When people started leaving rural areas forcitieswith hopes of finding a better life, they probably didn’t expect urbanization to get so out of hand. Now the concrete jungles where dreams were supposedly made of are seen drowning in pollution, trash, traffic, and dystopian dwellings. One could say that the promise of a better life has somehow turned intourbanhell.

While you’re at it, don’t forget to check out a conversation withurban plannerAndy Boenau, who kindly agreed to tell us how we can reverse the damage to urban environments.

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Mural of a large open mouth with buildings as teeth, symbolizing an urban hell theme, on the side of a tall building.

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Urban hell scene showing stairs covered in trash and debris with a grey sky in the background.

Urban hell depiction with a lavish billboard above a street where homeless people are lying, highlighting stark contrast.

Urban hell scene with graffiti saying “My government did this,” showing desolate industrial ruins and cranes.

A child standing in a garbage-filled urban hell, surrounded by piles of waste in a polluted area.

Tangled wires and cables in an urban area, depicting urban hell amidst dilapidated buildings and narrow pathway.

Urban hell: Dense cityscape with old buildings, pyramids in the background, under a dramatic orange sky.

Dense urban buildings with grid-like windows, exemplifying urban hell with towering structures and cramped conditions.

Person walking across trash-covered beach, showcasing an urban hell scene with polluted environment.

The loss ofnatureand green spaces creates the “heat island effect,” where urban areas get significantly hotter than the countryside. As a result, disasters like heatwaves, droughts, and fires are becoming more common, causing health and water supply problems. Higher temperatures can increase the risk of sunstroke, heatstroke, and respiratory problems in inhabitants. Lack of parks, plant life, and water features can also negatively affect city dweller’s mental health.

Green plastic tree on deserted urban road, illustrating urban hell concept.

Urban hell example: cramped metal cages with people inside, depicting harsh living conditions in an overcrowded city.

Aerial view of densely packed, uniform urban housing, illustrating an urban hellscape.

Additionally, dense populations produce infinite amounts of pollution, contaminating air, water, and soil. This can have dire consequences for people’s health, as harmful particles in the atmosphere can cause respiratory infections, heart disease, and even cancer. In overpopulated cities like Tokyo, Beijing, and Mexico City, inhabitants have to wear masks to protect themselves from the polluted air.

Abandoned urban area with decaying buildings and overgrown fields, illustrating urban hell.

Panoramic views of dense urban hell cityscape with numerous high-rise buildings and rugged terrain.

Aerial view of densely packed urban buildings creating an overwhelming urban hellscape.

All of this sounds like a script from a dystopian movie but sadly, this is our very real reality. However, the good news is that urban populations can improve, says urban plannerAndy BoenautoBored Panda.

“Urban hell: cityscape comparison with clear skies and heavy smog conditions."

Urban scene with litter and debris scattered under a highway overpass, highlighting environmental challenges.

Urban hell transformation: Ostend, Belgium, late 1800s vs 2017 shows drastic architectural changes along the coastline.

“Two key things should give any person hope for the future: (1) a basic understanding of how local land use and transportation decisions are made, which will give (2) a blueprint for changing the built environment to fit who we are as humans,” he explained.

Nighttime urban hell scene with heavy traffic congestion on a city highway, highlighted by red tail lights.

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Urban hell scene with people standing in thick foam pollution near a bridge.

Overcrowded urban buildings with dense apartments, illustrating an ‘urban hell’ scenario.

Urban Hell: Multi-level parking structure with cars and bright city lights at night.

People walking on a bridge over a trash-filled area between rundown buildings, depicting an example of urban hell.

“The vast majority of local governments in the US outlaw things like having a single-family home, a duplex, a dentist office, and a market on the same street. Legalize a built environment that fits who we are as people,” Boenau urged.

Statues holding a sword in an urban hell scene with industrial smokestacks in the background.

Urban hell example: Rooftop houses on a large city building surrounded by high-rise apartments.

Urban hell scene with cars parked under an overpass beside an old building, illustrating urban decay.

Urban hell scene with a wire fence and a brick house in the background.

Aerial view of urban hell contrast: densely packed informal settlement versus organized residential area.

Aerial view of a massive, monotonous urban building complex, exemplifying ‘urban hell’ amidst an industrial landscape.

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Aerial view of densely packed urban area with houses on steep hills, illustrating extreme urban hell conditions.

Urban hell: two contrasting street views; first lush with greenery, second barren with concrete surroundings.

Urban hell scene with deteriorating buildings and garbage-strewn railway, depicting harsh living conditions.

