Spatial injustice is not merely an abstract concept; it manifests in the form of
- slums,
- disconnected transit,
- marginalised peripheries, and
- gentrified cores.
Decades of policy neglect have reinforced these patterns of spatial injustice in many urban settings, particularly in the Global South. In the Global North, zoning laws, discriminatory housing policies, and infrastructural apartheid have produced equally segregated landscapes, exemplifying spatial injustice. The inequitable distribution of resources becomes embedded in the fabric of cities. Design responses must recognise these embedded inequities and shift focus towards integrative spaces, addressing spatial injustice. Affordable housing and mixed-use zoning can serve as instruments of architecture for spatial redistribution, challenging the status quo and facilitating a more balanced urban experience. By deploying these elements intentionally, spatial injustice can be mitigated.
Designing with Equity in Mind: Principles of Inclusive Architecture
Fairness in city planning is about embedding principles throughout a project’s life to tackle spatial injustice.
- Accessibility,
- affordability, and
- cultural sensitivity
are key to equitable design. Community involvement is crucial, not just a tick-box exercise. Architects should co-create with communities, rather than designing for them. This approach ensures projects meet local needs, respect heritage, and promote spatial justice. By working together, we can build trust and ownership, creating a more just and equitable urban environment. This slow and deliberate process prioritises people’s needs, helping to reduce spatial injustice and create fairer cities for all.
Case Studies: Spatial Redistribution in Practice
Cities worldwide are trying new approaches to address spatial injustice.
- Medellín’s cable car system connects poor areas to the city centre, providing access to jobs and services.
- Barcelona’s Superblocks initiative prioritises pedestrians and community spaces, reclaiming streets from cars.
- Vienna’s public housing model integrates affordable homes into prime areas, promoting socio-economic diversity.
These projects show how design can reshape social dynamics and tackle spatial injustice. By combining good design with strong political will, cities can create more equitable environments for all residents. These examples demonstrate the power of architecture to transform urban spaces and promote fairness.
Challenges and Critiques: When Design Falls Short
Despite progress, significant challenges hinder spatial justice. Many “inclusive” projects lack systemic support, failing to deliver long-term equity and often perpetuating spatial injustice. Gentrification and greenwashed developments can displace the urban poor, while top-down design practices disconnect architects from marginalised communities. To truly address spatial injustice, the architecture profession must adopt design ethics, policy integration, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The process must be iterative, accountable, and grounded in justice, rather than just aesthetics or innovation. Without this commitment, the risk of exploiting redistribution for image-building or speculative interests remains high, undermining efforts to tackle spatial injustice.
Technology, Data, and the Democratisation of Urban Form
New tools like GIS mapping and AI modelling can help create more equitable cities by visualising spatial injustice and predicting the impact of design interventions.
These technologies enable
- evidence-based planning,
- simulate pedestrian flows, and
- incorporate community feedback in real-time.
When used responsibly, they can empower communities and inform decision-making. Democratising these tools allows more stakeholders to influence the design process, bridging the gap between data, design, and democracy. However, caution is needed to avoid exploiting data for surveillance or tech-driven solutions that overlook community needs. By prioritising community empowerment, technology can support architecture for spatial redistribution and promote more just cities.
Toward a Fairer Urban Future
The future of cities depends on building for everyone, not just a few. To correct the unequal urban landscape and address spatial injustice, architects must think differently. They must focus on systems, inclusion, and redistribution, rather than just aesthetics or growth. Every new building or infrastructure project is an opportunity to create positive change. Architecture for spatial redistribution provides a framework for designing cities that prioritise justice and equality. By bridging disciplines and connecting community needs with institutional power, architects can create cities that are evolving commons – places of belonging, dignity, and shared prosperity for all.accessibility: can smaller firms and public-sector projects realistically afford to implement Parametricism 2.0? These are the questions that define its future.
Citation:
- Anguelovski, I., Honey‑Rosés, J. & Marquet, O. (2023) Equity concerns in transformative planning: Barcelona’s Superblocks under scrutiny. Cities & Health, 7(6), pp. 950–958. doi:10.1080/23748834.2023.2207929. (Accessed: 25 June 2025).
- Pérez, K., Palència, L., López, M. J. et al. (2025) Environmental and health effects of the Barcelona superblocks. BMC Public Health, 25, Article 634. doi:10.1186/s12889-025-21835-z. (Accessed: 25 June 2025).
- C40 Cities (2018) The implementation of the Superblocks programme in Barcelona: Filling our streets with life. C40 Cities. Available at: https://www.c40.org/researches/superblocks (Accessed: 25 June 2025).
- Mueller, N. et al. (2019) Changing the urban design of cities for health: The Superblock model. Environmental Research, 177, pp. 108–117. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2019.04.020. (Accessed: 25 June 2025).
- RMIT University (2024) Urban design in a climate emergency: Barcelona’s Superblocks. RMIT News, October. Available at: https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/barcelona-superblocks (Accessed: 25 June 2025).
