Austin, Texas – At this year’s SXSW, The Future Laboratory launched Branded Cities - Can We Avoid an Urban Dystopia?, a proposal that explores three future scenarios for urban living spaces in 2050. Figures from the UN predict that two-thirds of humanity will be living in urban environments by 2050, demanding that cities adapt to meet the growing demands on their infrastructure.
We ask, if governments don't have the resources to do this, will the role of city maker fall entirely to private corporations? And if so, will the metropolis of the future become a branded utopia or a commercial dystopia? As we put forward the preferred, the probable and the probable future of the city.
Download the full report here to find out how you can future-proof your placemaking strategy.