Across the world, voices are rising to ensure beauty is not overlooked in the built environment. Architects, urban planners, design thinkers—and increasingly the public—are calling for a revival of what makes spaces truly captivating: from natural elements and cultural references to the forms, proportions and styles of architecture.

In an era where dense urban living increasingly disconnects people from nature, Architect Koichi Takada is reimagining architecture as a force for reconnection—between people, place and the natural world.

A global urban planner is showing just how transformative a city can become when people—not cars or metrics—sit at the centre of its design.