WELTSTADT

Weltstadt Correspondent Sebastian Moll interviews several actors during the Cities and Citizenship conference in New York.

Interview with Ioanna Theocharapolou, Parsons The New School for Design




Sebastian asks Ioanna Theocharapolou, one of the initiators of the conference, what the intention behind the Cities and Citizenship conference was, and why its focus, the role of Architecture and Design in bottom-up urban development, was chosen as a response to the overall Weltstadt project.


Interview with Colin Jarolmack, Urban Sociologist at New York University



Colin Jarolmack was art of the first pane. As an urban sociologist he places one of his research foci on pigeons in New York city parks. Thereby, he questions how we try to control nature in cities, and states that our relationship with pigeons actually signifies our corrupted relationship with nature.


Interview with Mariana Mogilevich, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, Metropolitan Studies at New York University



Mariana Mogilevich was part of the second panel. During her presentation she focused on urbanization policies such as increased pedestrianization of New York during the Bloomberg era. During the interviews she states that she worries about false promises of participation and the increasing tendencies of turning citizens into consumers of their urban environment.


Interview with Megan Sperry, producer and co-Director of The Domino Effect



The Domino Effect is a feature length documentary film that explores the process of real estate development in New York City and digs deep to uncover the complex networks of banks, developers, politicians, and non-profit organizations that shape our cities. It was shown during the opening night of the Cities and Citizenship conference.


Interview with Susannah Drake, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, dlandstudio



Interview with Susannah Drake who wants to address aging infrastructure issues with her work, such as designing productive landscapes that can absorb overflowing water/ floods. Susannah Drake was part of the third panel.


Interview with Susanne Schindler, Architect, Candide Journal



Susanne Schindler talks about the difficulties with affordable housing in New York. With her work, she advocates for sharing amenities in so-called micro units thus making overall housing more affordable. Thereby, she argues for re-thinking our social relationships that come with sharing space. She was part of the third panel during the Cities and Citizenship conference.