Ricky Burdett on the Olympics, LA and Italy's bridge disaster
On World Urbanism Day, Burdett looks forward to high-density cities, not back to his famous great grandfather
Today, on World Urbanism Day, spare a thought for those who actually try to shape our concrete jungles.
Some aspects of city planning are relatively obvious, even if some cities overlook them. Back in 2006 Ricky Burdett worked as an adviser to the Italian city of Genoa, and as he tells the Italian newspaper la Repubblica, the disastrous collapse of the Morandi bridge there a few months ago did not come as a complete surprise.
Even back then, explains the world-renowned author and professor of urban studies, there was talk of renewal. “It was known that the motorway infrastructure was worn out,” he says.
Other solutions are a bit more difficult. Burdett points to success stories such as Bogotá, once one of the most violent cities in the world, which has, over the past few years, successfully lowered its crime rate and lessened inequality, using everything from improved public transport through to better libraries.
He also compares the way urban centres such as Mexico City and Los Angeles have grown by spreading their suburbs (which contributes to longer commutes and greater pollution) with other cities like Singapore, which has added citizens, but not sprawled.
“Singapore’s very high population density is supported by efficient public transport, used by more than 90 per cent of the residents,” explains Burdett. And despite being a rich city, Singaporeans also don’t mind living in government housing blocks. “More than 85 per cent of citizens have the right to a public housing,” he says.
Do big infrastructure projects, such as the Olympics, help cities? Yes, says Burdett, if they’re well planned and executed. “In London, thanks to public and private investment around the 2012 Games we are shortening the economic inequalities between those living in the poorer eastern part of the city, and the richer western side,” he explains, highlighting newly announced projects in the East End of London, including a new branch of the Victoria & Albert Museum, and new BBC studios.
Burdett already has a pretty big hand in the shaping modern cities; he is currently Professor of Urban Studies and Director of Cities and Urban Age at the London School of Economics, running courses that attract students from all over the gobe. However, his ancestors have held even more prominent positions.
Burdett’s great grandfather, Earnesto Nathan, was the mayor of Rome from 1907 to 1913, during which time he opened the city’s National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II and its Stadio Flaminio. Does Burdett harbour similar ambitions? No, he says. When in Rome, “I prefer to enjoy a carbonara."
To find out more about how Burdett and other great thinkers believe cities should evolve, order a copy of Shaping Cities in an Urban Age here.