#Future of Cities
A documentary project looking at the problems, solutions and trends shaping cities globally.
For the first time in human history, the majority of the world's population lives in a city.
About the project
#FutureofCities is a multi-platform project with its own website, social media campaign and touring exhibition.
As urbanisation rapidly accelerates, concerns about the physical, social, environmental and economic challenges have now become an urgent priority for communities, city planners and national governments.
In collaboration with the World Photography Organisation (WPO) and Sony’s Global Imaging Ambassadors (SGIA), Panos Pictures created ‘#Future of Cities’, a documentary photography project that looks at some of the problems, solutions and trends shaping cities globally.
Over 9 months, photographers shot twenty unique stories exploring how cities around the world are evolving and coping with the large-scale migrations of people from suburban and rural areas into urban environments.
75% of the global population is projected to be living in cities by the middle of this century. Panos photographers have begun examining this change through topics such as urban farming, eco-housing, technological innovations, elastic environments, children at play, green spaces, economic divides and much more.
The project was published in GEO France and Newsweek
Stories
Social Urbanism
Lianne Milton - Colombia
In the past decade, Medellin has gone from being one of the most violent cities in the world to a smart tech hub and tourist destination.
Stairway to Heaven
Noriko Hayashi - Japan
In Tokyo, being buried in an urban cemetery can cost well over $ 100,000. In a country where the graves of ancestors are visited regularly, access is key.
Robocops
Brian Sokol - DRC
In a city of 10 million people, traffic in Kinshasa has become a major problem. The city authorities have come up with a creative solution to the local congestion problem.
This is Bangkok
Zack Canepari - Thailand
As Sci-fi author Philip K Dick wrote: 'The future is already here — it's just not very evenly distributed.'
Some Like It Hot
Guy Martin - UK
Bristol is at the forefront of a movement that puts people and play at the heart of the future city.
Beijing Subway
Adam Dean - China
The Beijing subway is the second largest metro system in the world with 465 kilometres of track servicing the vast urban and suburban area of Beijing municipality.
Malaysia Boleh
Sanjit Das - Malaysia
'Malaysia can'. Every city has its master plan, and Kuala Lumpur is no different.
London Honey
Abbie Trayler-Smith - UK
Beekeeping is becoming a popular past time for eco-conscious urban dwellers. In Britain, there are 274,000 colonies and 44,000 bee keepers producing 6,000 tonnes of honey a year.
The Big Pool
Lianne Milton - Brazil
Piscinão de Ramos is an artificial beach and chlorinated swimming pool along the very polluted Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro's North Zone.
Old Soul, New Concrete
Brian Sokol - Nepal
Brian Sokol photographed Kathmandu mere days before the devastating earthquake which struck on 25 April. The city as Brian photographed it in early April 2015 must now bury its dead and rebuild, finding a new drive after the worst earthquake in 80 years that is so far known to have killed many thousands
Hillbrow
Nyani Quarmyne - South Africa
Hillbrow is Johannesburg's most notorious neighbourhood, plagued by crime, poverty and dislocation. Yet it wasn't always so. And some local residents are trying to bring hope back onto the streets.
Another Great Leap Forward
Justin Jin - China
What happens to humanity and the earth when millions of rural subsistence farmers are incentivised to sell their land and learn to live as middle class consumers in one of China’s newly constructed urban provinces?
Behind the scenes
