Over half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, with urbanization expected to reach two-thirds by 2050, particularly in the Global South where urban populations will double in 20-30 years. This rapid urbanization often leads to informal housing and slums, especially in regions without industrialization, presenting both challenges and opportunities for urban planning and public services.
Additional Links & Readings:
- Putting the World’s Slums on the Map – Bloomberg
- Megalopolis: how coastal west Africa will shape the coming century – The Guardian
- The Dystopia of São Paulo Holds the Key To Brazil’s Transformation – Spiegel
Student submission by Sophie Liebel:
Category: Urbanization: urban sprawl, high rises, tech districts, informal settlements
Description: Urban sprawl in las dunas de Concón, Chile. The region covered in high-rise apartments used to be home to native plants and dunes covering the front of the picture.
Student submission by Grace Sokolow:
Category: Urbanization: urban sprawl, high rises, tech districts, informal settlements
Description: In 2010 and 2011, Christchurch, New Zealand suffered devastating earthquakes, in which much of the downtown area was badly damaged. A large part of the city’s effort to rebuild and revitalize the central business district has centered around multi-modal transportation, inviting public spaces, and greenery. This wide walking and biking path along the shady Avon River winds throughout the city, connecting Hagley Park, the Christchurch Botanical Gardens, Victoria Square, and the Margaret Mahy Playground with popular commercial areas like Oxford Terrace and the Riverside Market. Further downstream, the path follows the river through the Red Zone, an area of the city that can’t be rebuilt and is now largely green space, before reaching the sea at New Brighton Beach.