Ideas worth spreading

A stealthy reimagining of urban public space

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Elizabeth Diller |

TEDWomen 2020

• November 2020

Cities are becoming increasingly privatized: commercial real estate dominates the streets, carving up open space that once belonged to the public and selling it as a commodity to the highest bidder. Architect Elizabeth Diller explores the causes and effects of this growing threat -- and takes us on tour of her groundbreaking projects aimed at creating landscapes for the public to enjoy, from the High Line in New York City to Zaryadye Park in Moscow.

Cities are becoming increasingly privatized: commercial real estate dominates the streets, carving up open space that once belonged to the public and selling it as a commodity to the highest bidder. Architect Elizabeth Diller explores the causes and effects of this growing threat -- and takes us on tour of her groundbreaking projects aimed at creating landscapes for the public to enjoy, from the High Line in New York City to Zaryadye Park in Moscow.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Elizabeth Diller

Elizabeth Diller

Architect, artist, designer

See speaker profile

Elizabeth Diller and her maverick firm DS+R bring a groundbreaking approach to projects in architecture, urban design and art by playing with new materials and tampering with space and spectacle in ways that make you look twice.

James Corner Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Renfro | Phaidon Press, 2015 | Book

The High Line

The design team's deep dive into the High Line's origins and unforeseen consequences.

Diller Scofidio + Renfro and David Lang | The High Line, 2018 | Watch

"The Mile-Long Opera"

An interactive version of the Mile-Long Opera performance that allows you to virtually move in and out of groups of singers as you walk along the High Line.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.