It’s Official: Boring Cities Are Bad for Your Health

Our cities have long been built for cars, not for people—and the skyline as well as the data is starting to show it. Rising rates of depression, diabetes, and other illnesses highlight the cost of environments designed without health in mind. But the tide is turning. Armed with cutting-edge neuroscience, researchers are mapping how buildings affect our minds and bodies. From Alzheimer’s villages to urban happiness metrics, cities are starting to prioritize well-being. If developers embrace this shift, we may soon live in spaces that heal rather than harm—places that nurture joy and health alike.