World

When you think of sidewalks, you most likely think of concrete. Though it makes up the vast majority of sidewalks, concrete isn't the only game in town.

February 23, 2010 - The Infrastructurist

Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded for town planning were at the 1928 and 1932 Olympics, along with architecture, sculpture, painting, music and literature.

February 23, 2010 - The New York Times

Sharon Zukin's new book takes a different look at the urbanity championed in Jane Jacobs' seminal book "The Death and Life of Great American Cities", arguing that gentrification is tearing up the authenticity of places.

February 23, 2010 - The New York Times

As architects and planners seek to create sustainable buildings and cities, some scientists suggest looking at the intricate home-building of insects.

February 23, 2010 - New Scientist

Small-scale nuclear reactors could be a new, cheap way to provide power for neighborhoods. But their inherent controversy remains.

February 20, 2010 - National Geographic

If we are "urbanists," does that mean we're anti-suburban? Or do choice and economics define our choices? Architect Fanis Grammenos reflects on his own history of shelter and the ideology of urbanism.

February 18, 2010 - Fanis Grammenos

Outdated or ugly building blighting your skyline? Maybe what it needs is a "facade graft".

February 13, 2010 - Gizmag

We may not be driving flying cars, but the futuristic city is here -- in the form of a more intimate connections, communication technologies and social interactions. Former Planetizen Managing Editor Christian Madera discusses.

February 13, 2010 - Next American City

With water in increasing demand and unsustainable land use patterns threatening supplies, a new report claims that nearly 40% of the earth's surface is arid and in danger of desertification.

February 11, 2010 - Science Daily

Huffington Post offers a slide show of finalists in the 2010 Michelin Challenge to come up with the electric cars of the future. The radical designs include unicycles, rolling spheres and designs based on flying fish.

February 11, 2010 - Huffington Post

February 11, 2010 - Tim Halbur

Kyla Fullenwider offer ten simple ideas to improve the livability of your block.

February 10, 2010 - Good

A secret Russian military facility abandoned by the Russian military when the Soviet Union collapsed was sold at auction on Friday by the Latvian government. Officials celebrated the sale and hoped it could bring new life to the empty town.

February 6, 2010 - The Huffington Post

This post from The Nature Conservancy examines the impact of urbanization on nature and finds that our rising food needs will be one of the most important implications.

February 3, 2010 - The Nature Conservancy

Gigaom looks at a handful of "augmented reality" apps, both current and projected, that create an interface between the internet and the world around us.

February 3, 2010 - Gigaom

The growth patterns of amoebae as they spread out to connect to food sources bears a striking resemblance to the map of a rail system. Some say the amoeba could inform urban planners and designers.

January 29, 2010 - MSNBC

This piece from The New York Times profiles architectural photographer Iwan Baan, whose style differs from the status quo to emphasize the urban and social context of the buildings he's photographing.

January 29, 2010 - The New York Times

With the devastation in Haiti fresh in mind, Good's Alissa Walker takes a look at the growing practice of sharing design ideas.

January 28, 2010 - Good

This post from Treehugger looks at 6 cities that could potentially go car-lite or car-free.

January 27, 2010 - Treehugger

A new book reveals that our extended network of acquaintances is more important to us than we might think.

January 23, 2010 - On The Commons