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Building on the success of the Urban Age conferences and research programme, Urban Age Debates: Cities in the 2020s includes a series of live virtual debates, newly commissioned short films with key urban actors and commentators, new data on city dynamics through two global surveys. The series investigated how we live, work and connect in the post-2020 city, exploring what could and should happen in cities around five core themes. It was jointly organised by 杏吧论坛 Cities and the and co-hosted with the 杏吧论坛 School of public Policy. At the end of the series a newspaper was produced bringing together all of the discussions, reserach and survey findings.

NEWSPAPER

This publication draws together all of material generated by the Urban Age Debates. It includes the key takeaways and quotes from each debate; links to debate recordings and summary films; the summaries of the two global surveys and a series of blogs focusing on key aspects of the discussions.

 Download the newspaper

DEBATES

Five virtual debates took place between January 2021 and January 2022. Along wtih audio and video recordings, key takeaways, a summary short film and blogs were produced for each debate. Explore the debate and disucssion around the five themes:

Cities have traditionally been the sites of economic agglomeration, reaping the benefits of a high concentration of economic activity, spurred by collaboration and innovation. However, the effect of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns have forced offices to close, city centres to empty, with many knowledge workers operating from the safety of their homes.

Event Details Read a description of the debate and speakers
Video of live event 
Podcast  (also available on most podcast platforms
Debate summary Read the key takeaways from the discussion
Summary Film 
Blog by Richard Florida
Interview  

Throughout 2020, the shape of the city – its buildings and open spaces – has taken centre stage in our experience of everyday life. Living in lockdown has confronted urban dwellers around the world with the limits of confined domestic environments yet reminded us of the benefits of a well-designed and accessible public realm. 

Event Details Read a description of the debate and speakers
Video of live event 
Podcast 
Debate summary Read the key takeaways from the discussion
Summary Film  

For urban transport, the early 2020s are going to be an inflection point hard to  overestimate: digital connectivity will increasingly substitute physical access, public transport finance will require new business models, and fiscal recovery packages have the potential to either entrench transport-intense urban development or accelerate progress towards urban patterns based on density and mixed use. 

Event Details Read a description of the debate and speakers
Video of live event 
Podcast (also available on most podcast platforms)
Debate summary Read the key takeaways from the discussion
Summary Film 
Blog  by Philipp Rode
Blog  by Edward Glaeser