Biennale Architecture
Everybody is talking about the Achitecture Exhibition in Venice! Admittedly nobody that I know or who would want to talk to me. Why don’t I have any architect friends? Is it me or is it a personality type that I don’t get along with? Maybe architects have to be too straightlaced… Oh I forgot I had a point.
From their site:
“More than half of the world’s population lives in cities”, states the Director of the 10th International Architecture Exhibition, Richard Burdett. “A century ago, it was less than 10%. The 21st century will be the first truly urban era, in which more than 75% of the world’s population will live in urban areas, much of it in mega-cities with more than 20 million inhabitants concentrated in the countries undergoing rapid development in Asia, Africa and South America. In the meantime, many Western and European cities are shrinking, or have been forced to re-invent themselves in order to adapt to a post-industrial condition.”
So the future is urban! That was my point! Is this really true that in an era where we can be completely mobile we all choose to congregate in dense little clusters. umm yes. A key feature of the urban landscape is public transport and access to public services. These features empower the disenfrachised, which is exactly why third world countries are urbanizing so rapidly. At a recent public health lecture I heard the shocking fact that 99% of the hospitals in China are within 300 miles of the coast. If you want access to any quality social services even in a communist country, you have to live in a city.
But what about the first world. I do know that NY is a few years away from another housing crash. But in general is America urbanizing or suburbanizing? I’m going to find out with an internet road trip across North America! Up next the future of the northeastern seaboard. NY, Boston and Halifax. Where are they going? An more importantly, where are they?