Resource: Create Your Own City

Download Your Free City-Building Coloring Book

Ever wondered what it would be like to design your own city? Now you can! This interactive colouring book resource lets you become an urban designer, artist, and storyteller all rolled into one. Whether you’re a parent looking for an educational activity, a teacher seeking classroom resources, or simply someone who loves creative projects, this downloadable activity offers a fun way to explore what makes communities thrive.

How to Use This Resource

Use this colouring book to create an inspiring and healthy city that you would like to live in.

• Colour or draw your own people, animals, trees, plants, and other city elements. Feel free to extend your built environment by drawing your own housing, shops, schools,  or natural areas, etc.
• Choose your favourite city elements from the cut-out sheet. Colour them and cut them out. You can either glue them down or move them freely around your city scene.
• Create a story about the city you’ve created.
• Share your colouring book and story with us on social media

Did you know…?

Creating cities is a real job! People like artists, urban designers and planners, architects, engineers, lawyers, scientists, politicians, and community members help design how our cities grow and change.

Our cities and neighbourhoods are made up of many connected places: housing, schools, stores, medical offices, libraries, parks, and much more. We also need safe ways to get from place to place, like sidewalks, streets and bike lanes.

Healthy city-building means we think about both community needs and the natural environment. Cities work best when they are connected and inclusive, with places where everyone feels safe, represented, and a part of a vibrant community.

Questions to think about when creating your city and your story:

• What items did you choose to create a healthy city?
• Which of these items do you have now where you live?
• What are the places you would like to see within your city?
• How would you like to get from place to place within your city?

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Credits

We extend our gratitude to the talented artists who contributed to this project:

Colouring Book Design: Yara Alhourani (Centre for Cities), supported by Crystal Waddell (Centre for Cities)

Cutouts Design: The Noun Project

Contributing Artists (via The Noun Project): Veremeya, ji-na seo, Softscape, Ira Ramadan, John Francis, Pong Pong, Fathur Rachman, Azam Ishaq, Brickclay, Designing Hub, Princess In The Spotlight, Vectors Market, Caroline Mackay, Circlon Tech, 시 홍, PixelX, Levi, Laymik, Lewen Design, Ahmad Arzaha, K2 Designn, Hey Rabbit, Smruti Karalgikar, Ishaq_hmad, Nurfajri Aldi Kael, HIMMATUL ULIYAH, Nanik haq, Kawalan Icon, bis kim, giovanni ataraska, Anton Noskov, Amber Laird, Mary B, m zainur rifqi, Jamil Akhtar, yulie ainul, Chattapat, intan sari, Alex, Lorie Shaull, Ferifrey, Haritselarif, Parkjisun, huijae Jang, Made by Made, Paul Jessop, ELLIS NADLER, Eko Sofiantono, Hans Peter, Wilson Joseph, Titik Kornia Sari, Kim Sun Young, Marc Serre, Georgia Butterworth, Mayur Freelancer, Alzam, Aras Acer, Ssun, Florent B, and Mukholifah.