Mikael Colville-Andersen’s documentary series “The Life-Sized City” on TVO is an engaging, thought provoking and inspiring look at what makes cities good places to live. In the first two seasons, he visited Medellin, Toronto, Paris, Bangkok, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, Cape Town, Mexico City, Copenhagen, Milan, Detroit and Windsor, and Montreal.
“At the heart of every city is its citizens. Our perception of cities is slowly changing from a model of mathematical engineering to a human habitat where urban spaces have the potential to be healthy, attractive, interesting and efficient. In this six-part series, urban design expert Mikael Colville-Andersen explores the anatomy and vibrancy of the modern metropolis, highlighting pockets of life-sized goodness in cities around the world.” -TVO
I’ve had an abiding interest in urbanism. This series has resonated, inspired and informed my point of view.
A common thread throughout is that community focused, engaged people know what their neighbourhoods need and they can cut through to an effective way of making their ideas a reality. A blend of idealism and pragmatism, with a big measure of persistence, gets it done.
I had seen both seasons of this series when they first aired, a year or two before spending a month in Montreal in October 2019 for a self-directed residency. While I had been to the city many times before, the luxury of being there for a month allowed me to live and breathe much of what Colville-Andersen talks about in the episode. I recently re-watched the Montreal episode, in the context of my current Studio Sixty Six exhibition Passages, which came out of this residency. I found it poignant to watch this episode given that the city, as everywhere in the world, is still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the pandemic, I have not been there in five months and am not sure when I will next be back. I’m feeling nostalgic.
"This is a city that stands firmly on the shoulders of its citizens, who hail from every corner of the world. They define it, not the other way around. Montreal is raw, edgy, irreverent, creative, dynamic, resilient. And on top of that, this is one of the coolest, most chill places I could ever imagine. Montreal. Montréal. Call it whatever you want. I really don't think it cares. This underdog city is just happy that you want to be here. And that's why I keep coming back."
A new season is scheduled for streaming and to air on TVO September 2020 - can’t wait.
Links
Mikael Colville-Andersen
The Life-Sized City vs The Cult of Big
Copenhagenize, founded by Mikael Colville-Andersen
Montreal’s bike lanes expansion during pandemic