The Life-Sized City

The Life-Sized City is a series about urbanism where Mikael Colville-Andersen curates the very best urban ideas from citizens in cities around the world in the hope of spreading them far and wide.

Medellín was, for the longest time, considered to be the murder capital of the world. Mikael explores the streets of this vibrant and complex city, digging deep into their social problems head on.

Toronto has become a magnet for all things cultural and artistic. Here Mikael meets up with true urban heroes in the form of artists, authors and urban activists.

Beyond the clichés of the Eiffel Tower, there is another Paris. This Paris revolves around change, inspiring solutions, big and small, to better everyday life for its citizens.

Bangkok's future seems paralyzed by political upheaval, but social instability hasn't undermined the locals' fierce will to better their city.

Few cities evoke as much division as Tel Aviv, with its reputation as a laid-back party town in a hotbed of turmoil. We see both sides of the cultural divide working together to create a better city.

Modern Tokyo is a fascinating urban mystery. The largest urban agglomeration in the world with 38 million people. How can the largest metropolitan city in the world also be one of the most liveable?