Ricky Burdett is professor of Urban Studies at the London School of Economics (LSE), and director of LSE Cities. He curated the International Architecture Exhibition at the 2006 Venice Biennale, was architectural adviser to the mayor of London from 2001-06, and was chief adviser on architecture and urbanism for the London 2012 Olympics. Philipp Rode is executive director of LSE Cities and an associate professorial research fellow at LSE.