Whose Place is it Anyway? The City From Above and Within

What makes up the urban spaces of everyday life? While informality is a hallmark of the cities of the Global South, and supposedly careful planning shapes those of the North, the end result of place-making—how we experience life in cities—is largely unpredictable. In this talk, we will look at three cities to explore different forces shaping urban environments and their social life. How have self-made solutions, in the face of government and market failures, created São Paulo, the largest city in the southern Hemisphere? How does Vancouver find the resources to build public places in its unaffordable property market? Do slums exist in Shanghai and what are the so-called “villages in the city”?

Join Ida, Adam, and David for a global urban tour that will make you reflect upon the conflict and creativity behind the spaces we live in.