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City Case Studies
Discover how the Laureates of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, highly regarded for their exemplary urban initiatives, and other cities have brought about social, economic and environmental benefits in a holistic way to their communities.
Last updated 3 July 2025
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While the Liveability Framework emerged from Singapore's experience, its principles resonate globally as cities worldwide share similar aspirations and approaches — from integrated planning to dynamic governance and collaborative ecosystems. These case studies reflect that many of the principles are applicable to other cities, even though they have different developmental pathways, historical and socio-economic contexts, governance structures and expected impacts from climate change.
The Liveability Framework is not a prescriptive model for all cities. It can, however, serve as a reference of important considerations for cities to use as they chart their own development trajectories. It is hoped that these case studies become a valuable resource for cities around the world as policymakers and planners strive together to create more vibrant, sustainable and liveable places for people.
This section features the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Laureates — Bilbao (2010), New York City (2012), Suzhou (2014), Medellín (2016), Seoul (2018), Vienna (2020) and Mexico City (2024) — whose exemplary urban initiatives have holistically transformed their communities. Complementing these case studies are caselets of other cities that have actively pursued innovative approaches to enhance liveability and sustainability.
Box Story: The Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize
Read about the international award that honours exemplary achievements in building liveable cities.
City Case Studies of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Laureates
Click on the cities below to learn about their unique approaches and initiatives towards achieving liveability outcomes.
Caselets from Other Cities
These are 20 cities from various regions that exemplify the use of innovative solutions to address urban challenges—from economic revitalisation and urban rejuvenation projects to social inclusion and integrated approaches in urban planning. The range of approaches adopted also demonstrate the framework’s applicability across different urban contexts, serving as a practical guide for tackling future urban issues.
Click on each region to view the city caselets.