That threshold is surprisingly low: in Germany, any town with at least 100,000 inhabitants is defined as a “Großstadt” or large city. The country has only 4 cities with more than 1 million inhabitants; these are Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and, by the skin of its teeth, Cologne. However, we have quite a few urban areas consisting of several cities in close proximity, for example the Ruhrgebiet area and the Rhine-Main region. 

Yes. It most certainly will be. Cities have always been economic and academic, political and cultural centres. People are drawn to them; it is where atmospheres and trends develop and emanate from. Cities are the integration machinery of an open society. They are pressure cookers for the population's sensitivities. Which is why we better make sure cities are and will remain good places to live. 

It might occasionally be stressful but while crowded roads and underground trains may be annoying, they don't necessarily make us ill. It only starts to affect our health when the stress of urban living turns into a permanent strain that overwhelms us, especially social stress. 

Social stress can seriously affect our mental health and is primarily triggered by two factors in the city: social isolation and social density. Social isolation means a feeling of not belonging or experiencing loneliness. Or it could mean social exclusion because you cannot sufficiently partake in what the city has to offer because of financial, physical or social barriers or because of discrimination. A feeling of belonging, on the other hand, is a vital protective element. It makes us resilient in the face of everything that is stressful about city life. As long as we can offset stress with social connectedness, we are fine. 

It refers to feeling boxed in, when you don't have enough space. Social density becomes a stress factor when there is no possibility to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, for example in a room of your own or at least somewhere you can close the door behind you. 

We are a group of experts from different fields, such as city planning, architecture, psychiatry, philosophy, sociology, medicine and many others. Together, we examine the influence of living in the city on our emotions and our mental health. We explore these factors, make them measurable and study what impact they have on social interactions but also nature, the structure of cities and buildings. 

When we use everything available to us to counter the negative aspects, especially social isolation. That includes parks, public spaces, cultural offers. Theatres, for instance, also have a health mandate, if you ask me. They are meeting places fostering interactions, enabling us to get in touch with others. The rule of thumb is: time we spend outside our home is better for our psyche than time we spend within, because it is usually social time which keeps us healthy in the city. 

No, it can be stressful in a different way. Organising everyday life is more taxing because distances are longer, the educational and cultural offer is less varied or there is not enough or not the right kind of medical care. Also, we know that people living in the countryside are more likely to be affected by obesity and eat less healthily. Studies have shown that commuters engage less in social activities: 10 percent less per every 10 minutes of commuting time. At the same time, mental problems are on the rise. 

Traditionally, it may have been the case that social bonds are stronger and people are looking out for each other more. But that doesn't necessarily go for newcomers. Being accepted in the community can be quite difficult. And instead of the big city's anonymity you have to deal with social control which may take some getting used to. 

There are pros and cons to both urban and rural living. We need to be careful not to focus exclusively on the disadvantages of both options. I think, the benefits of urban life should be offered in rural environments, too, and vice versa. That would be an ideal compromise. After all, let's be realistic: Most people don't have the luxury of choosing where to live based on their personal preferences and needs. You have to be able to afford this, too. More often than not, the financial background, family, children and job determine where people live.