Value, Art, and Science in Urban Planning | Asia Society Skip to main content

Unsupported Browser Detected.
It seems the web browser you're using doesn't support some of the features of this site. For the best experience, we recommend using a modern browser that supports the features of this website. We recommend Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge

  • About
  • Forum
    • 2017: LOS ANGELES
    • 2016: JAKARTA
    • 2015: BEIJING
    • 2014: Manila
    • 2013: HONG KONG
  • Sponsorship
    • 2016 SPONSORS
    • 2015 Sponsors
    • 2014 Sponsors
    • 2013 Sponsors
  • Highlights
Search
Pacific Cities Sustainability Initiative
  • About
  • Forum
    • 2017: LOS ANGELES
    • 2016: JAKARTA
    • 2015: BEIJING
    • 2014: Manila
    • 2013: HONG KONG
  • Sponsorship
    • 2016 SPONSORS
    • 2015 Sponsors
    • 2014 Sponsors
    • 2013 Sponsors
  • Highlights

  • 2017: LOS ANGELES
    • Agenda
    • Speakers
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Logistics
  • 2016: JAKARTA
    • Agenda
    • Summary
  • 2015: BEIJING
    • Agenda and Program
    • Report
  • 2014: Manila
    • Agenda and Program
    • Report
  • 2013: HONG KONG
    • Agenda and Program
    • Report

Value, Art, and Science in Urban Planning

A new PCSI report from Asia Society and ULI

Thai-Ker Liu keynoted the launch event for a new Asia Society/ULI report in San Francisco. (Asia Society)
Elliot Stein of ULI's San Francisco office delivered welcoming remarks at the event. (Asia Society)
Panelists included Jeffrey Heller, Thai-Ker Liu, Jennifer Wolch, and Lewis Knight. (Asia Society)
Wolch, Knight, and N. Bruce Pickering of the Asia Society. (Asia Society)
(Asia Society)
Jeffrey Heller and Thai-Ker Liu. (Asia Society)
The view from the top of San Francisco's TransAmerica Building. A private reception and a tour of the iconic building was held before the launch event at the offices of Heller Manus Architects. (Asia Society)
Enlarge Hide captions

The principles of urban planning are like “grammar in language,” according to celebrated Singaporean architect and urban planner Thai-Ker Liu. “Grammar is observed by any writer. Poor writers with poor grammar produce poor works of literature. [Urban] planning is the same.”

Liu spoke at an ASNC event on May 28 to mark the launch of a new Pacific Cities Sustainability Initiative report, Tomorrow’s City Today, which presented insights from the 2013 PCSI Annual Forum held in Hong Kong last February. Drawing from his many years’ experience as CEO of Singapore’s Housing and Development Board and the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Liu said that to “put a city together, you must know what are its spare parts and how to assemble it. It must be user friendly, must work beautifully, and it must be attractive.” He also emphasized the critical importance of respecting the natural environment.

Joining Liu at the event was the Dean of the College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley, Jennifer Wolch, and urban planner Lewis Knight of Gensler, one of the world's foremost architecture and design firms. Jeffrey Heller, president of Heller Manus Architects and a member of ASNC's Advisory Board, moderated the panel discussion.

Mounting consumption of natural resources, particularly in the context of food security, was one of the focal points for the night’s discussion. “We’re consuming an amazing amount of stuff,” Wolch argued. She went on to note that “the systems of governance, the politicization of government, control by global corporations—all these dynamics associated with globalization and capitalism—are really in need of being rethought.”

Knight agreed, adding that food security is a critical piece of the urbanization puzzle. “Since 1950 the globe hasn’t added any arable land to global production…The land we’re using now is becoming stale and competing against biofuels.” He went on to warn that “we can’t feed ourselves.” The problem is even more acute in light of global climate change.

Wolch pointed to education as essential to changing how we will address sustainability in today's cities as well as climate change. “Increasingly, problems tackled on an everyday basis are multidisciplinary. We need fearless, persistent voices to educate people in a variety of ways.” She also hoped “public intellectuals” would have the courage to look “outside of their immediate professional comfort zone” for solutions.

When asked about the sometimes-conflicting roles of leadership and political democracy, Liu said that strong leadership is critical, adding that it is essential to educate political leaders. But he also noted that “if a leader’s value is wrong, the democratic process will not help the city.” Political leaders must make informed, not populist decisions, Liu said. “Blind faith in citizens’ feedback to build a city” is not a good approach.

 

WATCH A NEW PCSI VIDEO

  • 2017: LOS ANGELES
    • Agenda
    • Speakers
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Logistics
  • 2016: JAKARTA
    • Agenda
    • Summary
  • 2015: BEIJING
    • Agenda and Program
    • Report
  • 2014: Manila
    • Agenda and Program
    • Report
  • 2013: HONG KONG
    • Agenda and Program
    • Report
About
  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement
visit us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
global network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, D.C.
resources
  • Arts
  • Asia Society Magazine
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video
shop
  • AsiaStore
initiatives
  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Asian Women Empowered
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit
Connect
Email Signup For the media
Asia Society logo
©2023 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC