To celebrate World Cities Day, in conjunction with UN-Habitat, were putting 36 contestants in the hot seat to tell us their citys best idea and why other cities should adopt it. Cheer them on!
What exactly is this?
Right. And who are the judges?
Latest contestants will be listed in the left-hand margin
You can choose to order by oldest first
11.37am GMT
Dan Hill says: Nice idea, and common in some other cities (like Helsinki) where shared cabins store communal toys in playgrounds. But I like the diversity of the designs. How might you make the construction easier?
Wonderful to hear that Helsinki has a similar idea. We cant find it on the web, could you give us more details? We focus on a diversity of forms because we want to make the city cabin accessible for all people by providing a double use. Putting boxes next to boxes would only fill up public space, but using a bench or a table as a storage possibility at the same time is a win-win situation. The cabins are self-made and we work together with AYAY.
From brainstorming sessions with resident groups in the Tivoli zone in Brussells, weve learned that public gardening, sandpit and play area, rest points with hammocks and shared library, seating places facing the waterfront are among the most wanted.
You can make them, buy or rent them. The city council gives permission where a cabin can be placed. A city at the seaside gives the rent/buy-in concession, and turns it into a business. Now were negotiating with Brussels to extend these rules of cities at the seaside to rules in a normal city.
11.33am GMT
Brel. Mais oui.
Can you tell us your idea, in no more than three minutes?
11.32am GMT
Hi ladies! De goeiendag van Brussel! Bien le bonjour de Bruxelles!
11.32am GMT
The idea in 10 words: Share a beach cabin in the city
11.24am GMT
Eight more cities have just shown us how its done.Five extra points to Fiskars for being the smallest city of the World Cities Day posse.
Weve heard about Manila and the Escolta district preservation, Addis Ababas light railway, Hong Kongs sky bridges, Izmirsmodular floating docks, portable community centres for migrants in Beijing, Fiskars local education model, digital walking tours in Manchester and a cultural roof network in Seville.
@guardiancities Manila is seen by many as hopeless But with Escolta Revival + other efforts, we can bring back the Paris of Asia #CitiesDay
#CitiesDay Escolta, Manila - It's like walking down a museum featuring architectural wonders of a bygone era. We need to preserve it!
@guardiancities bizzare to see a pedway/sky sidewalks taking off (no pun intended) elsewhere when it's completely avoided in uk now.
#citiesday #UELstudents Izmir Docks project VG social experiment, playful, using unused water space. Gets our vote
@guardiancities #citiesday #UELstudents like general idea of Manchester city app but think it should be more spontaneous & for the people
@AnnaMinton @guardiancities thanks Anna. It's just a pilot project at the moment - we'll be looking to create nice new features over time
@OskariSundstrom @guardiancities of course! thought Beijing's container cubes for migrant communities are perfect for #mumbai as well.
Hong Kong's best idea is a democratic government.
Wy not whole #world have #PublicArtGallery in their #streets #neighbourhood #Bhubaneswar @guardiancities #CitiesDay ! pic.twitter.com/AOtGWYmDkF
@guardiancities We love Paris market idea!
11.12am GMT
Party at Jaimes rooftop! Guardian Cities takes no responsibility for damage.
Dr Clos of UN-Habitat has some thoughts on the presentations so far:
Great to see these ideas that balance long terms city planning with the everyday! Its so important that we make our cities accessible to all, more liveable and walkable, like Auckland is trying to do, or with light rails systems, like Addis. Having citizens participate in design and empowering local governments is something we are really passionate about at UN-Habitat. But at the same time, sometimes its the street level activities, like painting street walls in Bhubaneswar that can have an instant effect on peoples lives and they way they feel about their city.
11.12am GMT
Dan Hill asks: Nice. We should certainly use rooftops more than we do, but did you explore other uses energy production, or other community activities?
We are focusing on culture, but open to new uses (green rooftops, open WiFi, etc). We licensed the project on CC with the idea of sharing our knowledge to be reused in other projects. We are confident that those partnerships will help us to visualise all the new possibilities of using a rooftop.
Redetejas proposes a structure in which citizens use their own spaces to generate alternative culture in their cities. The project can be organised at any time of year and in any city around the world. We provide the tools and the knowledge. The rest is up to citizens.
