Designing Cities for Happiness with Dr. Louise

Dr. Louise Lambert

Welcome everyone to my new podcast series, Happiness Matters, a positive psychology informed series on happier living. Now, many of you already know me. I'm Dr. Louise Lambert, a positive psychologist living in Dubai. What you may find strange though is my voice. Yes, I've moved to AI and I'm using it to do this series. But rest assured, it is me behind the voice writing the scripts, pulling up the studies, finding the appropriate references and editing intensely to bring you the best experience. It's also to save time recording in order to do my best work with organizations and individuals directly. So, I hope you'll engage with the ideas and strategies and create your best life going forward, and consider where happiness can fit in your life. Let's begin!

Dr. Louise Lambert

When we think about cities, we often think about the economy, transportation, streets, buildings, electricity, and infrastructure. But today, cities are recognized to be much more than that. And if you've ever lived in a great city, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. And if you've lived in a not so great city, you'll also know what I'm talking about. Cities play an important role in our happiness.

Dr. Louise Lambert

Cities, with all of their noise, pollution, and crowding can actually be turned into spaces that make us feel good. And not just momentarily, but in a way that supports us physically, mentally, and socially. The W.H.O.'s Healthy City Movement, for example, has been advocating for cities to promote better health for decades—and now happiness is a growing part of that conversation.

Dr. Louise Lambert

Research shows that, despite all the stressors, many people living in cities report higher happiness and for good reason. It’s the options. So many of them. Cities give us more public spaces to enjoy, more activities, more employment options, from schools, hospitals, and libraries to cafes, opera houses, art galleries, and shopping. The choices and diversity are endless and are the stuff of quality living. But those same choices also come with losing that close-knit neighborhood feel for example. Like, you might not even know the name of the person in the apartment next to you, or what they look like. Wait, do I even have a neighbor?

Dr. Louise Lambert

There's other things that can make us unhappy in cities. I’ve been here in Dubai for over 20 years and when I first arrived, I missed nature so much. I was craving a quiet space to be in, not a human made space, I needed a natural, green space. I wanted to literally touch some grass and trees. If there are any Canadians out there, you'll know what I mean. So, the old Safa Park was a real gem, I did outdoor boot camps at night on the grass, I walked in and around it at night, I could listen to the birds and just have a feeling of being "away", not in a city. It had a beautiful cafe and art space too. That pocket of green did more than distract me, it's helped me find a little bit of happiness in my first months in the city. It's been transformed and other spaces have appeared now.

Dr. Louise Lambert

But fast forward to today… Now, I don't need to drive to a park. I take my bike in the elevator, walk straight through my building reception, and hop on the blue bike path right outside my building without ever bumping into a single car. There, I ride on a tree-shaded path next to the canal, where I hear those same birds. Dubai has come a long way, designing spaces that aren’t just functional or in isolated areas, but integrated and accessible, as well as pleasant to be in and designed for happiness and not only function. That's good urban planning.

Dr. Louise Lambert

So, what do people actually need to feel happy in a city? Think about your own experiences and you'll already have some answers. We need to be around people, not too many, it becomes scary and potentially unsafe, but not too little, then it becomes isolating and weird. We also need to feel positive emotional experiences, like joy, interest, curiosity and inspiration. That does not come from looking at gray cement walls and boring buildings do just the opposite; they scream unhappiness and loneliness.

Dr. Louise Lambert

But here’s what else we need. Quiet. No sounds of traffic, garbage trucks, or racing street cars. So much noise is bad for our mental health. Instead, we need pockets and places of solitude where we can think or, not think, instead of trying to defend our mental space. We also need places that inspire us, where we can learn and grow and feel a sense of mastery and accomplishment. And nature of course. Research confirms over and over again that nature in cities helps us sleep, lowers our stress level, makes people nicer to one another, and even makes us more active. Finally, we need to move, whether its walking, cycling, or running. Ah, and we all need play. Yes, adults too—it’s not just for kids. From padel courts and outdoor gyms to golf courses and trail systems, leisure and recreation make cities live-able and love-able.

