Urban environments consist of some of the same issues involved with design for human use in any other local. These issues include sun, shade, climate, safety, identity and sociability. Most urban livability issues are solved with the creative design of urban park lands, pavements, outside terraces, fountains, wall enclosure lighting and urban plantings. A neighborhood or commercial district within a built up urban area needs to be comfortable, beautiful, clean and provide a sense of tranquillity and purpose for urban residents.

Long range urban design issues, such as population growth, circulation, housing patterns, urban recreation accessibility and urban environmental quality are all solved by creative urban design principles.