We shape our cities, and afterwards our cities shape us, to paraphrase Winston Churchill. In this, he eloquently drew a line between the built characteristics of our surroundings and the social outcomes they promote. Winston would no doubt feel vindicated though probably saddened to see that over the intervening years his assertion has been backed up by a wealth of research that confirms some built form characteristics are linked with high levels of stress, lower propensity to be active and social stigma amongst other things. These bring with them real, largely predictable problems that stifle lives: greater vulnerability to diabetes, heart disease, obesity, mental health problems, alcohol and drug abuse, and violence. The causes of this are many and their interplay complex and extend far beyond just the way cities are designed. However, “there is a reciprocal relationship between urban social conditions and the built environment,” according to Dr Sharon Friel.

For those adversely impacted, these impacts echo through generations as children grow up without personal, family or community experience of attainment or opportunity. They are often exposed to high levels of contaminants and the evidence of the world around them suggests no alternative but to resign themselves to a diminished life. They are separated from positive experiences and exposed to negative ones to lead shorter, less healthy, more isolated, and more stressful lives. They are denied the opportunities to explore and expand their abilities to develop their latent skills and realize raw talents. Thus they are deprived of a shot at fulfillment and we are all denied their contribution.

This is a tragedy and injustice of the highest order. Yet despite the tireless commitment of many civic-minded people in government and civil society who have sought to address this problem such deprivation seems endemic in our towns and cities. I would like to suggest a way of looking at this problem and potentially help to address it is to look at our surroundings as we looked at food and thought of cities in terms of how they nourish us. With this perspective a good city offers a broad ‘experience menu’ of activities and choices that nurture their inhabitants (allowing them to walk, be active, engage with each other, co-operate, etc) (figure 1) and those people can chose from that menu the experiences that matter to them personally (their experience diet) so they can self-determine their own, best way to meet their needs, thrive, and fulfill their potential.