Roman Mars Explores Hidden Urban Designs in 'The 99% Invisible City'

Have you ever wondered about those colorful squiggly lines you see painted on California’s city sidewalks? They’re actually color-coded utility markings that represent an underground world of sewer pipes, electric cables and telecommunication lines. They’re also an example of what Roman Mars calls the “boring stuff” of urban design — the unnoticed elements that he says are just as essential as skyscrapers, bridges and parks. Mars is the host of the design and architecture podcast “99% Invisible” and the author of the new book “The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design.” He joins us to talk about why we should celebrate the overlooked and ordinary parts of our built urban environment.  (originally broadcast Oct. 6, 2020)