The Endless City: Urban life across the globe

The Endless City, an investigation into the future of cities, was co-authored by Ricky Burdett, Professor of Urban Studies at the London School of Economics and Deyan Sudjic, Director of the Design Museum, London.

Founder of the Architecture Foundation (AF), Burdett's early work with the organisation related to the very hot issues of urbanization, social inequality, and the way in which cities evolve. These themes are thoroughly explored in The Endless City. Addressing the fundamental shift in the world’s population towards cities and away from rural areas, The Endless City considers the impact of the built environment on social inclusion and quality of life. A group of internationally renowned professionals from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds discuss these issues investigating six cities: New York City, Shanghai, London, Mexico City, Johannesburg and Berlin.

Facts and figures are sprinkled throughout The Endless City, interspersed between pertinent discussions. From 10% living in cities in 1900, 50% in 2007 and a predicted 75% of the population living in cities by 2050 the book addresses key concerns of an ever-increasing urbanized population.

Following on from this, Burdett and Sudjic have teamed up again to co-author Living in the Endless City, which explores the issues that affect cities - and thus human life - across the globe in the twenty-first century. It investigates crucial themes such as security, climate change, democracy and globalization, focusing on Istanbul, Mumbai and São Paulo, as well as the six featured in the previous title.

Burdett will be talking about his early work with the Architecture Foundation tomorrow (10 May) at the AF Project Space, London.