Over the years, Rapid Growth has shared an important statistic about the future of cities. While it is good news for some, it is not so good for others.
This realization is often illuminated against the United Nations’ finding on population growth, revealing that more than half of the world's population now lives in an urban center and that by 2050, that number will jump to 75 percent.
And what makes for a happy (or unhappy) ending for a city is how prepared they will be in the years ahead.
Along comes the film Urbanized, the third in the design documentary trilogy by Gary Hustwit, who also directed Helvetica (Font) and Objectified (Industrial Design).
Hustwit has once again gathered a team of the world’s foremost architects, planners, policymakers, builders and thinkers to create a data-rich, but never boring look at what is working and that which we should eschew in urban planning.
Since our city is in a bit of transition, it might be best to forego watching this film in the comfort of your own home via iTunes or Amazon and head on out to the Wealthy Theatre.
“The public screening allows everyone to play an active role in reflecting with other Grand Rapidians on the past, present and future of our city,” says Friends of Grand Rapids Parks Executive Director Steve Faber. “There will be an official after party at The Meanwhile Bar, where we hope people can dig deeper and begin dialog around the film and urban place-making.”
The showing of Urbanized is brought to Grand Rapids’ Wealthy Theatre by Lott3 Metz Architecture, Nederveld Inc., The Rapid, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks and Wondergem.
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