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Tristan Cleveland

Urban Planner

A man in a blue sweater and black pants, arms crossed, smiling on a city street with autumn trees, pedestrians, and a bus in the background.
Stories
Alienation is a losing game: What urbanists can learn from the haters
Alienation is a losing game: What urbanists can learn from the haters

To change peoples’ minds, we have to make an effort first to listen.

Why are great streets so hard to build?
Why are great streets so hard to build?

To make every street wonderful, add it to people’s job descriptions.

Does density hurt happiness?
Does density hurt happiness?

Our new study says no.

How Halifax built the most vibrant waterfront in Canada: Decades of small changes
How Halifax built the most vibrant waterfront in Canada: Decades of small changes

For successful placemaking, small, consistent investments over time matter more than grand gestures.

The secret to vibrant streets? Focus on what people can see
The secret to vibrant streets? Focus on what people can see

Transit-oriented development suggests that homes, shops, and services should all be located within 400 metres of transit. The actual distance to create vibrant streets may be much shorter.

Zoning won’t create walkable suburbs on its own. But one great block might.
Zoning won’t create walkable suburbs on its own. But one great block might.

Surrey, B.C. shows a promising strategy to transform suburbs into more walkable, vibrant communities.

Where words fail: Teach architects and urban designers like violinists
Where words fail: Teach architects and urban designers like violinists

Architects and urban designers justify or explain their work with words, and municipalities govern design with jargon-filled regulations. The outcome is often underwhelming.

The responsibility of the building to the street
The responsibility of the building to the street

Structural engineers are responsible for ensuring that buildings do not fall over. Mechanical engineers must ensure that people inside can breathe. But what responsibility do building designers have to the street outside?

Walkability, like apple farming, is all about getting the basics right
Walkability, like apple farming, is all about getting the basics right

How cities can implement good ideas faster.

How standards can enable more diversity in urban design
How standards can enable more diversity in urban design

If residents want to live in a walkable community, it's the planner's job to communicate the requirements—and then lay the foundations for a wonderful, walkable place.

Alone, together
Alone, together

How city dwellers are building joyful connections despite physical isolation.

We can’t solve affordability while ignoring wellbeing
We can’t solve affordability while ignoring wellbeing

Demand for great communities is pushing up prices and displacing residents. We must build more great communities.

Why math and rigid rules aren’t enough to build great cities
Why math and rigid rules aren’t enough to build great cities

For every rule about good urban design, there are places that offer exceptions.

Walking is economic growth
Walking is economic growth

You know walking is good for your physical health, and even your emotional wellbeing. But did you know it’s critical for the fiscal health of your city too?

What makes a beautiful place?
What makes a beautiful place?

An evidence-based approach to designing for diverse tastes and preferences.

Tristan is a community designer and urban columnist. He leads our Healthy Communities research and speaks about our work around the world.

Tristan completed his PhD at Dalhousie University’s Healthy Populations Institute, where his research focused on finding solutions to operationalize healthy communities. At Happy Cities, he uses this expertise to advise clients on how to design walkable, healthy, and complete communities. He is a respected commentator on urban planning and design, with work published in Star Metro, Spacing, and Strong Towns. Tristan has helped develop our methodologies and toolkits for assessing community health and wellbeing. He has led projects with national and municipal governments in Canada, the UAE and beyond, helping operationalize health research into design and policy. 

Tristan is a sought-after speaker and workshop facilitator. His thrilling keynotes have helped spread the message for happier, healthier communities across North America and beyond. Tristan has devoted his life and career to reforming the planning profession to ensure that building communities that support the basic needs of human health becomes the new minimum standard.

Contact Tristan

Stories from Tristan

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