SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica Public Library will be hosting a screening and discussion of Gary Hustwit’s provocative new documentary film, “Urbanized,” on Monday, January 27 at 7:00 p.m. in the Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium. A meet and greet reception will take place at 6:00 p.m.

Mr. Hustwit received critical acclaim for his 2007 documentary “Helvetica” which, as the name implies, explores the history of typeface and its significance in the modern world. The 2009 sequel to “Helvetica,” “Objectified,” explores the world of man-made objects that are used in everyday life.

“Urbanized” concerns the design of cities and takes a close look at the strategies that have been used by some of the world’s most prominent architects, planners, policymakers, builders and thinkers. The film will explore the issues of crowding, transportation, sustainability and so on. This is especially relevant as more than half of the world’s current population resides in urban areas, according to the World Health Organization. All three documentaries are feature-length films and comprise the series titled “Design Trilogy.”

The screening of the movie will be followed by a discussion with local urban design experts Scott Schonfeldand and Julie Eizenberg. The event is open to all ages and free of charge, so seating will work on a first come, first served basis. The Santa Monica Public Library can be reached by Big Blue Bus routes 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10; bike racks will also be available. For more information, contact Public Services Librarian Robert Graves at 310-458-8635 or via email at robert.graves@smgov.net. For disabled services, call Library Administration at least one week before the event at 310-458-8606. The Library is located at 601 Santa Monica Blvd.

“Urbanized” can also be purchased on DVD and digital formats.