As towers rise around us, it remains unclear if residential skyscrapers present the best model for new housing in cities.

Australians should be asking more questions about how their streets are used before it is too late.

The world is preoccupied with rating the city. From the towering skyscrapers of New York to Tokyo’s colourful neon and Melbourne's amiable public spaces, it seems there’s a way to grade every aspect of the modern metropolis.

If affordable housing is crucial to the success of our society, instilling a sense of security and well-being, then cities like Sydney and Auckland are failing miserably.