logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2019
13m 17s

The architectural wonder of impermanent ...

TED
About this episode

Every 12 years, a megacity springs up in India for the Kumbh Mela religious festival -- what's built in ten weeks is completely disassembled in one. What can we learn from this fully functioning, temporary settlement? In a visionary talk, urban designer RahulMehrotraexplores the benefits of building impermanent cities that can travel, adapt or even disappear, leaving the lightest possible footprint on the planet.

Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
In defense of hip-hop | Roland Fryer
Hip-hop often gets blamed for its controversial lyrics. What if there was a way to actually measure its impact on people's lives? Analyzing 40 years' worth of radio station data and lyrics from rappers like Tupac, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar, economist Roland Fryer puts one ... Show More
13m 49s
Yesterday
Sunday Pick: How to think critically about history — and why it matters (w/ David Ikard)
Have you ever recalled a story only to have someone point out "that's not how it went"? Well, what happens when what we misrepresent are our historical narratives? David Ikard is a Professor of African American and Diaspora Studies at Vanderbilt University. In this episode, he ta ... Show More
30m 20s
Jan 31
The language you're fluent in — but forgot how to hear | Louis VI
What if the calm you feel when you hear birdsong isn't a coincidence, but ancient evolutionary wiring ... a signal that once meant safety? Musical ecologist and rapper Louis VI says humans are hardwired to nature's sonic language, but modern life has drowned it out. He explores h ... Show More
18m 54s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2020
The Life Cycles Of Cities
Cities are never static; they can transform in months, years, or centuries. This hour, TED speakers explore how today's cities are informed by the past, and how they'll need to evolve for the future. Guests include archaeologist Alyssa Loorya, architects Marwa Al-Sabouni and Rahu ... Show More
49m 40s
Apr 2021
Listen Again: The Life Cycles Of Cities
Original broadcast date: November 13, 2020. Cities are never static; they can transform in months, years, or centuries. This hour, TED speakers explore how today's cities are informed by the past, and how they'll need to evolve for the future. Guests include archaeologist Alyssa ... Show More
50m 6s
Jan 2022
Listen Again: The Life Cycles Of Cities (2020)
Original broadcast date: November 15, 2020. Cities are never static; they can transform in months, years, or centuries. This hour, TED speakers explore how today's cities are informed by the past, and how they'll need to evolve for the future. Guests include archaeologist Alyssa ... Show More
52m 9s
Sep 2023
ABDOUMALIQ SIMONE on Urban Entanglements /348
What does it mean to settle, to be in a settled place? This week’s guest, AbdouMaliq Simone has dedicated his work to investigating the specifics of urban organization as they are created by people. In this erudite and globally-positioned conversation, Ayana and AbdouMaliq medita ... Show More
57m 13s
Sep 2021
44. Edward Glaeser Explains Why Some Cities Thrive While Others Fade Away
<p>An expert on urban economics and co-author of the new book <em>Survival of the City</em>, Ed says cities have faced far worse than Covid. Steve talks with the Harvard professor about why the slums of Mumbai function so well, high-quality housing in China sits empty, and declin ... Show More
46m 8s
Jul 2023
Women in Beirut: Rebuilding our city
<p>In August 2020, a devastating explosion destroyed the port of Beirut. More than 200 people lost their lives and thousands of small and medium women-owned businesses were destroyed. Kim Chakanetsa meets two entrepreneurs who are now working to rebuild their city and keep the ec ... Show More
27m 22s