Abstract

Global urbanisation has not only changed the face of humanity but the whole planet. In 2007, world population became more urban than rural. Industrial growth, as well as soaring levels of consumption, has taken a high toll on natural resources (land, water, air). At the same time, in large parts of the urbanised world, we witness social inequality and rampant poverty. Modern urban planning does not provide adequate answers to address complex challenges like climate change. As an interdisciplinary discipline it considers social, economic, historic, political, environmental, legal, and other aspects. But it has mostly failed to integrate the human interior dimensions such as identity, emotions, relatedness, psyche, and spirituality. Life occurs to us both externally and internally. In this paper, the authors argue that urban planning approaches that disregard the inner space of human beings cannot be sustainable. Socio-technical solutions, technological innovation, and economic growth must be aligned with a transformation of individual and collective mindset. In order to return to a more harmonious integration of an urbanised humanity with the natural world, urban residents must consciously transform their values and worldviews. The future of the planet depends on choices we make regarding the way we urbanise.