of energy use, creating buildings that produce more power than they use.
This isn’t a scene from a science fiction movie. It’s a vision of urban renewal – one that’s still within reach.
It’s 2025, and cities are both the problem and the solution.
Our cities occupy just 3% of Earth’s land yet consume 60-80% of its energy and generate 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings alone account for almost 40% of these emissions, most of which are produced during operation. To make matters worse, only 6% of building energy currently comes from renewable sources.
The challenge is immense, there’s no denying it. Yet, it’s precisely because cities are such significant contributors to climate change that they also hold the key to combating it.
Urbanization is advancing at breakneck speed. Cities continue to draw people in, with promises of work, education, culture, and social mobility. Every month, tens of millions migrate to urban areas, swelling their populations. By 2040, nearly two-thirds of humanity will call a city home. And that’s not all. As cities enlarge, adapt and evolve, they must also prepare for a demographic shift: the rapid aging of our global population.
The world is aging – fast. By 2050, the number of people over 60 will have doubled globally. Cities must reimagine everything – from housing to transportation – to cater to aging populations while continuing to balance the demands of their younger, working residents.
There’s no shortcut. Cities must go beyond quick fixes.
For starters, cities built around cars are due for a major overhaul. As urban centers focus on decarbonization, they need to prioritize developing and expanding existing transport infrastructure that is both environmentally sustainable and universally accessible. This means making mass transit systems, cycling, and walking priorities. Mobility solutions – like our elevators, escalators and moving walkways – can help bridge existing gaps to create seamless journeys for everyone – of all ages.
Housing, too, must undergo a revolution. With an aging population set to explode and social security systems already under strain, cities must reimagine homes that are not just modern, but inherently inclusive. Traditional housing models need to evolve to support aging in place, allowing our relatives to maintain independence and dignity in their later years. Smart home features and connected mobility solutions can help aging residents navigate daily life with greater ease and more assuredness. Doors equipped with sensors, which open automatically as someone approaches, and key cards in place of traditional keys are just a couple of examples of how technology can simplify everyday tasks – and make them accessible for everyone.
Well-designed homes can also foster social connections, helping residents stay socially active and engaged within their communities. Imagine an apartment building where elderly neighbors care for a shared garden, while young children, guided by their parents, stop by to learn the art of growing tomatoes.
This is urban planning's new frontier: creating cities that support every stage of human life, while knitting the connective tissue that by its very nature breaks down the physical and social barriers that have traditionally segregated us by age groups.
Optimistic? Yes. Wishful thinking? No. Some developers, in many ways, have already begun bringing this vision to life – creating urban spaces that bridge gaps between generations (minus the tomatoes).
Developed by GSW Sigmaringen, the Future Living residential development in Berlin-Adlershof, on the outskirts of the German capital, is a living experiment in multigenerational housing. The eight residential buildings, with 90 apartments, are home to a very diverse crowd: individuals, couples, families, seniors, and students. The demographic makeup of Future Living is kept diverse intentionally, and the grounds are peppered with communal spaces designed to encourage tenants to interact and mingle.
Chorus Life, a project taking shape on the outskirts of Bergamo, Italy, has also been designed with both intergenerational living and environmental responsibility at its core. Built according to the highest environmental and sustainable standards, the project is part of a broader redevelopment project breathing new life into the now abandoned industrial outskirts of Bergamo – in short, a text book example of sustainable urban revitalization done right, with "zero" land consumption.
Because here’s the catch: most of the buildings shaping our cities of the future are already here. Around 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 have already been built.
The thing is, many of them rely on aging or outdated systems that urgently need energy-efficient alternatives, while others sit empty, waiting for a new purpose. But demolishing and rebuilding isn’t a viable solution – the environmental cost of tearing down and building anew is simply too high.
Instead, modernization offers a sustainable path forward – whether through upgrading existing infrastructure with more energy-efficient technologies, or through creatively repurposing buildings for new uses.
Take the Tate Modern in London, for example. Originally a power station, it was transformed into a world-famous modern art museum in the 1990s, all the while maintaining its industrial charm. This transformation highlights how repurposing can seamlessly blend history with contemporary use – with great success.
But repurposing isn't confined to such niche applications.
The Quay Quarter Tower in Sydney shows just how ambitious repurposing can be. By retaining 65% of the original 1976 structure while doubling its size, this transformation from aging office building to vibrant mixed-use space proves that even large-scale commercial buildings can be reinvented.
With empty offices on the increase and housing shortages growing more and more acute, cities need this kind of bold reimagining alongside the more traditional, proven modernization approaches.
"Our existing buildings aren’t problems to be solved – they’re opportunities to shape the sustainable cities that we need," says Corina Grünenfelder, Head of Sustainability at Schindler Group. "Every upgraded system, every redesigned space, represents a step forward in the fight against climate change."
Climate change won't wait. So neither can we. Urban transformation cannot be kicked down the road. It’s not about starting from scratch, but about transforming what we already have. The future of our cities – and our planet – is entirely up to us.
Open your eyes.