Friday5 – September 24, 2021

According to a UN report published earlier this year, urban areas are projected to house 60 percent of people globally by 2030. Despite the shift in urban populations felt early in the pandemic, the world’s 20 largest cities are now home to half a billion people. “In fact, one in five people worldwide lives in a city with more than 1 million inhabitants.” Tokyo tops the global list of megacities with 37 million residents, but the majority of the most populous cities in the world are in the two most populated countries, China and India. You can check out the complete list of biggest cities below, but if the thought of that many people raises your anxiety level, check out the tiniest town in each U.S. state here.

Cities from coast to coast bare the scars of the country’s booming industrial age, leaving cities dotted with abandoned and neglected spaces that may be empty, but are full of potential. However, deciding what to do with these spaces can pose issues for architects, developers, and municipalities alike. The transformation of these industrial buildings has become a centerpiece of urban renewal as adaptive reuse of buildings offers an attractive alternative to new construction. From trendy lofts to office space, and even movie sets, architects and developers are finding creative ways to bring these unique spaces back to life through innovation, while maintaining their historical significance.