11.05am GMT
What a legend. I love that theres still a market for handkerchiefs in this world.
Now, Jaime, please explain your idea to us, in no more than three minutes. Go!
11.03am GMT
Hello, Jaime! ¡Hola desde Sevilla!
11.02am GMT
The idea in 10 words: Redetejas a cultural rooftops network that is connected by app
10.56am GMT
Charlie on Twitter has another city idea for Manchester. Love the sound of those trams ...
@ramblingmoore @guardiancities how about a pedestrianised oxford road with energy producing treadmill pavements and trams serving real ale
10.54am GMT
Ivan Harbour wants to know: How is the content of the app kept up to the minute and by whom?
The app can use live and dynamic content if required it just depends on what kind of audio tour were creating. Ultimately, content can controlled in any way. A retailer might want to include live and dynamic offers around their products to people across the city. However, cultural and heritage based tours might have content that doesnt change much over time, and therefore require more of a fixed content approach. We hope that over time, more organisations choose to create audio tours with us and we can extend how we control and manage content to meet a multitude of needs.
We have created a flexible platform with just this kind of thing in mind. As a trusted resident of Manchester, what if I could add my own off the beaten track recommendations? And then make them available to a visitor of Manchester who has similar tastes and preferences? Personally, Id love to have that kind of information when I visit a new city.
10.54am GMT
And why should other cities adopt it? The Manchester Walking Tours app is an innovative way to discover your city, its culture (from football to music and galleries), the history and those hidden gems showcasing your city and its proudest moments. Every city has its secrets, and with the app you can find them all at your own pace.
10.50am GMT
Ha! So whats this idea all about? You have three minutes ...
10.46am GMT
Ey up, Tom! Ee are!
10.46am GMT
The idea in 10 words: A tour app that uses GPS to trigger audio-visual experiences.
10.46am GMT
Some very big ideas from a very small urban settlement. But I love the idea that Fiskars has something to teach New York or London. Megacities could spend a little less time gazing adoringly at their own navel. Maybe. Possibly. Just a thought.
On to northern England ...
10.41am GMT
Fiskars and their school model has a fan! (As well as everyone here at Guardian Cities HQ, of course)
Unschooling for the win! You do need an education - but you don't necessarily need a school to get it. #CitiesDay
@plyytinen Exactly! Pupils learn in other environments as well! #CitiesDay
10.40am GMT
Anna Minton and the UEL students ask: The workplace featured is a forge are more contemporary workplaces included or is it that children enjoy traditional crafts?
In Fiskars, we have nine different workshops: paper production, woodworks, art, knitting, ceramics, ironworks, glass blowing, pedagogical museum tours and exhibitions. But these workshops are fitted into the local environment; if done, for instance, in London, workshops could be radio broadcasting, architecture, programming, digital photography etc.
It is true that we have a strong community and a lot of specialised professionals, which makes this kind of model easier to build. Maybe thats the reason it was invented here. But the basic structures can be found in any community, small and large alike, so I think when this has been structured into a model, as it has here, it will be easier to adopt by others as well.
10.38am GMT
Why should cities adopt it? The Fiskars model makes learning more interesting for schoolchildren and bonds them with the local community and adults. The focus is on workshops where children leave the school and spend time on the premises of local professionals, such as forges or glass workshops, and learn by doing. It offers an alternative to reading a book in a classroom setting, and it gives the pupils an alternative route to gaining skills and knowledge.
10.38am GMT
I can relate. So tell us about this local schools model ...
10.32am GMT
Hi, Oskari! Terveisiä Fiskarsista!
10.30am GMT
The idea in 10 words: A local school model that takes learning into the community.
10.30am GMT
Incredible stuff, there, I think.
Now were taking it down a peg to a place thats a lot smaller, but a personal favourite here at Guardian Cities. We like to think of it as our adopted hometown. Focus your eyes on Finland ...
10.26am GMT
Dan Hill asks: A problem that really needs solving. But leaving aside that housing does little to address the root cause, what other materials and construction choices could be used without the inadvertent connection to human trafficking?
While we do not provide housing solutions, mobility is an obvious architectural theme for our community centres, and a link to human trafficking didnt seem to correlate with our intentions. We strive to renovate the containers to a high standard so that the space feels uplifting and not oppressive. Where shipping containers are a challenge to acquire, we are exploring prefabricated panel systems for migrant communities.
