NEW YORK, NY.- Ten of the world’s leading architects show how the integration of urban planning and transport can enable cities to thrive through population growth in a new exhibition at the Center for Architecture (536 LaGuardia Place, NYC). Our Cities Ourselves kicks off its worldwide tour in New York on June 24th, showcasing the potential of transportation systems in ten major cities. It illustrates how the dream of a sustainable, equitable and livable urban future can be realized, when transport is put center-stage.

Organized by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), Our Cities Ourselves challenges the car-dependent model of sprawl development prevalent in cities around the world, instead advocating for an urban landscape that prioritizes walking, cycling, and public transit. Each of ten visions is uniquely shaped to fit a distinct urban culture: Ahmedabad, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Dar es Salaam, Guangzhou, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Mexico City, New York City, and Rio de Janeiro. What lessons can be learned by studying ten cities on six continents? Some cities in the developing world are leapfrogging over the mistakes of developed cities, while older cities are creatively responding to their existing infrastructure. The exhibition shows how every city can benefit if it puts sustainable transportation at the heart of its planning.

“Our Cities Ourselves is a partnership between ITDP and some of the world's most innovative architects, to help us imagine our cities freed from the devastating effects of accommodating rapid motorization," says Walter Hook, Executive Director of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP). “By 2030, 60 percent of the world’s population, or 5 billion people, will live in cities, an increase of 2 billion residents. The world’s cities will require massive transformations to handle this influx of residents. Sustainable transportation systems are the glue that enables all elements of urban life—including housing, economic development, and public spaces—to meet both the needs of growing urban populations and to combat climate change.”

Participating architects, including David Adjaye, Michael Sorkin, Urbanus and Bimal Patel, share their bold visions in the exhibition’s oversized renderings, aerials, and panoramic views, highlighting the possibilities for improved sustainability and livability. These visions paint a picture of transportation as central to meeting the challenges of the urban future.

“Architects are interested in more than buildings,” explained Rick Bell, FAIA, Executive Director of the Center for Architecture and the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter. “As a community, we are committed to making cities work, and toward that end, transportation design is integral to our future. From the Brooklyn Bridge to Buenos Aires, we are excited to see the solutions these talented teams develop, and thrilled to be involved in such an important global initiative.”

The New York exhibition launches a year of programming and advocacy designed to engage planners, architects, students, educators and city residents in an evolving conversation on designing a better urban future. The exhibition is accompanied by a website at http://www.ourcitiesourselves.org, which offers a range of interactive activities for users.

The exhibition will be on view from June 24 to September 11, 2010 at the Center for Architecture in New York City before traveling to China, Brazil, Mexico, and beyond, to raise awareness and motivate action towards creating better cities for tomorrow.