This document discusses the increasing urbanization of the world's population and the rise of "metropolitan information architecture." It notes that more than half the world's population now lives in cities, and this number is projected to rise to 70% by 2050. It argues that cities are increasingly defined by their information systems and digital infrastructure, and explores how to design cities that are shaped as much by their information architecture as their physical architecture.

1. Metropolitan
Information Architecture
John Tolva (@immerito)
Don Turnbull (@donturn) #metroia

2. More than ever before,
human life revolves
around the city.
In 1900,
13%
of the world’s
population
lived in cities.
#metroia

3. More than ever before,
human life revolves
around the city.
In 2007,
that number
surpassed
50%
—and it
continues
to grow.
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
Population Division, World Urbanization Prospects, 2007 #metroia

4. More than ever before,
human life revolves
around the city.
By 2050,
70%
of all people on earth
will be city dwellers.
#metroia

5. #metroia

6. #metroia

7. “The patterns of data in the streets, the
systems that enable and carry them, the
quality of those connections, their various
levels of openness or privacy, will all affect
the way the street feels rather more than
street furniture or road signs. Holes in data,
public and private, may become more
relevant than the pothole in the pavement —
until you trip over it, at least.” — Dan Hill
#metroia

8. #metroia

9. #metroia

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12. #metroia

13. #metroia

14. #metroia

15. latent
explicit
#metroia

16. invisible
visible
#metroia

17. built environment
read/write
environment
#metroia

18. How can we design a city that is as
defined by its information architecture
as it is by its physical architecture?
#metroia

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20. The city of information is accessible.
#metroia

21. #metroia

22. The city of information is context-rich.
#metroia

23. #metroia

24. #metroia

25. The city of information is not a social network.
#metroia

26. The city of information surfaces patterns.
#metroia

27. #metroia

28. #metroia

29. #metroia

30. #metroia

31. #metroia

32. #metroia

33. #metroia

34. What are the implications of a
readable, networked urbanism?
#metroia

36. #metroia

37. #metroia

38. #metroia

39. #metroia

40. #metroia

41. #metroia

43. cityforward.org

44. What will the city experience
be in 10 years?
20 years?
#metroia

45. #cityisaplatform

46. The Opportunity
#metroia

47. “In the networked city, the truly pressing need
is for translators: people capable of opening
occult systems up, demystifying them,
explaining their implications to the people
whose neighborhoods and choices and very
lives are increasingly conditioned by them.”
— Adam Greenfield
#metroia

48. Nov 2009
The Information Architecture of Cities, L. Andrew Coward and Nikos Salingaros.
#metroia

49. Metropolitan
Information Architecture
John Tolva (@immerito)
Don Turnbull (@donturn) #metroia