The DNA of Cities

Vienna has been one of the Western Roman Empire's most easterly strategic strongholds, an imperial capital of the Habsburg Empire, and a melting pot for thinkers and creators from across Europe and the rest of the world. But Vienna was also altered, almost beyond recognition, by the First and Second World Wars. Today, the city's pendulum is swinging back towards some elements of the Vienna of old: the city is becoming increasingly multicultural, international in outlook and recognised for its unrivalled liveability. In this episode, we hear from Eugen (Zenja) Antalovsky, Shams Asadi, Prof Matti Bunzl and Maria Vassilakou. We discover that the return of these characteristics, which were so prominent in Vienna's past, suggest that the city is re-aligning with key components of its DNA. If you're interested in finding out more about Vienna's history, we recommend Carl Emil Schorske's book "Fin de Siècle Vienna" and Simon Sebag Montifiore's BBC documentary "Vienna: Empire, Dynasty and Dream". To learn more about the DNA of Cities and sign up for our latest updates visit www.thednaofcities.com.

In this second episode on Barcelona we hear why the city is the place for life's great ventures. Over the course of history, artists from all over the world have created some of their most influential work in Barcelona. Take Picasso, Miro and Dali for example; they came to Barcelona during the formative years of their careers and in this city they were able to do something extraordinary. But how, and why Barcelona? Well, as we discover, this is more than a city. Creation and creativity run so deeply through its DNA that some even consider the greatest invention of Barcelona to be Barcelona itself. Special thanks to Consol Vancells Casanovas, Aleix Gabarre, Mateu Hernandez Maluquer, Michelle Barrios and Miquel Molina Muntané. To learn more about the DNA of Cities and sign up for our latest updates visit www.thednaofcities.com.

We begin our time in Barcelona by exploring its self-determining "do it yourself" approach to governance, the muse effect the city has in an individual's life, and its relationships to its region and beyond; all understood, of course, through its identity as a Catalan city in the northern-most point of Southern Europe and the southern-most point of Northern Europe. Part of what makes modern Barcelona such an interesting city from a 'DNA' perspective is the fact that city branding and place marketing have played such a strong part in its post-industrial recovery. The experts we meet have been working for many years to uncover what makes the city unique. Join us as we ask Mateu Hernández, Consol Vancells-Casanovas, Aleix Gabarre, Miquel Molina and Michelle Barrios what makes Barcelona, Barcelona. To learn more about the DNA of Cities and sign up for our latest updates visit www.thednaofcities.com.

New York City captures the imagination like few other cities. In this second episode we explore the stories of urban life in the city's neighbourhoods and the New York City dream that draws people from all over the world to make themselves in the city. We hear how New York has a history of openness because it was the primary gateway to the USA; the largest and fastest-growing economy in the 20th Century. We discuss the famous myths that capture something about the DNA of New York, the expectations that people hold about the city, and whether the portrayal of New York through film, TV, literature and music has led to misconceptions of the city. We end our time in New York with the brilliant Dr Sarah Henry, Professor Ester Fuchs and Tom Wright, and with a hopeful gaze towards the future of the city. To learn more about the DNA of Cities and sign up for our latest updates visit www.thednaofcities.com.

In the first part of our visit to New York, we reveal how the combination of money, diversity, creativity and density are the traits that make New York, New York. We explore the long history of the city and we discover that the entrepreneurial zeal that one so often associates with the city has very deep roots. We hear how the original raison d'etre for the settlement that became New York was in fact profit-making. But the geography and topography of New York that facilitated this was also the home of indigenous Lenape populations, whose long-established network of trade routes and cultural exchange were diminished as the settlement grew into a city. Dr Sarah Henry and Tom Wright guide us through many of the decisive moments in the history of New York from before it was settled up to the 21st Century. It's a conversation that covers migration, enterprise, exploitation, social tension, revolt, reform, crisis and hope. For the Eric Sanderson talk that's mentioned in this episode, follow this link: https://www.ted.com/talks/eric_sanderson_new_york_before_the_city?language=en To learn more about the DNA of Cities and sign up for our latest updates visit www.thednaofcities.com.

In the second part of our exploration of Singapore we hear more about the individuals that have moulded and shaped Singapore over the last fifty to sixty years. We discover the distinctly Singaporean approach to governance that has emerged. Compared to some of the other cities we explore in this series, there is a very prominent set of 'acquired' traits that came with Singaporean leadership and the people who have chosen to make this place their home. We hear from Professor Cheong Koon Hean, Dr Liu Thai Ker, Professor Khoo Teng Chye and Professor Kishore Mahbubani. We are extremely grateful to this group of experts who have been enormously influential in shaping Singapore in many ways over their careers. To learn more about the DNA of Cities and sign up for our latest updates visit www.thednaofcities.com.

The second city on our voyage of discovery is Singapore: the little red dot in South East Asia that tells one of the world's most unusual and successful stories of modern nation building. Singapore's independence in 1965 unleashed five decades of innovation that have resulted in an unforeseeable transformation. In this episode, we learn about the program of rapid problem-solving that was pursued by Singapore's visionary founding decision-makers and the vulnerabilities they were forced to mitigate. We hear from Professor Cheong Koon Hean, Dr Liu Thai Ker, Professor Khoo Teng Chye and Professor Kishore Mahbubani. We are extremely grateful to this group of experts who have been enormously influential in shaping Singapore in many ways over their careers. To learn more about the DNA of Cities and sign up for our latest updates visit www.thednaofcities.com

In this episode we explore the identity of Istanbul through the myths and stories that people tell about the city. We also learn about the impact of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire on Istanbul's sense of itself as a cosmopolitan global city. We reveal the characteristics the city has acquired as a temporary or permanent home to many different populations and cultures, and we hear from Ali Akay, Berkan Özyer, Associate Professor Eda Yücesoy, Associate Professor Ozdemir Sonmez, Avi Alkaş and Murat Belge. To learn more about the DNA of Cities and sign up for our latest updates visit www.thednaofcities.com

Embark on a journey to Istanbul, the city with three names, where east meets west. Discover its rich history from Byzantium to its modern identity, reflecting a tapestry of cultures. Dive into its urban evolution shaped by empires and modern globalization. Learn about the explosion of population and informal housing that transformed the landscape. Delve into its vibrant culinary scene influenced by trade. Compare Istanbul's unique character with New York, showcasing its resilience and psychological connections to its people.

Join experts like Abha Joshi-Ghani, an urban development guru, and Professor Edgar Pieterse, a visionary in urban policy, as they dissect how cities earn their unique traits. They explore how historical contexts, colonial legacies, and cultural adaptations shape urban identities. Discussions highlight the resilience of areas like Manhattan and the blending of old and new architectural forms. The risks of cloning urban traits in new settings are also examined, prompting a conversation on context-specific planning amidst rapid global changes.