We primarily run early-childhood development, afterschool programmes, adult education and vocational skills training. The centres also act as information banks for the community. We feel our community centres should provide a safe, uplifting, dignified space for people to come learn, bond and grow stronger as a community.
This has been a challenge for us at INCLUDED over the years, though on many levels the government recognises the importance of internal migration for economic growth and modernisation. This can be seen through shifting policy happening in some second-tier cities. INCLUDED has always strived to balance working with the government and empowering the people we serve. Recent praise and support from local governments in China seem to reflect that this approach is working.
10.25am GMT
And why should other cities adopt it? When migrants enter our cities, they find exclusion and barriers to achieving their full potential. Our community centres help bridge the gap between migrants informal lives and the formal institutions of the city, helping them improve their lives, achieve success and ultimately better the cities in which they live.
10.24am GMT
Peking ... peeking ... I get it.
Lets talk container cubes. Tell us about them!
10.21am GMT
Hello, Matt! ! !
10.20am GMT
The idea in 10 words: Container cubes portable community centres to serve informal migrant settlements.
10.20am GMT
Those floating docks would look great on the Thames, wouldnt they?
Next up, China, with an idea I suspect may prove controversial ...
10.15am GMT
Dan Hill asks: Beautiful project. But popups are easy because they can also pop-down. How do you ensure a structure that is as enduring (materially, socially and financially) as the concrete shoreline it is trying to replace?
Materially: As long as the marine wood is taken care of, it lasts long. Since Izmir has many harbours and fishing villages, everything required for maintenance is already in place. Socially: The modular nature of the structure makes it shrinkable, expandable and variable, responding to changing needs of the city. And financially: The shoreline is the only open space left in overcrowded Turkish cities, so municipalities prefer making investments there.
We presented the structure as a boat, which does not leave any trace when it is removed and is for the public benefit. Since Izmir has been trying to take action regarding the design of the shoreline, everyone was very willing and accommodating. The permit process, to our surprise, was extremely easy.
Although the waving motion of the modules has been a great attraction, we are working on controlling it better. First, by designing the module width larger than the wave length of the sea. Second, by tying the modules together more loosely so they can move more naturally.
10.11am GMT
Heroism takes many forms. OK, sell us on these docks you have three minutes.
10.08am GMT
Hello, Can! zmirden Merhabalar!
10.07am GMT
The idea in 10 words: A modular, floating dock system that serves as public space.
10.07am GMT
An interesting idea indeeed. Personally, Ive been wondering how the skywalks have been used in the recent protests. Can anyone tell me?
In the meantime, its Turkey time ...
10.03am GMT
Another question here from Richard Rogers firm (of which judge Ivan Harbour is a partner):
@guardiancities #CitiesDay Hong Kong has a degree of separation between pedestrian and car, how do you imagine Hong Kong can reinvent this?
@RSHP_News @guardiancities ...our bridge systems reconnects the pedestrian to our traffic infrastructure
9.59am GMT
Judge Ivan Harbour asks: Hong Kong, with its density and topography, necessitates a degree of separation between pedestrian and car. In other cities this separation has not been very successful, as is dilutes street life and often leads to personal safety and security concerns. How can Hong Kongs experience reinvent this concept in a better way?
In Hong Kong, we are not just erecting bridges, we are in fact laying a web of elevated links to fit tightly on to our urban fabric. Our bridges are conceived not merely as independent, elevated structures, but more an organic, three-dimensional arterial system feeding up and down to connect street life on the ground with the various raised public levels of our buildings, infrastructures and green decks. The success of its transformative impact hinges mostly on the extent of its connectivity and integrated planning in the vertical developments of a city.
Our bridge-web in Hong Kong is composed of both publicly and privately owned spaces, with their boundaries blurred seamlessly, augmenting or even interchanging their original functions: footbridges become retail decks and commercial arcades double as raised streets.
9.59am GMT
Why should other cities adopt it? The web of skywalks will make cities vertically more walkable, more accessible, more adaptable, more sharable and more resilient. By elevating our urban capital and liveability, this floating urban realm could elevate every city in the world to a height of public life that is above and beyond the ground!
