#35 Can you imagine?
There's a saying that children can see magic because they look for it. What about us?
The process of city-making can be slow, mundane, and often difficult. Budget constraints, legal challenges, and technical obstacles may arise along the way. Yet, my experience has shown that every problem has a solution. There's always a way around.
But the greatest challenge - the one I haven't yet found a solution for - lies in the realm of adult imagination. Or the lack of it. Too often, innovative urban designs are blocked because of fear. Fear of losing a parking spot, fear of change, fear of the unknown. If we can't imagine a better future, we prefer to keep the status quo.
In a book I co-wrote with Bolt, children call on us to be fearless like they are, dream boundlessly, and infuse colour into the mundane. Through their eyes, we're reminded of the beauty of imperfection - the freedom to explore uncharted territories without fear of missteps. Just like a child can't learn to cycle without falling, we can't improve our cities without trying.
There's a saying that children can see magic because they look for it.
As we read through this free online book, let's find inspiration in the dreams of children who were kind enough to share their visions. If we all sought to capture the essence of urban magic - the one that each of the children shared with us - our cities could be better places to be in.
Have a great weekend,
Lior
"If you can dream it, you can do it." - Walt Disney
🌎 From the world. The psychologist and Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman died in March at 90. His work on pleasure and happiness has left a mark on many fields, including urban and public policy.. Watch Kahneman's conversation with Jan-Emmanuel De Neve from 2022.
🚲 From the Netherlands. If we want to integrate cargo bikes into urban logistics, we need to shape our streets to accommodate them. As always with bikes, Dutch cities lead the charge.
The 'Space for Cargo Bikes Guide' is designed to support both businesses and municipalities in making the right choices. Drawing upon real-world case studies in Rotterdam, the guide offers practical insights into how cities can successfully integrate cargo bikes into their urban logistics environment.
Want to learn more about cycling in the Netherlands? We host a masterclass on September 18 - 20, 2024. Register here.
🧡 From Humankind. This year, the Urban Future congress will take place in Rotterdam, and Humankind’s Jorn & Mario will speak there. We will also have a stand there, so if you’re there, come by!
Some other inspiring speakers: mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb, Vienna’s former deputy mayor Maria Vassilakou, and Historian Rutger Bregman. Get your tickets.
📚 Dive Deeper. Philosophy Tube by Abigail Thorn created an insightful 1-hour video on why we can't build better cities. It explores urban design, gentrification, suburban myths, and the impact of 15-minute city conspiracy theories.
🤩 So beautiful. The Bo-Kaap neighborhood is one of the most visited places in Cape Town, thanks to its unique and colorful houses. Initially, the houses were painted only white, but when slaves were allowed to buy houses, they started giving them different colors to express their freedom. Walking in Bo-Kaap is not only a beautiful experience but also a reminder that when the community comes together, they can create a better future. Photo by Devon Janse van Rensburg / Unsplash.
Want to join our Remaking the Street Summer School?
22 July – 2 August, 2024 | Munich & Rotterdam, The Netherlands
A collaboration between Technical University of Munich, European Institute of Innovation and Technology, and Humankind. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to explore the concept of transformative cities and gain both theoretical insights and practical tools to make impactful changes. Deadline: 31 May.