Lior Steinberg

on Increasing Urban Happiness

Have you ever been on a “Walkshop”?

Lior Steinberg, inspired by Jane Jacobs, the visionary woman who revolutionized the world of urbanism, embraced her belief that “designing a dream city is easy; rebuilding a living one takes imagination:” https://lnkd.in/dBSHM35Q

At the UNFINISHED Festival in Romania, Lior didn’t lead a typical tour filled with historical trivia. Instead, he embarked on an urban exploration, inviting participants to uncover the essential principles Jane championed for vibrant, livable neighborhoods. It was a quest to see cities not as they are, but as they could be.

Growing up in Tel Aviv, a city of contrasts, his fascination with urban life began early: “As a child, I walked the streets with my father, wondering who designed these spaces around us.” Back then, he didn’t even know urban planners existed. Yet, this vibrant city also left scars, shaped by the years of conflict it imposed on its people.

Before finding his calling, Lior worked in technology and computer programming, but his curiosity about how cities functioned always sang true. His path shifted after reading Jane Jacobs’ work: “Her book became a cornerstone of new urbanism; she showed how neighborhoods designed for people, not cars, create thriving communities.”

Inspired and energized, he moved to Rotterdam and co-founded humankind, a collective focused on reimagining urban spaces. His perspective evolved further when he became a father: “The birth of my son changed everything. I wanted to see the city through his eyes and figure out how we could create spaces where children, families, and everyone could flourish.”

Lior’s reflections come alive in his book, The Car That Wanted to Be a Bike. The story follows Johnny, a car trying to find purpose in a changing world, dreaming of becoming a bicycle. It’s a playful yet profound allegory for the transformations cities are undergoing today.

The relationship between humans and their environment is beautifully explained by Lior through a metaphor: “I often compare it to elephants in a zoo. In a poor zoo, where an elephant is locked in small cages, deprived of proper food, care and interaction, you can see the toll it takes: illness, depression and a short lifespan. In the wild, where they have plenty of space, companionship, and abundance, they thrive.”

The same goes for humans. People living in green, walkable, low-car-traffic places tend to live longer, healthier, and happier lives with greater life satisfaction. Unlike animals, we have the unique ability to create our environments, to create cities that nurture our well-being.”

Read Lior Steinberg’s answers for Inspirators to discover why urban planning means shaping a regenerative way to live!

Thank you,Lior, for being a Mindful Urban Planner!


#INSPIRATORS QUESTIONNAIRE

Name: Lior Steinberg

Company / Institution: Humankind

Title: Co-Founder & Urban Planner; Speaker; Writer on Human-Centric Cities; Author of the Children's Book "The Car That Wanted to Be a Bike"

Website: www.steinberg.nu

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liorsteinberg/

Country of origin: Israel

Country you currently live in: Netherlands

Your definition of Regeneration: In the world of urbanism, it’s about the capability of cities and neighbourhoods to revive and contribute back to the environment and society, rather than just extracting from them.

Main business challenge you face: Convincing cities to build more bike lanes and fewer roads.

Main driver that keeps you going: Most of humanity lives in cities. If we can figure out how to create better cities, we can improve the living environment for the majority of humankind.

The trait you are most proud of in yourself: Humor, which some people find funny.

The trait you most value in others: I admire people who aren’t afraid to lose everything for something they believe in.

Passions & little things that bring you joy: Reading a book or the newspaper on a café terrace brings me joy.

The Inspirators who determined you to take the regenerative path:

Jane Jacobs. I read her book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, 50 years after it was released, and it was more relevant than ever. It convinced me that urban planning has taken the wrong course.

A starting point for companies or professionals that are beginning the regeneration journey: Go out there and talk to people, spend time in the neighbourhoods, and truly understand the local context. The solutions will start to reveal themselves.

Most used and abused clichés in sustainability that bother you: “Technology will save us”.

I don’t know if it’s a cliché, but this belief is common among many. For instance, people believe that self-driving electric vehicles will make transportation sustainable, and solve traffic jams. However, cars are polluting even when they are electric, and self-driving cars will most likely create more traffic than regular vehicles.

An honest piece of advice for young people who lose hope: Change is made step by step, even if it feels insignificant at times. Start small, take action in your own community, and you'll realize there are so many others on this journey with you.

Books that had a great impact on you / Must-Reads for any regenerative professional:

  • The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs

  • Life Between Buildings by Jan Gehl

  • Urban Acupuncture by Jaime Lerner

Movies / Documentaries you would watch all over again:

The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces by William H. Whyte

Websites / Podcasts you visit frequently:

99% Invisible - Podcast that covers the beauty of design and hidden stories behind the everyday

If Books Could Kill – Podcast that criticizes bestselling nonfiction books

Hard Fork – A New York Times podcast about technology news

Music that makes you (and your heart) sing: The Beatles. You can’t go wrong with them.

Places you travelled to that left a mark on you: I get to travel a lot because I’m fortunate to work in different cities. In every city I visit, I discover something new. I always try to take at least one long walk without a specific destination, observing how streets are designed and how people live and move in their city.

Global Regenerative Voices you recommend us to follow:

Kate Raworth for her work on Doughnut Economics

Trends in Regeneration we should keep an eye on:

More cities are becoming bike-friendly. Look at Paris, which now has over 1,100 km of cycle paths, up from just 200 km in 2001. This transformation is the result of visionary leadership and hard work. Cycling in Paris city center is now a great experience, and similar transformations are happening worldwide. This trend has the potential to be a key solution to our mobility challenges.

Events we should attend / Best places for networking (online or offline):

Urban Future Global Conference

Placemaking Week

Unfinished in Bucharest, Romania, a wonderful event I discovered this year.

Impactful and relevant Sustainable Development or Regeneration courses or certifications:

EIT Urban Mobility Academy offers both online and in-person courses to help professionals understand and shape the future of cities.

Reasons to feel optimistic about our future in 2030: We have access to every piece of knowledge through our smartphones.

Reasons to feel pessimistic about our future in 2030: We use our smartphones to watch stupid videos and spread misinformation.

Regenerative Leadership qualities much needed today: Empathy, Courage, and collaborative spirit.

The quote that inspires you:

"We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us." (Winston Churchill)

Your quote that will inspire us:

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