9.54am GMT
A very cool dude.
So tell us about these skywalks ...
9.51am GMT
Hello! Ha Lo (Chinglish) or Nei Ho (Cantonese)!
9.48am GMT
The idea in 10 words: Skywalks that connect districts without touching the ground.
9.45am GMT
The judges weigh in ...
Dan Hill asks: Compelling presentation! And clearly a good initiative. What can we learn from it to enable other African (and other) cities to replicate? What was the breakthrough?
Political will is the first, probably: Ethiopias government has a very strong development ethos and vision, and the wherewithal to implement it.
I think the city government wanted to take the opportunity to really redraw the map of the city. Its not only the rail project that is underway, but also roads and buildings. Addis is getting a complete makeover, rather than a few adjustments. Again, this sits well with a strong political will that is committed to bringing about change - and all the better if that change is very visible. So this is not only an utilitarian move, but also a symbolic one, that speaks to outsiders as well as to inhabitants themselves: look! this is where you live! and this will make your life better! But Addis Ababa is also the political capital of Africa, home to the African Union. So its part utilitarian, for the good of the citys inhabitants, but its also strongly symbolic.
9.44am GMT
Why should cities adopt it? Transport is a major challenge for the middle and low income inhabitants of the worlds emerging megacities. Its not just about affordability: road safety and pollution are other major concerns for the inhabitants of these centres of growth and innovation. Is Addis Ababas new light train network the solution? Is it replicable elsewhere?
9.40am GMT
Gotcha. Always difficult to have to explain a joke in another language: five extra points.
Now whats so great about this light rail? You have three minutes.
9.38am GMT
The idea in 10 words: A new light rail to ease the pain for Addis commuters
9.38am GMT
Smashing job, Kjerrimyr. Five extra points for what is sure to be todays greatest profile picture. Who the heck are those guys behind you? Do I want to know?
Anyway, over to Ethiopia ...
9.36am GMT
Some support for Manilas idea:
#CitiesDay #Escolta is a business district since 1594 & became a major commercial hub in Asia Pacific for many centuries. @guardiancities
@TheKejOfGlory -- BONIFACIO ROCKS! Hahahaha! #CitiesDay #MNL #MLA #Escolta
9.34am GMT
Dan Hill asks: Great to preserve carefully. Yet over and above preserving the fabric, how can you help citizens, businesses and other organisations collectively imagine futures for these important places?
All are rooted in resurrecting Manilas pre-war glory. Because of the internet and organizations like HCS-Y (Heritage Conservation Society-Youth), more people are involved with Escolta, and by extension, historical downtowns throughout the Philippines. Stronger campaigns to inform people about their history would make them value it more, and equate heritage preservation to progress.
It encourages government, organisations and citizens to improve services to a city otherwise seen as chaotic. In Escolta, ECAI (Escolta Commercial Association) has done major security revamping, and during special events government police have also helped make it safe. The same changes are now becoming a trend throughout Manilas other districts.
9.33am GMT
Why should other cities adopt it? Because of modernisation, many cities tend to replace old structures with new ones that have no historical and cultural value. The souls of these cities disappear; the government may not be able to reverse such actions. Escolta Revival Movement proves that citizens have the power to revive historic downtowns to boost tourism.
9.33am GMT
Zing! OK, sell us on this business district revival. You have three minutes.
9.27am GMT
Hello! Mabuhay! Mula sa Maynila!
9.27am GMT
The idea in 10 words: A citizen-led effort to revive the historic Escolta business district.
9.16am GMT
Weve just heard from six cities across four continents: Auckland, Bhubaneswar, Helsinki, Tallinn, Paris and Johannesburg. Five points to Helsinki for best photograph and to Bhubaneswar for biggest cheering section.
Auckland kicked it off with Living Streets - the transformation of roads into shared flexi-people spaces where pedestrians come first.
Good Luck #Bhubaneswar @guardiancities #CitiesDay let every other city make their wall as beautiful as the Heritage City #Bhubaneswar !
@guardiancities @UrbanFinBlog #CitiesDay #Helsinki great use of technology to engage people with the future city plans!
