Designing Cities to Connect: Insights from the Interview with Nicola Scaranaro, Partner at Foster + Partners

Designing Cities to Connect: Insights from the Interview with Nicola Scaranaro,  Partner at Foster + Partners By Katarina Miljusevic 

In contemporary discourse on urbanism, the future of cities is frequently framed through the lenses of density, digitisation, and sustainability. Yet, beneath these structural and technological imperatives lies a quieter but equally urgent question: How do we design cities that cultivate connection rather than isolation? 

In conversation with Nicola Scaranaro, Partner at Foster + Partners, it became evident that human-centred urban design occupies a pivotal role in shaping sustainable and  smart cities, as it seeks to address the disconnection between individuals and the places  they inhabit. 

For Scaranaro, the antidote lies not in technological fixes alone but in spatial strategies that reframe the city as a network of communities rather than an anonymous sprawl. The  design of compact districts, also known as ‘15-minute neighbourhoods’ in which most daily needs are within walking or cycling distance, emerged as a key pillar of this vision. By structuring major metropolitan hubs at a ‘human scale’ and making them ‘accessible to all’, such neighbourhoods encourage a sense of ‘identity, ownership and belonging’.

Scaranaro highlighted the importance of implementing ‘public realm’ projects, such as  plazas, parks, & promenades, and emphasised their transformative potential in  strengthening community cohesion. Their design, when done with intent, can foster  inclusivity and provide common ground where various social groups can coexist and  interact. Investment in active mobility routes, such as pedestrianised streets and safe  cycling lanes, further enhances this dynamic by inviting people to inhabit the city more fully, rather than merely passing through it. The provision of sports facilities, cultural venues, and local markets similarly enriches opportunities for social interactions. 

The conversation also underscored the inseparability of urban connectivity and  environmental sustainability. Measures such as ‘conserving water, integrating  renewable energy systems, and enhancing biodiversity’ are not optional extras but fundamental to the resilience of future urban environments. Ecological interventions, such as through implementation of green corridors, urban forests, and restored habitats, mitigate environmental pressures, offering cleaner air and reduced heat, while simultaneously providing spaces of conviviality and psychological respite. In this way, ecological design enriches both the natural and the social fabric of the city. 

Ultimately, Scaranaro’s reflections point to a vision of cities which are not defined purely by efficiency metrics, but of environments where social well-being, nature and  technology advance hand in hand. Smart and sustainable urbanism, in this view, must be judged not only by its infrastructure but also by the quality of human experience it makes possible. Cities designed in this manner are better equipped to confront the pressing challenges of climate change and rapid urbanisation. 

The insights gained from this lecture and interview reaffirm the transformative potential  of thoughtful urban design. As cities continue to grow and evolve, the principles of accessibility, community, and ecological responsibility will remain central to creating  resilient and vibrant urban environments.