World

Global issues, U.N., etc.

Top 10 Architecture Books of 2010

Norman Weinstein of The Architectural Record selects his favorite architecture books of the year, which range from a coming-of-age memoir to a treatise on Turkish art and architecture.

December 4, 2010 - ArchNewsNow

The Most Dynamic Cities in the Post-Crash World

A new report from the Brookings Institution lists the 30 most dynamic cities in the world -- cities that are recovering from the global economic downturn with growth in employment and income.

December 3, 2010 - The Atlantic

7 Reasons Why Big Cities Matter

Writing for City Journal, Mario Polese argues that big cities are more important than ever, and backs up his argument with seven reasons they're luring people, from economies of scale to falling transportation and communication costs.

December 3, 2010 - City Journal

'Urbanism Is the Most Cost-Effective Solution to Climate Change,' says Calthorpe

Phil Langdon reviews Peter Calthorpe's latest, called 'Urbanism in the Age of Climate Change'. Langdon says it is "a densely packed, yet concise overview of the troubling situation we all find ourselves in."

December 2, 2010 - New Urban Network

Listening for Landslides

Researchers have developed a new technology to sense the acoustic conditions that indicate oncoming landslides.

December 1, 2010 - IEEE Spectrum

Wasted Oil, By Design

This episode of public radio program 99% Invisible looks at oil, and how the way people move from work to home has been seemingly designed to waste fuel.

December 1, 2010 - 99% Invisible

Burning Man a Dome Zone, But Not Beyond

Buckminster Fuller's geodesic dome housing design is a popular form of housing at the temporary festival Burning Man. But why hasn't a good idea caught on in the mainstream?

December 1, 2010 - Good

Would People Obey Speed Limits If They Were - Fun?

Kevin Richardson came up with a fanciful idea for rewarding good drivers while punishing bad ones: speed cameras could ticket speeders, the money would go into a pot, and good drivers would be selected randomly by the camera to win big money.

November 30, 2010 - Volkswagen

A Very High Density Future for Cities

Architect Peter Weingarten discusses the importance of high-rise buildings, and why the future of cities will be very high density.

November 30, 2010 - Gensler on Cities

Replacing Costly Asphalt With Sand

Could sand be the next great paving material? Thomas Kosbau and Andrew Wetzler recently won a design competition in Korea with their idea to combine sand with a bacteria that turns sand to stone.

November 29, 2010 - Next100

Poor Ridership = Poor Efficiency

Randal O'Toole argues that transit will never be energy efficient because ridership is never high enough to warrant the energy expelled.

November 29, 2010 - The Antiplanner

Critiquing The Landscape Urbanism

As landscape urbanists hover in the exalted world of the designer-hero-genius, Emily Talen asks — where are the people?

November 28, 2010 - New Urban Network

Five Alternatives to the Mall Worth Looking At

With malls failing around the country, America may want to consider innovative new projects from international sites like Morocco or the Philippines.

November 28, 2010 - Retail Traffic Magazine

Retro Trains of the Future

Popular Science digs through their archives to unearth a collection of fantastical, futuristic trains such as amphibious monorails, suspended railways and "two-headed trains."

November 28, 2010 - Popular Science

Sustainability, Minus the Doom and Gloom

James Way reviews two new books that propose sustainable approaches to architecture that don't dwell in post-oil, post-apocalyptic scenarios to make their point.

November 27, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

Are Smaller Cities Better Equipped for the Future?

Joel Kotkin puts forward the premise that smaller urban regions are more nimble than big cities. Kotkin dubs these smaller cities like Austin, Columbus and Raleigh-Durham "efficient cities."

November 27, 2010 - New Geography

A Look at the World's Most Walkable Cities

NRDC's Kaid Benfield offers a photographic look at the 10 most walkable cities in the world, as chosen by Frommer's.

November 25, 2010 - NRDC Switchboard

Top 10 Books - 2011

Planetizen is pleased to release its ninth annual list of the ten best books in urban planning, design and development published in 2010. This year's selection includes some big names, some big ideas -- and a book called "Toilet."

November 22, 2010 - Abhijeet Chavan

How To Be a Blind Architect

99% Invisible talks with Chris Downey, an architect who lost his sight three years ago and who continues to work.

November 20, 2010 - 99% Invisible

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.