Autonomous Urbanism: the Exhibition

Based on the recently published book monograph of the same name, Autonomous Urbanism: Towards a New Transitopia is an exhibition that explores the latent and transformative impact autonomous vehicles will have on the urban and spatial future of cities. The exhibition builds on the research established by the book, which lays the groundwork for the arrival of driverless vehicles through a discussion of our recent urban transportation history, its effect on the evolution of our built environments, and the transportation paradigms that impact current trajectories of mobility technology innovation.

This framework sets up the exhibition to feature the research’s design-oriented components through physical models, transportation maps, and narrative storytelling. The first part of the exhibition explores the speculative urban spatial implications that automated mobility will have on the design of cities, through multi-scalar typological models and transportation network drawings. The second part illustrates the day-in-the-life experience of moving around in this future city through the unique narrative format of an architectural graphic novel. Altogether, the exhibition acts as a toolkit for a range of stakeholders—architects, urban designers, planners, and the everyday citizen—who can impact a driverless revolution. It challenges them to consider how design actions and behavioral choices can shape urban space and the experiences they engender, in order to ensure that the public realm of our cities is protected and well-served as these driverless futures unfold.

Join us for pizza and drinks at the opening of the exhibition on Friday, February 7, from 12:30 – 2 p.m. in the Education Hall Gallery, School of Architecture and Design, on the Long Island campus. The exhibit closes on April 18.

The exhibition opening features three speakers:

• Introduction: Maria Perbellini, dean, School of Architecture and Design
• Moderation: Dongsei Kim, associate professor and department chair, School of Architecture and Design
• Speaker: Evan Shieh, teaching assistant professor, School of Architecture and Design