#Bhubaneswar streets have become amazingly cheerful and artsy thanks to the murals and paintings. Joy to drive down there :) #CitiesDay
Nice idea from Johannesburg: bridging the citys economic divide with pedestrian bridge RT@guardiancities http://t.co/a2vUqAvl3d #CitiesDay
All public walls should be painted with the local art to display local culture to make the cities beautiful. #Bhubaneswar #CitiesDay
Excellent presentation by #Bhubaneswar in the #CitiesDay Challenge ! Fingers crossed. May the best city win!
9.12am GMT
I feel about ziplines the way Christopher Walken feels about cowbells.
9.09am GMT
Great. But what do the judges think?
Dan Hill asks: Sounds sensible and long overdue. Is there a masterplan to scale similar structures across the rest of the city, or remodel the car-centric fabric?
The bridge development is part of a greater plan to upgrade non-motorised transport between Alex and Sandton and is part of mayor Parks Taus Corridors of Freedom legacy project, a series of targeted road infrastructure projects aimed at alleviating Joburgs spatial fragmentation, the legacy of apartheid urban planning. Bike lines are being systemically integrated, as well as policies for future roads to accommodate bike lanes protected either by parked cars or via small barricades.
Its embarrassing that people drive past in one-manned cars, and the dust of the cars settles on the stream of pedestrians making their way to work in the business district. The bridge may not be the cheapest option, but its the most uplifting: it is a motif that connects class and eradicates separation with grandeur. A zipline would be super fun though perhaps they can implement one on top of the bridge!
9.05am GMT
Fittys all about the rands.
Right you have three minutes to sell us this idea. Go.
9.01am GMT
Hello! Hallo, sawubona, hi!
Whos your hometown hero? Respected the world over as a lyrical master, Spoek Mathambo bussed across the country in an effort to capture some of South Africas unique musical culture, which might otherwise be lost.
Got a good joke about your city? Where does 50 Cent stay when he comes to Johannesburg? MIDRAND! (An area in Joburg and the currency is rands!)
9.01am GMT
The idea in 10 words: Bridging the citys economic divide with a short, elevated walkway.
8.57am GMT
Guardian Cities judges ask: Whos funding this?
The founders are an American film-maker and several Parisians already active in small purchasing cooperatives. They have raised 42,000 on the KissKissBankBank crowdfunding platform. Now they are launching a membership fundraising drive to raise a further 100,000, which would allow them to secure low-interest loans to launch the supermarket. The project, which has the backing of the local government for the 18th arrondissement and the City of Paris, is closely inspired by the Park Slope Food Cooperative in Brooklyn.
8.52am GMT
Why should other cities adopt it? La Louve (She-wolf), the co-operative store in La Goutte dOr neighbourhood, makes high-quality, organic products - normally the preserve of well-heeled Parisians - affordable to the areas low-income residents. Its members just have to volunteer three hours a month, in order to be able to shop there at prices well below those of supermarkets.
8.52am GMT
A classic. Right, youve got three minutes. Go!
8.50am GMT
Hello! Bonjour de Paris!
8.50am GMT
The idea in 10 words: A non-profit supermarket in a multicultural, working-class neighbourhood.
8.49am GMT
Im not voting, but if I were Id give five points for funniest video so far. Great stuff, Tallinn! Next up ... the City of Lights ...
8.43am GMT
Adam Greenfield asks: Everything this entry argues strikes me as being both indisputably true, and a very good idea. But talking to your neighbor kind of stretches the idea of an urban innovation to the breaking point, dont you think?
Talking to your neighbour is just the beginning. Whats important and innovative is the collaboration between different active neighbourhoods and drafting the agreement with the city government (the Good Collaboration Pact, drawn up by the 20+ associations with city officials). So our message is: even with an ignorant mayor and city government, dont give up, but propose the ways to collaborate in the name of a more citizen-friendly urban development. We are proposing a process of building trust.
8.42am GMT
Judge Anna Minton and the UEL students ask: How did you get all 20 neighbourhood associations round the table? Was there funding?
Yes, it was an initiative called Urban Idea (Linnaidee in Estonian), for which we got funding from the Open Society Foundation of Estonia. But the initial idea to start collaborating among neighbourhood associations came from neighbourhood enthusiasts themselves.
