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Rise and Fall of the City

Amol Rajan plans the ideal city with sociologist Richard Sennett, screenwriter David Farr, historian Edward Burman and structural engineer Roma Agrawal.

What would the perfect city look like?

Today more people live in cities than ever before and that shapes the way we think, says sociologist Richard Sennett. He lays out a vision for a city of the future based not on ancient Greece but on new 'open' streets.

Structural engineer Roma Agrawal charts the growth of cities from simple mud huts to the modern metropolis. She tells Amol Rajan about the engineering magic that holds towering city skylines in place, and recalls the eccentric engineers whose visions called our cities into being.

The Chinese built a city for the dead more than two thousand years ago and now its relics are on display again. Historian Edward Burman describes how the Terracotta Army found in a necropolis shows a ruler planning for life after death.

David Farr depicts the siege and destruction of Troy, the great city of the ancient world, in his vast new 大象传媒 One drama. He explains how the Trojans coped under ten long years of siege.

Producer: Hannah Sander.

Available now

43 minutes

Roma Agrawal

Roma Agrawal is a structural engineer.

Built: The Hidden Stories Behind Our Structures is published by Bloomsbury.

Richard Sennett

Richard Sennett is Centennial Professor of Sociology and Chair of the LSE Cities Advisory Committee at the London School of Economics.

Building and Dwelling: Ethics for the City is published by Allen Lane.

David Farr

David Farr is a playwright, screenwriter and stage director.

Troy: Fall of a City is a co-production between the 大象传媒 and Netflix, starting later this month.

Edward Burman

Edward Burman is听Visiting Professor at the University of Liverpool and the Executive Director for China of Mediapolis Engineering Srl.

Terracotta Warriors: History, Mystery and the Latest Discoveries is published by W&N.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Amol Rajan
Interviewed Guest Richard Sennett
Interviewed Guest David Farr
Interviewed Guest Roma Agrawal
Interviewed Guest Edward Burman
Producer Hannah Sander

Broadcasts

  • Mon 12 Feb 2018 09:00
  • Mon 12 Feb 2018 21:30

Podcast