Uploaded on 2014-12-09 by zackxconti

[1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14181010779987866.png The five most liveable cities I have lived in are as follows: 1. London 2. Malta 3. Rome 4. Shanghai 5. Singapore Five characteristics: 1. Schools and Education 2. Transport Infrastructure 3. Housing Expense 4. Medical/Health Services 5. Climate 1 - The above list is very subjective to my travel reasons. The reason to my living abroad was always education related. This indicates that one important criteria is the level of education or schooling in that city. 2 - Efficient travel from, to and within a city is very important. I think this is almost an objective criteria. 3 - Given that the reason of my stay in the cities was academia related, the student income is somewhat limited thus requiring affordable rental for a decent home. 4 - Knowing that the city offers good medical services gives a sense of relief. Personally, it is one of the factors contributing to settling down in a city. 5 - The climate play a role in the liveability of a city however it is subject to the individual. I have been quite adaptable to the various climates, probably because my home country experiences all seasons yet moderately. London and Singapore are on extreme ends however I would not say that it played a large role in feeling comfortable in the city. My current city is Singapore. 1 - The reason for living here is an academic one. Singapore offers a good level of education and plentiful resources, both monetary and opportunities. 2 - Transport is extremely efficient. Travel modes span from trains to busses and light rail. Most parts of the city are well connected except for some which will be connected in the near future by means of extended lines. The night travel however is quite poor. In most cities such as London, a reliable night bus system assures a method of transport during the late hours. Despite the taxis being available at any time in Singapore, the expense can vary quite a lot between times of day thus making bus travel still way cheaper. 3 - The housing expense in Singapore is quite high. It can be more expensive than London at times. I think that cities in general should invest more in students that travel to the city for academic purposes. A students pursuing a degree or research in a city can be considered as a potential contributor to that city. Investment, even in the form of reducing private housing fees for students would attract more students, especially to high quality places like Singapore. 4 - The medical health/services in Singapore are quite efficient and of a good quality. Despite the size of the island, there are quite a number of clinics and hospitals which well dispersed. 5 - The climate in Singapore is a tropical one. The heat, humidity and frequent freak storms can be a repulsive factor for selecting Singapore as a city to live in however the city infrastructure is well equipped to counter act this. Shelter from rain and sun is provided in most places and walkways. You are almost guaranteed to be sheltered most of the time. The heat, however is counteracted by mechanical ventilation. Unfortunately this has become the instant solution in every building or mode of transport in Singapore. Passive design is a challenge in Singapore given the lack of wind however the use of air-conditionig can be reduced if more sensibility was put in the design. Such as, high floor apartments can do without mechanical ventilation and can take advantage of cross ventilation. Of course, the buildings need to be designed sensibly for this effect to be achieved. In the ultimate necessity of mechanical ventilation, the city planners should think about an infrastructure that caters for an entire block or estate as a centralised system. This would need more research due to potential social issues.