World

Global issues, U.N., etc.

Green Branding 101 for Cities

Marc Stoiber offers suggestions for bolstering a city's green image by looking at several cities across the globe that have found success at marketing their own sustainable urbanism programs and initiatives.

October 26, 2010 - GreenBiz

Developers Vs. Architectural History

In Samara, a Russian city on the Volga, a rich architecture of wooden buildings is quickly disappearing, thanks to corrupt government and thoughtless devleopers.

October 25, 2010 - The Guardian U.K.

Building Codes Should Not Be Privately Copyrighted

Public domain activist Carl Malamud explains in this brief talk why he believes building, fire and safety codes should be taken out of the hands of the private companies that distribute them and made publicly accessible.

October 25, 2010 - Boing Boing

Population & Global Warming: Urbanization Increases Emissions

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows how population growth increases greenhouse gas emissions. More importantly, two demographic factors shape the increase, urbanization and aging -with opposite effects.

October 25, 2010 - BBC News - Science & Environment

Can A City Be Designed for Scientific Innovation?

A new study looks at the best cities in the world for science, using publication rates in as the basis. The researchers

October 23, 2010 - Nature

Time-Based or Distance-Based Transit Fares: Is One Better Than the Other?

Is there a difference between the two most common fare structures in public transit?

October 23, 2010 - TheCityFix

Architects Hot for Patterns

A new book looks at the trend in architecture away from clean surfaces and into formal, repeating patterns.

October 22, 2010 - ArchNewsNow

What Would it Take to Ditch Your Car?

A conversation series from the National Trust for Historic Preservation asks what it would take for people to ditch their cars and rely solely on walking, cycling and public transportation.

October 22, 2010 - Glass House Conversations

Innovative Bike Share System Promises Lower Costs

Cities around the world are eager to launch bike share programs, but many are deterred by high start-up costs. A new system may offer a cheaper alternative.

October 22, 2010 - Next American City

Invisible Landscapes of the Atmosphere

The atmosphere has latent architectural possibilities, writes Javier Arbona in this intriguing essay on the potential of air and atmosphere in urban design and architecture.

October 22, 2010 - Places

Science in the City

The latest issue of Nature looks at the implications of an increasingly urban world on the field of science, and the field's impact on cities.

October 21, 2010 - Nature

The Other Creative Class

Charles Landry, like Richard Florida, is focused on the importance of talent in the economic health of cities. But Landry defines the "creative class" much more broadly.

October 20, 2010 - strategy+business

Architects and Designers Explore Urban Pandemics

Viral pandemics can devastate cities. In this review of pandemics of the past and present, this piece from Places suggests that urban design can play a much more important role in public health and pandemic prevention.

October 19, 2010 - Places

Sprawl Repair: What It Is and Why We Need It

October 18, 2010 - Galina Tachieva

Four Visions for Future Living

In the face of climate change and sea level rise, Popular Science offers four designs for urban lifestyles of the near future.

October 17, 2010 - Popular Science

Designing Cities in an Age of Scarce Water

Freshwater is becoming increasingly scarce. Our cities will need to address these shortages with better design, according to author Steven Solomon.

October 16, 2010 - Grist

Architects: Get Urban

Canadian architect Stephen Boulton implores his fellow architects to stop hiding behind the excuse that their field is client-driven and lead the way to more urban and sustainable development.

October 15, 2010 - Daily Commercial News and Construction Record

On Survivalism and Autonomy in the Built Environment

Architecture professor William W. Braham examines the growing trend of "self-powered", "zero-energy" and "zero waste" buildings through the lens of survivalism.

October 13, 2010 - Places

Why the Schweeb?

The human-powered monorail concept Shweeb recently gained a huge boost from a $1 million investment from Google, but urban thinkers question the relevance of the unusual transportation system.

October 13, 2010 - CNN

SimCity Goes Way Wonkier

A new video game has been released that has players trying to solve urban issues and make cities work better. Next American City columnist Christian Madera reviews.

October 12, 2010 - Next American City

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.