The happy city experiment | Charles Montgomery | TEDxVancouver

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Charles Montgomery explores what happens when you take an abandon city space in NYC and populate it with urban social experiments. The outcomes are unexpected as city dwellers explore this public space, interact with each other, and change their attitudes towards social connections, values, and each other.
Charles Montgomery explores what happens when you take an abandoned NYC space and infuse it with social experiments. The results are surprising and inspiring.
An award-winning author and urban experimentalist, Charles Montgomery is the author of Happy City which the New York Times recommended as essential reading for their city’s new mayor. Working with the BMW Guggenheim Lab, the Museum of Vancouver and other institutions, he creates experiments that challenge us to see our cities-and ourselves-in entirely new ways.
Montgomery’s Home for the Games initiative led hundreds of people to open their homes to strangers during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Operating in cooperation with the BMW Guggenheim Lab and the citizens of New York City, he transformed an empty lot into a device to maximize feelings of altruism.
His writings on urban planning, psychology, culture, and history have appeared in magazines and journals on three continents. Among his awards is a Citation of Merit from the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society for outstanding contribution towards public understanding of climate change science. His first book, The Last Heathen, won the 2005 Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-fiction.
He currently creates programs with the Museum of Vancouver and other institutions that enable people to use their own cities as laboratories, and he continues to advise and conduct lectures for planners, designers, and decision-makers across America, Canada, and England. For more information, visit www.charlesmontgomery.ca.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@hamishashcroftplaysminecra6262]

This is why I love Edinburgh Scotland so much. So much of the city is greespace, there are lakes, a few volcanoes, a beach, a ski slope, tons of parks, tons of cool gardens and I just love to hang out somewhere like the meadows on a warm summer day

[@johann3076]

What a surprise! I am currently in Edinburgh during an Interrail (train) trip trough europe, reading Montgomerys book and thinking about starting studying city planning or something similar and I can absolutely agree! I think, I‘ve never been in a city so far where there were so many parks and even „green corridors“ for cyclists and pedestrians. But on the other side I need to say that I’m very disappointed about some parks, that aren’t public and only for residents or with membership. The city also has a massive number of single-family housing estates.

[@kiranpandiyan159]

I wish we implement these things to Indian cities . We highly lack these social connections in our cities. Although there is a strong community bonding in villages, our cities need these. Hope the authorities look into this.

[@carl-johancollet228]

Really great talk. Everyone involved in running or designing cities should watch this.

[@rafalpotasz]

+Carl-Johan Collet 100% agreed..

[@Slava-om1sz]

Designing urban mobility solutoins... watching this in 2018.

[@abhijeetbanode]

That was an excellent TEDx .. I am researching on sustainable cities and I went through many articles, videos and books.. but this video changed my perspective.. I have ordered the book and waiting to explore more and to apply in my own research.. Thank you

[@ZacharySalman]

I have been accepted to Cornell University for Urban and Regional Planning, and I love these talks so much. This has me dying to develop a model for a better neighborhood! EDIT: Lol I left after one year. I realized that urban planning would not be a career I would be happy or satisfied with and my studies felt tedious and dry. Now I'm about to finish a bachelor's degree in historic preservation at a small state university in West Virginia (my home state) and I'm looking at masters programs in architectural preservation.

[@dcrikki7367]

For some reason, you’re comment sounds like the best news I’ve heard today. I can’t wait for you to design a brilliant urban space too. It’d be nice to see some of the newer, more car-dependent cities like Atlanta get more spaces that are densely populated, become more walkable, more centrally located, more intimate. Miami would be a major challenge! There, the sidewalks (where present) have green moss growing on them due to lack of use. I saw people driving their car to and stressing out about finding a parking spot at A PUBLIC PARK. There was something grotesque about people driving and parking in outlined off-street spaces just to stroll around outdoors near nature and wooden benches. One question I’ve asked myself recently is would it be possible to “restore” an entire city to its original system of walkable streets, centrally-located mixed used spaces, street cars and tree-lined sidewalks? Most importantly, could we rebuild it with architecture that is of traditional style more in tune with the styles used when the city was founded rather than all that generic, sterile, bland, modern architecture with all the glass, steel and concrete blocks? I just despise modern architecture even in skyscrapers. The 50’s & 60’s caused irreperable damage to our cities. How can all that damage get reversed on a city-wide scale? 👍🏼

[@Minecraftizawsom]

Can you design a medieval city in the US, without any sort of street pattern and only for walking?

