Hemispheres Magazine

A view of Derry and its Peace Bridge across the River Foyle (photo courtesy the City Hotel Derry)

16. DERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND: A Once-Troubled City Gets Its Due

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the prefix “London” being bestowed upon the town of Derry, which played a key role in the decades-long Troubles between Republicans and Unionists. But this is also the year that Derry-Londonderry gets another, less divisive moniker from across the Irish Sea: “U.K. City of Culture.” The Ulster city beat out three English contenders to become the first-ever recipient of the honor, and is pulling out the stops with a full diary of cultural events including the Turner Prize, one of Europe’s most prestigious art competitions—the first time it will be held outside England in its 29-year history.

17. SONGDO, SOUTH KOREA: The View From 2030

Songdo is a metropolis built from scratch on 1,500 acres of reclaimed land, and in the coming year or so will be the home of the world’s tallest twin skyscrapers: Incheon Tower. But Songdo is more than just a Dubai of the Far East. It’s also one of 15 “ubiquitous cities,” or U-cities, under construction in South Korea. In a U-city, all information systems are linked through such things as wireless networking and RFID tags. What does that look like, you ask? Imagine throwing a plastic bottle into a municipal recycling bin and instantly getting a refund, or taking a nasty spill and having a pressure-sensitive floor call for help. Pretty smart, huh?

18. STOCKHOLM: Disco Lives

You can dance, you can jive, you can immerse yourself in the history of Sweden’s greatest pop group and have the time of your life. Opening this spring, ABBA the Museum will delight dancing queens and kings with original tour instruments, interactive exhibits, and glittery platform boots and bright-as-the-sun jumpsuits.

Advertisements