TED Talks Daily The architectural wonder of impermanent cities | Rahul Mehrotra
Jul 22, 2019
Architect and urbanist Rahul Mehrotra explores the fascinating concept of impermanent cities. He discusses the Kumbh Mela festival, where a megacity emerges and vanishes within weeks, showcasing innovative and sustainable design. Unpacking the lessons from such structures, Mehrotra advocates for adaptability in urban planning, emphasizing the benefits of temporary spaces over rigid infrastructure. He highlights how embracing impermanence can lead to a lighter environmental footprint and a more dynamic urban experience.
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Kumbh Mela Megacity
- The Kumbh Mela, a Hindu festival, builds a temporary megacity for 7 million people every 12 years.
- This city has all the infrastructure of a real city, including a grid system, pontoon bridges, and essential services.
Ephemeral Megacity
- Humans invest energy in building the Kumbh Mela city knowing it will be disassembled.
- This highlights the ephemeral nature of even large-scale human endeavors.
Temporary Markets
- Temporary markets and settlements, like Burning Man or weekend markets, demonstrate adaptable urbanism.
- These examples show how spaces can be used efficiently on a temporary basis.