Global cities
Global cities (sometimes referred to as power cities, world cities, alpha cities or world centres) are cities that form primary urban hubs in the global economy.
The term originated in the 1980’s during research into common the characteristics of the world’s most significant cities, and has been popularised more recently with the focus on globalisation. Globalisation has become one of the key phenomena of the modern life, but there controversy about what it actually means and whether and how far it is to be welcomed. For more information see: Globalisation.
Global cities can be seen as key nodes in the global network of industry, culture, finance, and communications. As a result they have creative, competitive, political and economic advantages and are in some ways more connected to other global cities than they are to the countries that they are part of. At the same time however, they are in competition with the other global cities.
Global cities are linked to the rise of global companies and global supply chains. However, they can suffer from societal fragmentation with large disparities between the living standards of traditional workers relative to those in well-paid, globalised roles.
Criteria for the designation of global cities is highly contested, but generally global cities are thought to include:
The term ‘megacity’ refers to metropolitan areas with a total population of more than 10 million people. For more information see: Megacity.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.