Intermediary cities
Intermediary cities (intermediate cities or i-cities) are cities with a population of 50,000 to one million. They are small and medium-sized cities that perform a linking role, helping ease the transition between rural areas and larger cities, and providing useful markets and access to services. They may also connect cities within an urban area, and can help relieve pressure on larger cities and megacities.
It is estimated that 20% of the world´s population live in intermediary cities. Ref https://www.uclg.org/en/agenda/intermediary-cities
Intermediary cities can be more efficient than larger cities, with more effective government, better social cohesion and greater flexibility.
However, they can be vulnerable to change, tend to have a poorer population than larger cities and often lack resources and opportunities. They can be excluded from decision making processes and are often overlooked in policy decision making, but are considered vital to the sustainable development of the global population.
Many intermediate cities are growing rapidly, in particular those in Africa and South America.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Conservation and transformation
Reading Ruskin’s cultural heritage. Book review.
Renovating Union Chain Bridge.
AI tools for planning, design, construction and management
A long, continually expanding list, any more to add?
Robots in the construction industry
From cultural characterisations to construction sites.
Empowering construction with AI integration
New horizons with a human touch.
Key AI related terms to be aware of
With explanations from the UK government.
A Better Hiring Toolkit for construction
Tooling up to hire under best practice standards in the sector.
Recharging Electrical Skills in Wales
Step by step collaborative solutions.
Ireland budget announcement 2025
CIOB responds with positivity, criticism and clarity.
The continued ISG fall out, where to go?
Support for ISG contractors, companies and employees.
New HES national centre for traditional building retrofit
Announced as HES publishes survey results which reveal strong support for retrofit.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Expected to become one of the largest activities in the global construction industry.
Scope determination appeals and the Building Safety Act
Process explained following release of appeals guidance.
The ECA industry focus video channel
Keeping update with the industry session by session.
Over 25 recorded informations sessions freely available.
AT Awards 2024 ceremony East London October 25th.
Revisiting the AT community at the 2023 awards evening.