Lecture given to architecture department undergrads at Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea on April 29, 2009

1. Cities: The Future of Humanity
a love/hate relationship with cities
2009.04.29 _np

2. Index
01 Introduction
02 Cities
03 Scale
04 The Plan
05 Relevancy
2

3. Introduction
3

4. Why me?
Bangkok
Paris Hanoi
Washington
DC
Seoul
New York
London
4

5. Why me?
Urban
Technology
Architecture
Strategy
Consulting
5

6. Cities
6

7. City Stats
2006
50% of world population
live in cities
7

8. City Stats
1 billion
Live in
informal settlements
8

9. City Stats
20-15 400
million/year million
Move to cities in China Needing new housing in
China in next 15 years
9

10. City Stats
70%
CO2 produced
by cities
10

11. City Stats
101
Metropolitan Areas
11

12. City Stats
12

13. What is a city?
13

14. What is a city?
What is your favorite city? Why?
13

15. What is a city?
What is your favorite city? Why?
Why do you like Seoul? Why do you hate Seoul?
13

16. What is a city?
What is your favorite city? Why?
Why do you like Seoul? Why do you hate Seoul?
What makes a good city?
13

17. Why cities?
Stewart Brand, TED 2006
14

18. Why cities?
Stewart Brand, TED 2006
14

19. Why cities?
More than 50% of the World’s population live in
cities. Why?
• Economy mobility
• Opportunity
• Security
• Excitement
15

20. Why cities?
More than 50% of the World’s population live in
cities. Why?
• Economy mobility
• Opportunity
= Hope
• Security
• Excitement
15

21. Scale
16

22. Issues of Scale
Charles & Ray Eames, Powers of Ten, 1977
17

23. Issues of Scale
Charles & Ray Eames, Powers of Ten, 1977
17

24. Elements to a city
Many elements comprising the city:
• Socio-Economics (population, industry, agriculture,
density, poverty, equity etc, etc)
• Infrastructure (roads, transportation, water supply,
waste treatment, drainage, electricity, green space
etc)
• Housing & settlement
• Urban management (master planning, cultural &
heritage, environment, disaster, etc.)
• Regulation (zoning, urban design guidelines, etc.)
• Administration / Politics
• Events (Olympics, Expo...) 18

25. Issues of scale
19

26. Issues of scale
4.1km x 830m = 3.4km2
19

27. Issues of scale
Hanoi 3300 km2
3300
Seoul 600 km2
3300
2
Yeouido 8.4 km
3300
Bundang 70 km2
2
Central Park 3.4 km
3300
2
Yeouido Park 0.23 km
3300
20

28. What scale?
The scale determines the type of relationship:
• Building
• Neighborhood
• Village/Town
• Region
• Country
• Continent
• World
21

29. What scale?
National
• National policy
Regional (1:10,000 - 25,000)
• Population distribution and density
General (1:5,000)
• Road network, infrastructure, Green space
Detailed (1:500 - 2,000)
• Urban design / architectural design
22

30. Google Earth / Google Maps
23

31. Google Earth / Google Maps
23

32. Google Earth / Google Maps
23

33. Google Earth / Google Maps
23

34. Google Earth / Google Maps
23

35. Google Earth / Google Maps
23

36. Google Earth / Google Maps
23

37. Google Earth / Google Maps
23

38. The Plan
24

39. What’s the plan, Stan?
City Vision Goal
1. Smart Growth
New York A Greener, Greater
2. Revitalization Urban Infrastructure
(PlaNYC 2030) New York
3. Counter Global Warming
1. Long term economic growth
London Sustainable
2. Share in London’s future success
(London Plan 2008) World City
3. Improve environment
1. A sustainable, compact structure.
Vancouver Livability 2. Diverse & affordable housing choices.
(Comprehensive Pl & 3. A strong, diverse regional economy
an 2040) Sustainability 4. Protect the region’s natural assets.
5. A sustainable transportation system.
1. Sustainable city
2. Energizing city
Rotterdam The World Capital of
(Rotterdam Climzat 3. Sustainable mobility
e Initiative Plan)
CO2-free energy
4. Innovation lab
5. Sustainable energy port
25

40. What’s the plan, Stan?
City Vision Goal
1. A more compact city
Melbourne (M 2. Network with the regional cities
elbourne Planning f Livable, Attractive and
3. A greener city
or Sustainable Gro Prosperous City
wth 2030) 4. Better transport links
5. Better planning decision and management
1. Increase of City Competitiveness
A Clean, Attractive
Seoul 2. A City of Culture and Environment
&
(Vision 2020) 3. A City of Creative Economy
Global City
4. A Welfare City
1. International financial center.
2. Efficient city sturcture.
Kuala Lumpur
(Kuala Lumpur A World Class City 3. Enhance living environment.
Plan 2020)
4. Distinctive identity
5. Efficientive governance.
1. People-centered development
Bangkok New Bangkok City 2. Healthy city
(Bangkok City
Plan 2011)
Livable City 3. Education development
4. Culture driven development
26

41. What’s the Plan, Stan?
27

42. What’s the Plan, Stan?
Livable
27

43. What’s the Plan, Stan?
Livable
Global
27

44. What’s the Plan, Stan?
Livable
Global
Green
27

45. Washington DC
28

46. Washington DC
29

47. Washington DC
30

48. Washington DC
31

49. Washington DC
32

50. London
33

51. London
34

52. London
35

53. London
36

54. London
37

55. London
38

56. Seoul
39

57. Seoul
40

58. Seoul
41

59. Seoul
42

60. Seoul
43

61. Seoul
44

62. So what?
45

63. So what?
Each generation faces unique challenges:
• Industrial revolution
• Reconstruction after World War
• Threat of nuclear war
• Energy crisis
• Climate change
• Cities are a solution as much as a problem
46

64. World Bank
“New thinking about cities has led to a paradigm shift in the
way we move forward in the coming decade. While
urbanization was once criticized as being unmanageable and
counter productive, it is now considered a key element in
promoting economic growth, if well managed. In many
countries, cities are leading the way in innovations and
responses to global development challenges, including
climate change, energy efficiency, and economic
development.”
47

65. Issues of Sustainability
Sustainability
Environmental Cultural
Social Economic
48

66. UN-HABITAT
49

67. UN-HABITAT
49

68. UN-HABITAT
City is the future of humanity.
Cities are where the fate of humanity
will be fought.
49

69. Conclusion
50

70. The Message
Think Globally
Act Locally
51

71. Thank you.