Is this the end of zoning? Not quite. But it’s time to rethink it.

Urban planning was born with a modernist idea:

divide the city by functions.

Homes here, schools there. Factories at the edge.

Each area with one purpose, clearly separated from the rest.

But cities — and lives — don’t work like that anymore.

Let’s look at four traditional urban functions and how they’re shifting:

📍 Home is no longer just “home”

A place for work, care, learning, entertainment.

One room, many lives.

📍 The street is a plaza

Not just for cars.

In many cities, sidewalks and streets are becoming truly shared spaces — designed for sitting, playing, eating, meeting.

📍 From school to stage

Schools open at night for cultural events.

Hospitals include cafés and training centers.

Public buildings are no longer mono-functional.

📍 The airport is the new downtown

Airports are becoming urban districts in their own right:

retail, hotels, housing, business centers…

connected to the global city.

But does this mean we should abandon zoning altogether?

Not really.

What we need is to rethink it.

Some functions can blend beautifully.

Others… can’t.

🏟️ You probably don’t want a stadium next to your bedroom.

🏭 Or a landfill beside your school.

That’s why planning still matters.

To make room for integration — and define healthy boundaries.

Some pieces don’t fit.

That’s why we still need planning.

What do you think?

Have you seen similar changes in your city?

Let’s discuss.

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