Urban hell scene with industrial smoke and a colorful mural on a building, depicting contrast amidst pollution.

Abandoned castle-like houses in an eerie landscape, exemplifying urban hell with repetitive unfinished structures.

Urban hell example with people living in a graffiti-covered tunnel, surrounded by makeshift bedding and personal items.

Bird’s eye view of an urban area with a massive open pit mine nearby, illustrating urban hell.

Two children smiling in front of a deteriorating apartment building in an urban hell environment.

Urban hellscape showing contrast between decaying lower building and modern towering structure above.

Urban hell transformation: vibrant town square with green spaces turns into barren concrete plaza.

Urban hell scene with rundown apartments, litter-strewn streets, puddles, and people walking through the area.

Abandoned urban hellscape showing dilapidated buildings and a crumbling windmill in a modern city setting.

Tall skyscraper illuminated at night, capturing an eerie aspect of urban hell under a gloomy sky.

Urban hell scene with scattered electronic waste covering a vast landfill, highlighting severe pollution issues.

Aerial view of uniform suburban houses, illustrating urban hell with repetitive and dense housing layout.

Aerial view of densely packed urban area forming a circular pattern, depicting urban hell.

Urban hell scene with smoke from factories, crumbling buildings, and graffiti reading “No Happiness” on a concrete wall.

Urban hell scene with polluted water and derelict buildings in a deteriorating city environment.

Narrow, grimy alley between tall brick buildings representing urban hell conditions with AC units and small windows.

“Urban hell transformation: Before shows a stark building, after reveals a classic ornate structure with tramlines."

Sprawling urban landscape at night with dense high-rise buildings and illuminated roads, depicting an ‘urban hell’ scenario.

Rooftop mansion on high-rise building in urban hell, surrounded by dense cityscape.

A striking satellite view showcases an abrupt urban boundary meeting a vast forest, capturing an “urban hell” contrast dramatically.

View of a city obscured by fog from an airplane window, illustrating urban hell’s surreal appearance.

A surreal urban road network with a circular overpass and dense traffic surrounded by greenery.

Urban hell scene with dense smog and numerous chimneys releasing smoke, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Comparison of urban development: 1985 sparsely populated cityscape vs 2016 dense high-rise and highway growth.

Shopping cart awkwardly perched atop a pole in an urban area, illustrating urban hell.

Aerial view of urban sprawl showcasing rows of identical houses in a dry landscape, illustrating urban hell concept.

Crowded beach with numerous oil rigs in the background, depicting urban hell.

Urban Hell: A vibrant garden square transformed into a barren plaza over time.

Urban Hell: Two contrasting cityscape images with greenery and stark urban architecture.

Massive urban hell high-rise buildings encircle a barren courtyard under a blue sky.

Aerial view of urban hell with densely packed buildings and a large church near a river.

Urban hell example: polluted river with two people in a boat, power lines, and a hazy cityscape in the background.

Urban hell scene with dilapidated buildings hidden behind G20 posters, contrasting visuals of neglect and global events.

Aerial view of urban hell in Los Angeles, California, showing dense cityscape and surrounding landscape.

Street cluttered with trash and debris, cars parked along narrow road in urban hellscape.

Spiked pattern under a city bridge illustrating a surreal urban hell scenario.

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Urban hell scene with crowded street, decaying buildings, and litter-strewn area, exemplifying urban decay.

Green hotel beside industrial structures illustrating urban hell contrast.

Aerial view showing stark contrast between urban sprawl and barren desert, depicting elements of urban hell.

Aerial view of dense urban landscape, showcasing sprawling cityscape illustrating urban hell with minimal greenery.

Aerial view of urban hell with a massive traffic jam at a toll booth, cars densely packed for miles.

Aerial view of sprawling urban development, showcasing dense and monotonous grid-like city layout, emblematic of urban hell.

Aerial view of densely packed structures on arid landscape, depicting urban hell conditions.

“Urban Hell example: a historical bridge transformed into a modern automotive structure, before and after images."

Urban hell scene with a car junkyard near a large pyramid under a clear blue sky.

Aerial view of an urban setting with highways encircling a school building, illustrating urban hell design.

Urban hell example: A polluted canal with trash under a bridge in a run-down city area at dusk.

Urban hell example: A building in 2020 with a modern extension added in 2021, altering the original architecture.

Urban hell scene with a bridge over a trash-filled river, surrounded by rundown buildings and debris.

Massive residential buildings closely packed under a cloudy sky, showcasing an urban hell landscape.