[@kayem3824]

@@Minecraftizawsom There's one in Disneyland.

[@jaimeshort1892]

I’m just finishing off my masters in urban planning. It’s been amazing. I have learnt so much. You will love it.

[@ZacharySalman]

@@jaimeshort1892 LOL my comment aged well... I transferred out after one year! I realized that urban planning was actually not my calling and now I'm about to finish a bachelor's degree in historic preservation from a smaller, public university.

[@vanaziz5995]

Amazing talk!! I'm doing my thesis on how to avoid future turmoil in post conflict countries...Visible life was one of my guidelines, and your social experiments towards the end, just kept justifying the point.

[@sb24377]

Dynamic & active streets creates best opportunities for people to socialize & contributes towards making of happy cities.... Wonderful talk show 👏👏👏

[@kittens3029]

Just realised he's the author of the book i'm reading now. Fantastic.

[@kwairsoft1999]

No he isnt

[@sssl9528]

Which book is that?

[@georgegee777]

Happy City by Charles Montgomery

[@liazasmyth]

I am so in love with the talk. Thank you for the happiness!

[@mijbulbaharjibon8262]

Great lecture

[@lucybronkema6486]

The hugging would make me FREAK OUT.

[@gloriapas4357]

17:35 I cry :") take the emotional effect of what they do

[@juanmanuelparadaaragon6264]

Charles, thank you for your knowledge. Amazing conference.

[@alexandrelot2798]

In Brazil, urban problems are getting really worse. Some cities have started looking forward sustainable development but the lack of a consistent urban planning is amuzing. This talk is a breath of air into some really good future.

[@allenjohnson7686]

everything he said was true, you live in a large city with no green space to socialize meet new people. People will not be high on a happy scale. yet you live in a small town or village you know more people have more green space have more chance of getting close to people around you. If they could build new homes with a park/waterway that people would want to go to people would start to chat to strangers and become friends and =happy. miles of crammed in homes no green space = unhappy. new estates with a central garden running all the way through them would get people out and talk, grow things enjoying life, im lucky where we live we have open spaces large gardens parks and lots of things for people to start talking to each other. enjoy your life its the only one you get.

[@insertyourquarters]

I just finished his book a few days ago (after a long year of travelling by different transport). Honestly a real delight, so glad to see this.

[@shaunhart1753]

Loved the book Happy City, it was my introductory book to Urban Planning/Design (though its more philosophical than instructional). Had no idea that there was Ted Talk with the author. Glad I stumbled across this!

[@sicelliatsui5148]

I felt happy even when I was just reading this book!!

[@lisag8930]

ahhh the hugging world, pre-pandemic days.

[@francescos7361]

Thanks , interesting research on urbanism and smart cities .

[@jocelyncolon2318]

awesome

[@saranbhatia8809]

Way forward!

[@PeepalBaba-Givemetrees]

wonderful ☘️

[@astrorey8520]

great Ted and thanks to Charles! However, it is sad that is taking us so many years and so much research to discover what we all naturally feel when we experience it, we all love this lively places over lonely wharehouses blocks. but when you put profit over people this un humanized urban spaces take over but now that unhappy people is not as productive for the business and the move the economy is when we are realizing about all this things. any way happy to see we are waking up although slow but at least we are realizing things that any 5 year old kid will choose, people over things!

[@gloriapas4357]

8:05 OMGGG. WOW

[@saranbhatia8809]

Wonderful!

[@rjl3743]

Great talk!!

[@BBoyMokus]

I would like this video a few times.