8.41am GMT
Why should other cities adopt it? If local residents care about a place, they should be cherished for that! Neighbourhood associations are good partners and an invaluable source of information and knowledge for the city government in urban development, since they unite the city inhabitants who care beyond their house walls or courtyard.
8.38am GMT
Ouch. OK, you have three minutes ... go!
8.38am GMT
Hello! Tere Tallinnast!
Tell us a fascinating fact about Tallinn: Chimney-sweeps in Tallinn continue to wear 19th-century uniforms. If you come across one, touch his brass buttons it brings good luck!
8.37am GMT
The idea in 10 words: Local residents associations theyre the best neighbourhood experts!
8.37am GMT
Lovely stuff, Timo! Beautiful singing voice. And now to Estonia ...
8.34am GMT
Helsinkis idea has a big fan!
My favourite city idea so far: crowdsourcing city planning #Helsinki RT @guardiancities #CitiesDay http://t.co/qbjFg5Erf4 @UrbanFinBlog
8.31am GMT
Anna Minton and the UEL students ask: How time-consuming is this process? Your film mentions mapping 5,000 residents views how long did this take?
It is a fairly light process for both respondents and planners. In this case, the average respondent needed about 10 minutes to map his or her ideas. Naturally, times vary between individuals and their mapping interests. It took about a month to collect over 30,000 mappings from roughly 5,000 respondents.
8.31am GMT
Judge Dan Hill asks: Great to see civic participation platforms include the City Planning department but its all in the execution. Ultimately, who decides, and how?
All planning decisions are made by Helsinkis city council following variegated development processes. But to prevent only the loudest voices getting heard, Helsinki applies tools like Maptionnaire to make civic engagement easier and more diverse. This project essentially served decision-making by bringing about important information for planners and decision-makers.
8.30am GMT
Why should other cities adopt it? Helsinkis example shows that residents can get excited about participatory planning, when done right. Place-based tools for e-participation and co-participation, like Maptionnaire, allow masses to convey ideas about future development online or through facilitated workshops. High participation levels mean valuable information for planners and resident commitment to growth patterns.
8.26am GMT
Three minutes. Hit it.
8.26am GMT
Ha! OK, whats your idea in 10 words? Crowdsourcing city planning with a map of experiences.
8.26am GMT
Hello! Terveisiä helsingistä!
8.25am GMT
Maptionnaire
8.25am GMT
OK, nice job India faintly disapproving take on graffiti, maybe, but hey, who wants their house tagged? (Well probably some people do ...)
Drum roll for the next challenger ...
8.22am GMT
Weve heard about some other great ideas from Bhubaneswar too:
Bhubaneswar neighborhood vending zone has successfully rehabilitated street hawkers in a win win partnership with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Authority
Sent via GuardianWitness
By Devasis Sarangi
28 October 2014, 9:39
Bhubaneswar is going to be one of the few cities to be entirely WiFi enabled, and in India where internet penetration is at a miserly 19%, it;s a huge achievement.
Sent via GuardianWitness
By Biswajeet Mallik
28 October 2014, 11:28
Pink Auto service for women commuters in Bhubaneswar.First of its kind in the Country. @guardiancities @discoverbbsr pic.twitter.com/QCiZOmzm73
8.20am GMT
Usman Haque asks: Who decides what is good and bad graffiti, ie the difference between colourful street art and illegal graffiti?
There is no rule to define what is good or bad graffiti. The idea was to create a series of painting in walls that will stand as a public art gallery, for people who dont often go into art galleries or museums, along with ensuring that the public space remains for everyone, not just for the few who litter it.
8.20am GMT
Dan Hill asks: Good. But graffiti is partly about the citizens desire to make a mark who is producing the street arts, and how? How do you engage those who want to make a mark?
Well, graffiti is certainly partly about the citizens desire to make a mark on their environment. But sometimes graffiti is simply vandalism, and not acceptable. Here, after we began to paint street art on both public & private walls, some of the citys graffiti activists accepted an organised form of art rather than making the walls uglier. The public spaces were available initially for local school artists. But as the project gathered momentum it spread across other walls in the city, owned by the government or private owners. People started painting of their own volition.
8.19am GMT
Judge Anna Minton and the UEL students ask: How are the artists chosen?