Dr. Louise Lambert

Now, researchers dove into these same questions and explored eight key domains. There's the ecological stuff—green spaces, fresh air, using nature as a resource for good living, that is shade, cooling, visual esthetics, and mental health benefits. Social factors too, like bustling spots where you can chat with a friend over coffee at the place on the corner, which is easy to do because it's now a pedestrian zone and it's safe, quiet, lit up at night and right downstairs. And then functional ones, like walkability. Walkable cities make it easier to explore, easier to enjoy. You don't need a car to walk across the street because you can literally walk across the street. In some cities, across the street requires a 12-minute drive down the freeway, which also cuts the city in half, and back again. When you hear “accessibility,” it’s not just wheelchair ramps—it’s about, can you even get to a park easily or a metro or bus stop? Is there a smooth flow to the city?

Dr. Louise Lambert

So, how do we actually do this? I mean, we’ve talked about happiness and cities, but what are the ingredients to bake this giant urban happiness cake? Luckily, studies like the ‘Happy Public Spaces’ give us recipes—20 ingredients, to be exact.

Dr. Louise Lambert

Imagine this. Mixed-use spaces—where cafés, art studios, an outdoor square for dances and basketball, a health clinic, government office, grocery store and schools all share a block. We’re talking live, work, and play in one spot. It’s like that cute old neighborhood vibe but reimagined for modern cities. And it invites you too. It's got urban furniture, like lounge chairs, picnic tables, and moveable benches in safe, quiet places, where you can still see the action and be part of it. Its made for people and not designed around cars. The parking lot is not the main feature. Next time you're in a city, notice whose needs are prioritized.

Dr. Louise Lambert

Another feature? Interactive design. Spaces that surprise you. Those floor projections in malls? Or the public chessboard you randomly stumble on in parks? These add moments of play, even for adults, and bring strangers together because everyone wants to make the giant musical orchestra sing, but it needs 4 people to make it work.

Dr. Louise Lambert

Then there’s public art—those murals, sculptures, or quirky installations. They don’t just make spaces Instagram-worthy; they make them talkworthy. They get us thinking, chatting, playing, pausing—pausing, you know, to actually enjoy the city instead of scrolling through our phones. Green spaces, too: a must-have. It’s scientific. Parks, community gardens, bee hives, even a single tree-lined walk calms us, boosts mental health, helps us breathe easier, contributes to climate action as much as social integration.

Dr. Louise Lambert

Speaking of Dubai, have you started to see the changes? The Dubai 2040 master plan is so ambitious. They’re aiming to make 60% of the city into green spaces and nature reserves—and honestly, yes, please. Green and recreational spaces will double in size, nature reserves and rural natural areas will constitute 60% of the emirate’s total area, several green corridors will be established to link the service areas, and length of public beaches will increase by 400%. This is the kind of stuff that makes people proud to live here and it's why people are attracted to it. Place making, making people fall in love with their city, is also a big part of urban happiness.

Dr. Louise Lambert

But here’s the takeaway. Whether it’s nature, walkability, fun corners, or spots to chill—it’s gotta be about us: people. Think about where you are happiest in your own city. Is it a cozy café? Maybe a quiet park? What makes that space work for you? Because when cities listen to people, ask for your opinion, allow you to rate and rank areas of the city based on how it makes you feel, also called happiness mapping, kind of like trip advisor but for spaces and places, that's when you know happiness is taken seriously.

Dr. Louise Lambert

Before we end, what does this all mean for you? We know what makes cities work and produce happiness, but know that some of your needs will be met at the expense of others. You might think you’d love living in a vibrant area with all the action, cafes, nightlife, people, marinas and boats, but then you’re up all night because people are partying outside your window or stuck in traffic on a Friday at barely 5pm because its where everyone else wants to be too. And other times, you move to the super quiet neighborhood for the savings, but now you’re so bored and under-stimulated that it feels isolated and lonely. You can think about what you need, what the costs are to getting those needs met, and where your happiness will be most often maximized. As you already know, happiness matters, and where you live will contribute to that.

Dr. Louise Lambert

And on that note, that’s all for today’s episode! Thanks for tuning in, and the next time you’re strolling through your city or planning your next move, take a moment to ask—does this place make me happy? And if not, think about what can. Because, honestly, life’s too short to settle for unhappy spaces.

Dr. Louise Lambert

Again, I'm Dr. Louise Lambert at www.happinessmatters.org, make sure to sign up for my newsletter, give me a follow on LinkedIn and Instagram and see you on the bike path.