[@jorgehumbertodias.oficial]

Great!

[@nowanobady]

16:10 yes!

[@yurantembe1633]

14:09 Bjark Ingles

[@cv5330]

cool.

[@lovehandr]

and sadly so much of this goes out the window during the pandemic era with little sign of social interaction returning to normal anytime in the foreseeable future.

[@saraa7117]

architecture and urban design are not just phenomenal designs but can also be the cure of illness and social anxiety only if they care about people not just money. we do not need more psychologists but more architect for people and their connection.

[@cesarrcanova]

Architect here. Count me in!

[@naphackDT]

15:30 Sample bias?

[@MarcoAntonioBeltranRobaina]

El tema de habitar las ciudades siempre me ha interesado muchísimo. Creo que desde niño ya me preguntaba "¿cómo alguien puede construir un edificio tan feo? 😒", para mí, que pasaba muchas horas en la calle, los edificios eran parte de mi vida y me atraían o me causaban rechazo según mi idea de belleza. Aún a día de hoy es posible verme parado mirando alguna fachada y observando los detalles mientras pienso "esto es arte 🤩". Sí, recuerdo escaparme a las afueras y descubrir caminos son asfalto y con vegetación 🌳, aquello era toda una aventura 🏞️. Era como estar en el mundo real. Los jardines me parecían regalos 🎁 y lugares llenos de aventura y emoción y aún a día de hoy me lo siguen pareciendo... excepto cuando veo bancos sin respaldo 🙅‍♂️ (a más de uno lo sentaba yo allí cuando cumpliera ochenta años para que entendiera porqué los bancos tienen que tener respaldo. Tienen títulos, pero no conocimientos 😜). Tengo la gran suerte de no vivir en una urbanización perdida de la mano de Dios 😅. Vivo en la ciudad 🌇, donde quiero vivir porque me cruzo con gente y puedo ir andando a todos los sitios que necesito 🚶‍♂️. De todas formas no está demás pensar y participar en cómo queremos que sean nuestras ciudades 🤔.

[@EYGeller]

13:21 who in their right mind would want to carry lumber down a flight of stairs?

[@lorenzogabrieltan9072]

I should install parklife

[@Fionan95]

Suburbia is over-rated

[@v.prestorpnrcrtlcrt2096]

Inhale farm boi, welcome to the 'Toronto P.U.B" Pretentious, Uptight & Bitter!!

[@tyroneshoemaker5264]

Pandemic: Hold my beer.

[@calsavestheworld]

LOL, I used to work at the exact store he's using to describe horrible cities.

[@joelstephenson8017]

Lol

[@Raziffalyan]

Sometimse I feel like I am in a wrong direction, I love planning stuffs, but... ehh

[@thawwtpoettt]

Upstate NY is in dire need of something happy. These ppl are freaking miserable. And they hate us!!!

[@killianbayer]

And then came Corona

[@laotra4099]

Maaf ya allah hamba liat ini.

[@laiwan4914]

Yang sayang aku like yang cinta allah coment.

[@evanconnor7600]

Urbanization is not the answer to the problems of urbanization. Distribution solutions for decentralization are needed.

[@marusak72]

Because the American system of suburbs after suburbs rotting from inside out is a proven success?

[@evanconnor7600]

Suburbia is part of urbanization. We can, and probably should, decentralize further. High rises and 4 bedroom ranch houses are not the only two options.

[@joelstephenson8017]

@@evanconnor7600 what's your solution?

[@danielfbc2744]

BS

[@Andreas4696]

Stopped watching when he talked about the minimum wage bullshit. Because, I don't support it. Otherwise, good talk.

[@ouicertes9764]

you don't support people's ability to feed themselves with a job? nice.

[@kittypurry6717]

The lower the wages the more people will rely on public assistance/welfare. All it does is shift the burden from businesses to the tax payer.

[@PasanManura]

but when people have more money, it creates bigger problems than who pays taxes

[@fijnman3813]

You should hug then you'll think different about it!