Urban hell: Nighttime view of a bustling city street filled with cars and illuminated skyscrapers.

Aerial view of a dense urban area illustrating urban hell with crowded buildings and narrow streets.

Urban hell scene with identical brick houses lining a deserted street, evoking a sense of desolation.

Dense urban buildings forming a large residential block, illustrating urban hell with crowded structures and minimal green spaces.

Crowded urban scene with heavy traffic and pedestrians, showcasing an example of an ‘urban hell’ environment.

Urban scene with a lone tree in a fenced-off area, surrounded by concrete and sparse buildings.

Urban hell: a dangerously leaning apartment building between other high-rise structures.

Traffic and smog in a dense urban area, illustrating urban hell conditions with poor air quality and congestion.

Aerial view of urban hell with dense blue-tarp slums contrasting modern buildings in a cityscape.

A person walking through a narrow, cluttered urban alleyway, highlighting the harshness of urban hell conditions.

Urban hell: an aerial view of an extreme traffic jam at a busy intersection.

Urban hell: Tall, bleak apartment building with graffiti-covered ground level, surrounded by cars and traffic signs.

A skyscraper with a massive urban waterfall cascading down its facade, surrounded by city buildings.

A dog walks through a flooded, trash-filled urban area, reflecting urban hell conditions.

Aerial view of dense urban landscape, showcasing endless rows of houses under a clear sky, epitomizing urban hell.

Desolate urban scene featuring an empty, wide boulevard and a lone scooter under a cloudy sky, illustrating urban hell.

Urban hell scene with congested street, towering buildings, and dense traffic creating a chaotic atmosphere.

Aerial view of densely packed buildings exemplifying urban hellscape under a hazy sky.

Tall, crowded apartment building showcasing urban hell with numerous air conditioners and metal railings.

Tall, densely packed apartment buildings with construction cranes amid urban sprawl, representing urban hell.

Urban hell scene with a street filled with trash, adjacent to a row of residential buildings and parked cars.

Urban scene with litter and people, depicting urban hell.

Urban hell example: split image of empty highway and dense traffic jam with crowded beach in background.

Family by polluted urban river with foamy water, bicycle, and trash on the bank under a hazy gray sky.

Urban hell: an abandoned theater repurposed as a parking lot, with ornate ceilings contrasting the bleak scene below.

Urban landscape with smoky industrial skyline, overcast sky, and winding roads depicting urban hell scenario.

Aerial view of a sprawling city landscape illustrating urban hell, with dense buildings and endless grid-like structures.

Urban hell scene depicting a narrow alley with old, deteriorating buildings and parked scooters.

Aerial view of densely packed city buildings, exemplifying urban hell with overwhelming concrete structures.

Complex urban hell highway interchange with multiple levels and curves, showcasing chaotic city infrastructure.

Urban landscape cluttered with numerous signs and s on narrow street.

Historical transformation in urban hell: busy street in 1906 vs empty road in 2015, showcasing dramatic urban change.

Dilapidated urban structures above polluted water, showcasing urban hell conditions.

Urban hell depiction with crowded street and tall buildings, creating a claustrophobic city atmosphere.

Inside a dark, windowless urban hell, dim lights illuminate the stark concrete walls, conveying a haunting atmosphere.

High-rise building with countless air conditioning units exemplifying urban hell.

Aerial view of a vast urban landscape filled with densely packed, makeshift homes under a clear sky.

A lone figure walks between decaying apartment buildings in a bleak urban hell setting.

A person walking through a narrow, dark urban alley illuminated by sunlight.

Urban decay scene with metal netting above, worn buildings, parked cars, and people walking, reflecting urban hell.

Tall futuristic skyscraper looms over crowded, decaying urban neighborhood, depicting an urban hell scenario.

Crowded urban skyline with dense, deteriorating high-rise buildings creating an ‘urban hell’ atmosphere.

Tall tree grows amidst decaying urban hellscape with overgrown roots and dilapidated buildings.

Urban hellscape depicting a barren area with makeshift structures, contrasting with distant city buildings.

Urban architecture with high-rise buildings, power lines, and vehicles on a road.

High-rise residential buildings illustrate an example of urban hell with dense and grim architecture.

Dense urban apartments showcasing a massive cluster of identical high-rise buildings, reflecting an urban hellscape.

Dense urban landscape with rows of identical high-rise buildings under a clear sky, exemplifying urban hell.

Tall, dense buildings at night form a narrow corridor of urban hell, creating an oppressive atmosphere under the dark sky.

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