David Byrne, Bogata, and Change

My last post focused on the "Design for the Other 90%," and how small design can have a great impact. In his most recent blog post, David Byrne speaks of a trip to Bogata, Columbia, and the radical transformations that the city is undergoing. As David writes:

My point to the architects was that here were fairly cheap and simple improvements that (coupled with some other changes described below) radically transformed people’s lives.

Now, one might not normally think of David Byrne and urban critique. And Bogata may not be the first city thought of as a precedent for positive urban change. But abid bike-rider Byrne has been focused on urban issues (and alternative means of transportation) for some time, actually having written a book Bicycle Diaries that focuses on his bike trips while on tour throughout the world. ("This point of view, from his bike seat, became his panoramic window on urban life, a magical way of opening one’s eyes to the inner workings and rhythms of a city’s geography and population.") And Bogata has undergone major positive change over the past fifteen years, particularly under the tenure of mayor Enrique Peñalosa (1998-2001), with focus on alternative transportation, improvement to informal neighborhoods, and support of institutions such as public parks and libraries.

Here is Bogata, Part 1, published on October 26th:

http://journal.davidbyrne.com/2011/10/10312011-bogota-part-1.html