DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY “Architecture won awards – but lifestyle? There's a lot more going on at local cemeteries. Spiegel Online, describing City Nord, Hamburg (2010)(Spiegel, 2010)As the world's population and ecological challenges increase in the 21st century, it is of paramount importance that new cities, towns and communities strive to achieve “sustainability” – economically, ecologically. and socially - without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It has been reported that our urban citizens will constitute 61% of our global population by 2030. (UN, 2005, page 9) Providing safe, clean and affordable places to live is not a new idea, there is a long history on how the built environment influences human behavior and social interaction; how high-quality, well-designed public spaces can increase feelings of psychological well-being; how design can make urban environments more legible and help people find their way; the role that natural green spaces play in creating an environment conducive to health; and how to design against crime. However, the social importance of future urban growth, crucial for the future of humanity, still does not receive sufficient attention in development planning. In many cities, decent neighborhoods remain a dream for the majority of the population, while building authorities view socially sustainable housing as an impractical burden. “Social sustainability concerns our quality of life, today and tomorrow. It is the extent to which a neighborhood supports its residents and prioritizes their well-being. Social sustainability focuses on how people who live in an area or space interact with each other and function collectively as a community...... middle of paper ...... than larger cities have never been "earthly utopias" but rather... places of stress and conflict and sometimes real misery... places where adrenaline flows through people's bodies and the streets they walk on; messy places, sordid rhythms sometimes…. (Marshall, R., 2004 Pg 9) Science and technology contribute a lot to development, but they cannot do everything; above all, they do not offer a ready-made solution to the problem of values ​​posed by the clash between tradition and modernity. (Jeantet, C., 1994) The Jeune Foundation, a leader in social innovation, has developed a framework containing four elements that are essential to building new communities that will be prosperous and sustainable in the long term. These are: - Social facilities and infrastructure - Social and cultural life - Voice and influence - Space to grow