Is it possible for one of the oldest cities to be considered the first eco-sustainable and smart city on the planet? At first, it seemed like a presumptuous idea. However, after watching the video by Andrea Moccia, science communicator and founder of one of my favorite websites, my questions fade away. I found it so interesting that I decided to adapt it for our blog to explore … [Read more...] about Matera: The world’s oldest eco-sustainable and smart city
Health, the new epicenter of urban development
The pandemic continues to spread, exacerbating the problems affecting millions of people in the world's cities, especially those living in a situation of greater informality and inequality. When COVID-19 broke out, I wondered what the tendencies of pandemics have been in the history of cities. To my surprise, I was able to identify four trends that, in my opinion, are still … [Read more...] about Health, the new epicenter of urban development
Cities of the Future: Between Dreams and Nightmares about Ideal Urban Planning
Shortly before the explosion of a global crisis generated by the COVID-19, in the well-known "2020 Consumers Electronics Show" (CES), Akio Toyoda, C.E.O. of the automotive giant Toyota, unveiled his plans to build the "City of the Future" near the mystical Mount Fuji, in an area of approximately 70 hectares, in a factory due for closure. The initiative is called "Woven City" in … [Read more...] about Cities of the Future: Between Dreams and Nightmares about Ideal Urban Planning
The sneaky enemies: the novel coronavirus and old pandemics
It may seem nonsensical to reflect calmly when COVID-19 is winning a race that will redefine our future. We are surprised by its arrival, despite the continuous warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO) about influenza and its possible mutations. In the past, pandemics have confronted us with sneaky enemies who, at the cost of substantial human losses and severe … [Read more...] about The sneaky enemies: the novel coronavirus and old pandemics
Smarter and More Sustainable Cities in Latin America? We Must Learn to Buy Better
In a roundtable on the most pressing challenges for our cities, a colleague challenged us with the following question: “Do you believe that cities can buy their sustainability?” Between stunned looks and expressions of disbelief, we could not reach a conclusion. The truth is that, as Latin America is one of the most urbanized regions of the world, every decision taken by a … [Read more...] about Smarter and More Sustainable Cities in Latin America? We Must Learn to Buy Better