Europe
'Best Square' in Paris Returned to the People
Over the weekend, the $30 million revamp of Paris's iconic Place de la République opened to the public. By transforming the square from a place for cars into a place for people, Mayor Bertrand Delanoe has earned a distinguished "anti-car" label.
Discovery of 'Lost Recipe' for Ancient Concrete Provides Foundation for Future Cities
Portland cement doesn't come close to matching the resiliency of the concrete created by ancient Romans. After years of research, scientists believe they've unraveled the ingredients and production techniques that made Roman concrete so superior.
Austerity Threatens Europe's Vaunted Social Policy
Europe's four years of austerity are taking a toll not just on residents who are suffering from an unraveling of the Continent's famous social welfare programs, but the political parties that created them as some seek solutions from fringe groups.
Gezi Park Project Suspended; Have the Protestors Won?
Following a lengthy late night meeting with demonstrators, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to halt construction of a controversial redevelopment project pending the outcome of an ongoing court case and possible public referendum.
Dutch High-Speed Rail Dream Turns to Disaster
A multi-billion dollar project to expand high-speed rail service between Amsterdam and Brussels has been derailed by malfunctioning trains, costing the head of the Dutch national rail company his job and threatening an international imbroglio.
It's Alive! 5 of the World's Most Bionic Buildings
Cate St Hill examines the futuristic systems being employed by the most biologically advanced buildings in the world.
Flooding Inundates Central and Eastern Europe; Urban Development and Climate Change Blamed
Record floods are swelling major rivers and tributaries across Central and Eastern Europe; disrupting transportation, displacing thousands of people, and causing what is estimated to be several billion dollars of damage.
Denver Micro-Housing Competition Demonstrates Global Interest in Compact Housing Solutions
Although he recognized that Denver does not have an immediate demand for micro-housing, architect Jeff Sheppard launched a design competition that proved global interest in the this hot housing type, writes David Hill.
Ads That Actually Add Something to the Public Realm
Billboards deployed by IBM in France actually make themselves useful as they invade public spaces, and seek to inspire ideas for improving cities.
Istanbul Protests Reflect Tensions over Urban, and Societal, Transformations
The protests that've gripped Istanbul, and several other Turkish cities in recent days, reflect tensions over the 'autocratic ambitions' of the country's government and the cultural transformations it has pushed through grand redevelopment projects.
Moscow Gives Biking a Go
While the launch of NYC's bike share program was all the rage in the U.S. last week, Moscow began a program of its own with 220 red bikes at 30 stations. Sally McGrane frames it more as a 'triumph for political activism' than a commuting revolution.
Violent Clashes Erupt as Protestors Try to Save Istanbul Park
What began as a peaceful gathering in central Instanbul erupted in violence Friday morning, as police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands protesting the redevelopment of a treasured park as a shopping center.
Dutch Designer Makes Street Furnishings Fun
John Metcalfe spotlights the work of Dutch designer Thor ter Kulve, whose creative approach to designing street furniture blends utility and playfulness with the aim of liberating public space.
Paris Develops for the 21st Century, Along its Periphery
After more than a decade of planning, the ambitious Clichy Batignolles project is rising in northwest Paris. The development is an attempt to stay competitive in the global marketplace, without compromising the city's world-renowned charms.
Tidal Wave Energy: Is it Ecologically Sustainable?
Balancing renewable energy production and ecological preservation is a difficult business for governments who have ample resources, but also pristine environments that would be negatively impacted.
Banlieues Now Seen as Bastions of Innovation
After years of neglect, periodic riots, and unfulfilled promises from the state, Paris's low-income suburbs are finally doing for themselves what had long been promised to them - creating opportunities for economic development and social integration.
Culture Influences Pedestrian Behavior at Crosswalks, Study Says
The results of a recent study of pedestrian road crossing behavior suggests that the risks we take as walkers depend largely on our cultural context.
New Approach Needed for Building Affordable Housing
The rising interest in urban living has meant a growing shortage of affordable housing in cities across the country. Roger Lewis proposes a new approach to help solve the crisis: building workforce housing funded by the public sector.
Urban Camouflage: Using Buildings to Disguise Infrastructure
The infrastructure necessary to keep a city's systems running can frankly get kind of ugly. See what some cities have done to help disguise unsightly infrastructure.
Paris's Ring Road Turns 40, Is There Any Reason to Celebrate?
Paris's Boulevard Peripherique is one of the most clogged roadways in Europe, it delivers dangerous pollution to 100,000 people in its vicinity, and this year it turned 40. Lara Marlowe looks at the future for one of Paris's little loved landscapes.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
