Think Tank for Flourishing Cities
Curating wisdom from the world's most flourishing cities
We study how great cities design for longevity, health, and human potential—and translate those insights so any community can learn from them.
Our Thesis
Cities shape how we age
Most of what we call health is shaped by environment, not genetics. Yet almost no city on earth was designed for a 90-year life.
When neighborhoods invite connection, people stay engaged.
When streets encourage movement, people stay healthy.
When communities value wisdom, people keep contributing.
We study cities where people already live longer, and translate what works into insights anyone can use.
Our Lens
Four pillars. One framework.
Every city we study, every insight we publish, is viewed through these four dimensions.
The human outcome
Physical health, mental resilience, and the lived experience of thriving in a city. This is the measure that matters most.
Focus Areas
Where we focus
Our work is organized around four intersections of longevity and urban life.
Longevity +
Longevity + Places
Where you live shapes how long you live. We study the spatial, environmental, and infrastructural qualities of cities that produce the longest, healthiest lives.
Longevity +
Longevity + Performance
How well does a city perform at keeping people alive, healthy, and thriving? We measure urban systems against longevity outcomes to find what actually works.
Longevity +
Longevity + Legacy
What are we building that outlasts us? We explore how cities can design for their grandchildren—creating infrastructure, culture, and policy that endures.
Longevity +
Longevity + Connection
Social infrastructure is the strongest predictor of longevity. We research how cities foster belonging, community, and the relationships that keep people alive.
Insights
Research and perspectives
Our original research alongside essential reading on longevity, cities, and the built environment.
The Longevity Cities Primer
What Copenhagen Teaches the World About Designing the 100-Year City
By Rajiv Ahuja
Longevity Cities: A Primer on the Built Environment and Human Longevity
How urban design, social infrastructure, and city policy intersect with longevity science. Synthesizing insights from Blue Zones, the Copenhagen model, and emerging longevity city frameworks.
Curated Articles
Planetizen
Great Cities Don’t Just Acknowledge We Age in Them. They Build for It.
Forbes
Can Cities Keep Up With an Aging World? Emerging Models Show Promise
Baker Institute
Brain-Healthy Cities: How Urban Planning Can Foster Healthy Brains and Minds
Next Avenue
Brain Health Begins in the Community
CFA Institute
Longevity Is Reshaping Cities and Urban Lifestyles
Milken Institute
Shaping Environments That Shape Us
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers: Infrastructure, Swimming, and Urban Revival
Generations (ASA)
Are Older Workers the Cornerstone of a New Workforce?
CFA Institute
The 70-Year Career: Tips for a Long Working Life
CFA Institute
Tech Empowers Older Workers
Generations (ASA)
Asian Americans and Dementia Risk: Not a Homogenous Group
Inaugural Festival — 2026
The Art of Citymaking Festival
City, Culture, and Change
In June 2026, wsdm Haus took part in the inaugural Art of Citymaking Festival at GlassDome, Singapore—a gathering of urban leaders, creatives, policymakers, and practitioners exploring how cities evolve as places to live, connect, and participate.
As part of the Citymaking Circle, wsdm Haus hosted a Longevity Table—a conversation on how cities can be designed for longer, healthier lives. We look forward to future editions.
What We Build
Our Initiatives
Research is only the beginning. We translate insight into real-world experiences, communities, and frameworks.
Flagship Initiative
Longevity Table
Small curated dinners, big conversations
Intimate community dinners in cities around the world, bringing together researchers, city builders, and practitioners for candid conversations about what makes cities work.
Request an invitationThe 100-Year City
A framework for cities that endure
An ongoing research initiative developing a comprehensive framework for designing cities that thrive across generations.
Longevity Cities Network
A global community of practice
A growing network of people and organizations around the world who share a commitment to urban longevity.
Our Purpose
“The best cities are not built by accident. They are designed with intention, measured with care, and improved with courage.”
wsdm Haus curates and translates the practices of flourishing cities into insights for policymakers, urban designers, and civic leaders worldwide.
Learn about our approachReady to build longevity cities together?
Whether you are a researcher, city official, or organization, we would love to explore how we can collaborate.