Urbanology, an interactive game that addresses issues that arise when cities grow and inhabitants try to institute lasting change, launches online today at bmwguggenheimlab.org/urbanologyonline.
Urbanology online is the companion to the large-scale, interactive installation at the BMW Guggenheim Lab, currently in New York’s East Village through October 16. More than 13,500 people have already experienced the group game and now people worldwide have the chance to participate.
By answering questions about key urban issues—education, housing, health care, infrastructure, and mobility—players role-play scenarios for city transformation to build a city that matches their specific desires and needs. Based on their personal responses, the player’s “Future City” is created and compared with other cities around the world.
Questions include:
• A huge piece of graffiti is attracting tourists. Will you enforce existing city policy and have the graffiti removed?
• Many apartments are empty, but there is a shortage of affordable housing. Will you allow the city to forcibly purchase apartments and make them affordable?
• Will you authorize a law that forbids the purchase of school textbooks made of less than 50% recycled materials, even though it will raise their cost?
• Will you install streetlights that are 20% dimmer than the existing lights to save money and electricity?
Players can also suggest questions for future Urbanology sessions online and at the Lab, provoking thought and collective global exchange among the players and giving them the ability to actively lead the discussion at the Lab.
The online game will continue to be available on the website after the BMW Guggenheim Lab leaves New York to travel to other cities around the world.
The BMW Guggenheim Lab is open in New York from August 3rd to October 16th, 2011, Wednesdays through Sundays. Admission and all events are free.
