Europe
Spanish Cities Saddled with Half-Completed Infrastructure Projects
Marc Herman writes that cities in Spain used the housing bubble as a way to finance major infrastructure projects that now, after the real estate crash, they really can't afford.
Reason London Failed in Becoming a Cycling City
During WWII, thousands of bicycles were stolen from the Dutch by occupying Germans, leaving them unable to get around. In Britain, however, strict patrol rationing meant bicycle use rose considerably because it was the only way to get around.
How - and Where - Should We Live?
A new report predicts how - and where - we'll be living in the near future, and where planners and developers should focus.
Learning From Bike-Streetcar Harmony in Amsterdam
It's no coincidence that cities with proper streetcar networks are the most bike-friendly, and vice versa, according to Dan Malouff.
Amsterdam Has Gentrification Problems Too
A new film, "Creativity and the Capitalist City: The Struggle for Affordable Space in Amsterdam", explores the issue of gentrification in the city. polis has a review.
27-Story Vertical Forest Under Construction
The Milan apartment building will feature a tree on each balcony, at only 5% of the construction costs. Christopher Woodward takes us deeper into the project and others in the "living architecture" movement.
Architect Bjarke Ingels on Quality of Life
Danish Architect Bjarke Ingels discusses his new approach of "hedonistic sustainability... which improves the quality of life," as well as other ideas he often features in various projects.
Executives Told To "Pack Suitcases" For Libyan Infrastructure Boom
Tripoli Airport and Misrata hospital are the first specific projects to be named, as western governments begin to release frozen assets to the National Transition Government (NTI) and international corporations spot an opportunity.
New Planning Law Will Protect Istanbul's Historic Views And Lines Of Sight
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has announced a plan aimed at protecting the city's views by preventing construction of tall buildings in lines of sight and preventing illegal building construction.
New Cycling Initiatives in Ukraine
The city of Lviv in western Ukraine has begun a 9-year initiative to build 168 miles of bicycling infrastructure to the region.
One-Way Car Sharing Debuts in Paris
Combine ZipCar-style checkout with the flexibility of bike sharing and you get Autolib', Paris' new car sharing system.
Revitalization Strategy #1: Giant Elephant Puppet
The French city of Nantes was for generations an industrial shipbuilding center, but that business gasped its last breath in 1987. City leaders began working then to reimagine the city, and part of that visions is, yes, a mechanical elephant.
Brownfield Playground
Ecopolis Plaza is a former industrial site that has become an inventive children's park, located roughly 12 miles from the center of Madrid. Nicole Jewell checks it out.
Mixed Feelings About Public Housing Project
La Lignon, a massive 2,780 unit housing project, was built hastily in the 70s in Switzerland to help manage a massive housing crisis. Today, some people call it home and others call it "a monster."
Dublin May Opt for BRT Over Rail Expansion
An expansion of Dublin's light rail system (DART) has been put on hold by Ireland's Transport Minister, who is ditching the idea in favor of a bus rapid transit system.
Bike Congestion Problems in Copenhagen
When the rest of the world is campaigning relentlessly for people to even consider using bicycles, the model city that started the movement is facing a unique problem of its own. Too many bikes during rush hour renders the activity dangerous to some.
NYC Residents Suggesting Locations for New Bike Share Stations
Earlier this week, New York City officials announced a new bikeshare system that will be available to New Yorkers in 2012.
Amsterdam's Mercator Square is a Work in Progress
Michèle Champagne of Open City Projects Inc. examines Amsterdam's Mercator Square and how it functions as an open space. The community around Mercator Square is ethnically diverse, has good urbanism details, yet violence still is a problem.
Making Artificial Mountains
In Berlin and The Netherlands, crazy ideas of building mountains for recreational purposes are actually being entertained.
IBM Releases "Commuter Pain Index"
A survey of over 8,000 commuters in 20 cities across 6 continents yields an alarming result. By and large, commuters in emerging economies face traffic conditions that are far worse than those who live in the U.S. and Europe.
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