Initially the artists were brought in from the local art schools and supported by various public and private sector organisations. But now the whole project has gathered momentum and everyone has become artist and owner of their own walls.
8.19am GMT
Why should other cities adopt it? Cities are searching for solutions to illegal graffiti, while emerging economies struggle to keep public space attractive for its citizens. So painting our street walls solves two problems: it fills walls with colourful street arts and makes these place attractive for tourists and businesses, too.
8.14am GMT
Youve got our attention. Three minutes go!
8.14am GMT
Fascinating indeed. So whats your citys best idea, in 10 words? Painting street walls to create a living, public art gallery.
8.13am GMT
Hello! Namaskar!
8.13am GMT
Public art galleries
8.13am GMT
Great start, Auckland. Its always difficult to go first. Five extra points for bravery.
Now, without further ado, to India ...
8.11am GMT
Heres what you think about Aucklands idea:
@AKLdesignchamp All the best Ludo. I'm sure you will be a star talking AKL's world #CitiesDay idea @guardiancities I will be cheering u on
#CitiesDay It feels great living and working in a design-led city #AKL #Auckland
@guardiancities @AKLdesignchamp #CitiesDay Shared Space means walking now feels like the purpose of the city - love it! #AKL #auckland
8.09am GMT
Adam Greenfield asks: I couldnt agree more. But theres nothing about this thats particularly novel, is there? Or unique to Auckland?
Surprising to many, but Auckland has for many years had the highest ownership of cars per capita it is sometimes called the city of cars. So Aucklands look, feel and function was designed around the car. This project has been more about a developing a new attitude or psyche for our city than merely a single project. It is about instilling a behaviour change and changing our views as to what we want from our city. People are finding a new love affair with their inner city in many respects, we are bringing back fond memories of a European-styled, human-scaled city; one with street cars, where going downtown was something you did as a treat.
8.09am GMT
Usman Haque asks: There are a lot of goals cited, but its not clear from the video what exactly is being proposed to achieve these goals, whether technical, regulatory or logistic. Please clarify how the proposals do actually meaningfully put people back into space.
The approach turns traditional traffic engineering approaches on their head. To traffic engineers, shared spaces are counterintuitive, so there has been a great effort made in terms of training and awareness raising. All the shared spaces are design-led; a collaborative team of urban designers, landscape architects and transport engineers typically form the design team. The principles of shared spaces have had to be clearly understood by all the team to ensure that pedestrians have the priority over all other users, signs are kept to a minimum and regulatory rules support the overall outcome.
8.08am GMT
Sounds great! But I like everything. Our panel of judges, on the other hand, are made of sterner stuff.
And here they come...
Auckland responds: Initially sceptical, most small businesses are now requesting that shared streets be rolled out further. The massive increase in pedestrian numbers, the decrease in accidents and the uplift in hospitality spending have been clinchers. Developers are now purchasing properties in areas that are earmarked for change, because they know that value uplift will occur.
8.07am GMT
Why should other cities adopt it? Imagine a space where love can be declared, shop tills clang with delight and people flock among cars to twitter and dance. Aucklands shared spaces provide a venue for all of lifes activities, 24/7. Auckland is crafting a liveable city by designing liveable streets.
8.05am GMT
Great. Youve got three minutes. Go!
8.05am GMT
THREE jokes! You kiwi maniacs.
OK, can you tell us your idea in 10 words? Shared streets not anti-car, but pro-pedestrian.
8.03am GMT
Hello! Kia ora!
8.00am GMT
Living streets
7.56am GMT
Weve got an esteemed panel of judges to grill the contestants. And for those of you who are still baffled as to what the Challenge is all about, heres a primer.
We kick off officially at 8:00am (GMT) and go till 4:00pm, shortly after which well announce the winner.
I have been deeply impressed by the ideas that have poured in from around the world for the Guardian and UN-Habitats World Cities Day Challenge. They clearly demonstrate the pioneering and innovative spirit of cities and citizens and remind us that all ideas - big or small - can make an impact. By continuing to share ideas such as these we can start to unlock the potential of urbanisation to improve life for people around the world.
7.45am GMT
Happy World Cities Day, world!
World Cities Day is expected to greatly promote the international communitys interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and challenges in urbanization and contribute to sustainable urban development in cities and towns around the world.
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