Struggling Cities Tokyo-Toronto Talk Series
Complementing the exhibition "Struggling Cities" at The Japan Foundation, Toronto
Talk No. 1
November 9, 2011, 6:30 p.m.
André Sorensen, Associate Professor of Urban Geography, University of Toronto
Tokyo: City Under Pressure
In the context of widespread advocacy of policies for ‘compact cities’ and ‘urban renaissance’, Tokyo is a special and very interesting case. Over the last 10 years there has been a very significant recentralization of population in the central core of the Tokyo region with an increase of 48,150 households in the downtown 3 wards between 2000 and 2005, representing a 37% increase over 5 years. By any measure, this is a very dramatic increase. This talk uses census data and GIS mapping to show the extraordinary growth of population in central Tokyo, explains why this recentralization of population is occurring, and examines the major impacts of recentralization. From being a relatively low-rise city, Tokyo is being transformed into an increasingly high-rise city, in a dramatic transformation that has profound implications for quality of life and urban policy.
Talk No. 2
November 16, 2011, 6:30 p.m.
George Baird, architect, Professor Emeritus and former Dean of Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, University of Toronto
Questions about Tokyo
In his talk at the Japan Foundation in Toronto on November 16, George Baird will pose a number of questions about Tokyo, based on his limited knowledge of, but keen interest in, the urban form of that city. In particular, he will attempt to encourage a discussion with the members of the audience for his talk, in regard to the particularities of that urban form. Some issues to be discussed are as follows:
Is Tokyo really a “hyper-dense” city?
How does Tokyo “work” for its inhabitants on a daily basis?
What is the current pattern of urban development and redevelopment in Tokyo?
To what extent can we see Tokyo as a precedent for the growth of other rapidly growing urban conurbations in the world?
Through a presentation of a series of images relating to present-day Tokyo, and a tour of the audience for his talk through part of the “Struggling Cities” exhibition, Baird will attempt to launch a discussion of the actual present and future of this still “largest city in the world”.
Talk No. 3
November 23, 2011, 6:30 p.m.
Christopher Hume, architecture critic, columnist The Toronto Star
Toronto: City Under Pressure
According to a recent survey, there are more highrise towers under construction in Toronto – 132 -- than in any other city in North America. Yet as Toronto expands and density increases, so does the backlash against growth. Residents’ obsession with height, played out over and over again, obscures the reality that either we build up, or out. Already suburban sprawl extends over vast swaths of valuable farm land in and around the Greater Toronto Area. The city’s failure to come to terms with its highrise future indicates a city out of touch with itself.
Though it is a long way from achieving the densities found in Tokyo, which has a population roughly equal to that of Canada, Toronto has morphed from a horizontal community into a vertical city. Official Toronto struggles to keep up with the pace of change in the city, but our political masters would rather play for time than prepare for change.
Talk No. 4
November 30, 2011, 6:30 p.m.
John Campey, Executive Director, Social Planning Toronto
Toronto: Diversity or Division?
In comparison to Toronto, Tokyo is a much less diverse, and a much more equal city. Toronto is arguably the most culturally and linguistically diverse city on the planet – the city’s motto is “Diversity our Strength.” Yet that diversity is increasingly reflected in a growing inequality – an inequality that is manifesting itself geographically, racially, and demographically. What are the impacts of that growing inequality on Toronto present, and what are the implications for Toronto future? What are key public policy strategies that can build on the “strength” of our diversity? How do we take advantage of our diversity, and avoid it becoming, increasingly, “division?”
Admission free. Reservation required
416.966.1600 x102 http://www.jftor.org/whatson/rsvp.php
Comments