Design excellence versus commercial reality in city making is a battle Craig Allchin knows all too well. Craig is an international architect, urban planner and adjunct professor at Australia's University of Technology, Sydney. He advises developers and governments around the world on creating better cities.

What are the challenges we face in the era of the "mega city" and how do we afford them?

Smarter Cities: In this series, Jason de Sousa explores urban life and how it's changing around us with people focused on creating better places, cities and new ways of getting things done.