Once the seductive symbol of sophistication and unlimited possibility, the city has become synonymous in our imagination with sprawl, stress, pollution—even the propagation of disease. How do we reawaken the attraction humanity has so long felt toward these centers of trade, knowledge, and cultural exchange? And what must we do to make the city hospitable to both its inhabitants and the natural environment?
The work of a business leader and world traveler rather than an urbanist, The Urban Challenge is a passionate argument for a redefined city model that favors sustainability and inclusion: a place where man and nature are no longer in conflict, and where the hallmarks of urban life, from mobility to housing, provide us with comfort, well-being, and innovative ways of living better together.

Pierre-André de Chalendar is chairman and CEO of the Saint-Gobain Group, which he has transformed into a leader in urban housing renovation and sustainable construction. He is also the author of a previous book on climate and decarbonization, Our Fight for the Climate: A Carbon-Free and Growing World Is Possible (Le Passeur, 2015).

“Cities are our most vibrant cultural and economic centers, but today they face an array of complex issues. The Urban Challenge helps us imagine how they can change and grow—and become greener, healthier, and more prosperous places for all.”

Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies, and former Mayor of New York City. 

1. Cover Page
2. Title Page
3. Copyright Page
4. Dedication Page
5. Introduction
6. CHAPTER 1 - All the lights in the world
   1. Uruk, the legendary city of Mesopotamia
   2. From Byblos to Carthage, the empire of the Phoenicians and then the Romans
   3. The golden age of the Hanseatic League
   4. The feverish city of the industrial revolution
7. CHAPTER 2 - At the heart of the world's contradictions
   1. An urban model running out of steam
   2. 2 percent of the Earth's surface, 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions
8. CHAPTER 3 - Leaving the city?
   1. Epidemics and pandemics: blame it on the city?
   2. COVID-19: an accelerator and a revealer
   3. A pressing need to rethink the city
9. CHAPTER 4 - Making the desirable city
   1. From St. Petersburg to Songdo, dream cities…
   2. Frugality, a new dimension of the city
   3. Suburban or vertical city?
   4. The 15-minute city: the new model?
10. CHAPTER 5 - How smart can the city be?
    1. Big Tech, the new masters of the city
    2. Technology and companies contributing to citizens' quality of life
11. CHAPTER 6 - Rebuilding the city on the city - The burning obligation to renovate
    1. A radically changed relationship to housing
    2. The “thermal sieve” conundrum
    3. Accelerating energy renovation of buildings in urban areas: price signal and regulations
    4. To regulate, but how far?
    5. Energy transition at the heart of post-pandemic recovery plans The French example: better information and training
12. CHAPTER 7 - Mobilizing all technologies to rebuild a sustainable city
    1. Toward a revolution in construction methods
    2. The city in the age of the circular economy
    3. Researching and developing materials to protect the planet while improving the comfort of its inhabitants
    4. The essential role of private companies in creating desirable and sustainable cities
13. CONCLUSION - Dreaming tomorrow's city and bringing it to life
    1. Re-implanting nature in the city
    2. Capitalizing on “empty spaces” in the city
    3. Renovation rather than reconstruction
    4. Building modular housing according to needs
    5. Rethinking urban mobility
    6. The return of medium-size cities?
    7. The contribution of technology
    8. Above all, the city of tomorrow is for everyone
14. Acknowledgments
15. Contents