A documentary about the urbanism of European cities will come to Czech cinemas

Prague - The British-American documentary film titled Urbanized examines urban projects in 12 cities across Europe. It completes a trilogy by independent filmmaker Gary Hustwit about design and explores the impact of urban design on human life. The film will have its Czech premiere on May 26 as part of the reSite festival, which aims to present various perspectives on city creation and seek ways to make cities better for living.
The film Urbanized features a number of prominent world architects, urban planners, strategy authors, and thinkers, including creators such as Norman Foster, Oscar Niemeyer, Rem Koolhaas, and Jan Gehl. Ordinary residents who have contributed to changes in their city also have a voice. "First we shape our cities, and then our cities shape us," says leading Danish architect Jan Gehl, capturing the film's main idea.
"Where we live, how we move from place to place, where we work, how we relax, what opportunities are offered to us - the physical design of the city dictates all these factors directly," explains Gary Hustwit, discussing why he focuses on urbanism. The film captures various enlightened solutions - a network of bike paths in Bogotá, Colombia, and the successful revitalization of a derelict New York elevated railway and its transformation into a recreational and pedestrian zone.
The Czech premiere of the film, accompanied by a debate, will take place on May 26 at the Světozor cinema as part of the reSite festival. Architects, urban planners, and experts from both abroad and the Czech Republic are expected to participate in the discussions. The first confirmed guest is Alexandros E. Washburn, the chief urban designer in the New York City Department of City Planning. His approach to urban design combines architecture with landscaping, resulting in a fusion of ecology and urbanism.
The main point of the reSite festival will be a two-day international conference supplemented by film screenings, creative workshops, games, bike rides, and public discussions. The leitmotif of the first edition is the planned transformation of Prague's riverbank. As part of the festival, an international architectural competition is also being held to seek ideas for the transformation of the riverbank.


Trailer for the film: