This discussion features a star-studded panel including Prof Edgar Pieterse, an urban planning expert; Prof Mike Batty, a complex systems guru; Dr Jaana Remes, an economist focused on urban growth; Dr Karissa Sanbomatsu, who bridges genetics and urban identity; Abha Joshi Ghani, a finance specialist; and Prof Ricky Burdett, an urban design scholar. They explore whether cities have a 'DNA,' dissecting urban evolution and identity influenced by historical context. The captivating conversation also draws parallels between genetic adaptability and cities responding to their social environments.
Cities possess unique traits akin to biological DNA, evolving over time due to historical influences and environmental factors.
The metaphor of urban DNA illustrates the interplay between inherited characteristics and adaptive responses, shaping distinct urban identities.
Deep dives
The Concept of Urban DNA
The metaphor of a city having DNA serves to illustrate its unique traits and characteristics, which can evolve over time. This concept suggests that cities have inherited qualities that influence their identity and development, akin to biological DNA. It raises questions about whether the DNA of a city can be damaged or lost and how such changes impact its evolution. The conversation around urban DNA also highlights the importance of a city's past and the scars of history that shape its present identity.
Urbanization Trends and City Characteristics
Urbanization is accelerating globally, with projections suggesting a significant rise in city populations by 2080. A city is essentially defined by the concentration of its inhabitants, leading to shared experiences and the development of distinct identities. Cities can specialize based on their attributes, such as being a corporate hub, trade center, or cultural destination, differentiating them from one another. This helps illustrate how cities are interconnected systems, where infrastructure and community interact to create unique urban environments.
Perspectives on City DNA from Experts
Various urban experts have expressed differing views on the analogy of cities possessing DNA, primarily agreeing on its metaphorical nature. Some experts argue that traditional concepts of DNA are not directly transferrable to cities due to their complex, multidimensional characteristics. Others contend that the idea facilitates important conversations about how urban environments inherit traits and emerge from historical circumstances. Notably, scholars emphasize that the interplay between inherited traits and environmental factors shapes urban realities in unique ways.
The Role of Epigenetics in Urban Development
Epigenetics emerges as a relevant framework for understanding how cities respond to environmental influences and historical events. Just as genetic changes can result from experiences and surroundings, cities can adapt to traumas and shifts, imprints that can linger through generations. This perspective highlights that a city's evolution is not solely predetermined by its origins, but also informed by adaptive processes. The duality of nature and nurture reflects the dynamic interplay of inherited characteristics and adaptive responses inherent in urban environments.
We begin this series with a simple question “Do cities have DNA?” We ask an expert panel of urban planners, economists and architects what The DNA of Cities means from their personal and disciplinary viewpoints. We also hear from an epigeneticist who helps us understand more about the science behind our endeavour to decode urban identity.
We wish to thank Prof Edgar Pieterse, Prof Mike Batty, Dr Jaana Remes, Dr Karissa Sanbomatsu, Abha Joshi Ghani and Prof Ricky Burdett for sharing their insights with us in this episode.
This episode is dedicated with love and affection to the memory of Abha Joshi Ghani.
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