World

Global issues, U.N., etc.

In Defense of Modernist Architecture

Owen Hatherley presents his case for a revival of modernism, particularly in its original intent as a social reform movement, in his new book, Militant Modernism.

May 31, 2009 - Icon Eye

Smart Meters Will Save The World

Columnist Stephen Cunningham of the BBC believes that technology like smart meters in homes will provide the necessary reduction in CO2 to reduce global warming.

May 29, 2009 - BBC News

Does Architecture Make People Happy?

Building Happiness, a new collection of writings on architecture, concludes that the connect between beauty and happiness is unfounded.

May 28, 2009 - Metropolis Magazine

Clinton Promoting 'Climate-Positive' Communities

Last week in Seoul, Bill Clinton announced a new collaboration between the Clinton Climate Initiative and the U.S. Green Building Council to go beyond the single LEED building and create new green development models for whole communities.

May 27, 2009 - The New York Times

New Frontier for Development: The Ocean

The Seasteading Institute, a group that advocates creating sovereign nations in international waters, announces the winner of their seastead design contest.

May 26, 2009 - National Geographic

Global Challenges Require "Smarter Cities"

Chief Executive Officer of IBM Samuel Palmisano believes that "smarter cities" are key to a sustainable future, and so are the focus of three upcoming summits hosted by IBM.

May 25, 2009 - Huffington Post

Bus Stop of the Future

MIT's SENSEable City Lab is featuring a prototype of a futuristic bus stop, complete with real-time route mapping, e-ink surfaces, and estimates of your exposure to pollutants along the way.

May 22, 2009 - MIT's SENSEable City Lab

Comparing Manhattan and a Mouse, Mathematically

Cities conform to mathematical principles more closely than many people realize, in terms of density, relative population, and economies of scale.

May 22, 2009 - The Wild Side Blog - NY Times

Undergound Eyes Watch Water Use at Golf Courses

Underground water sensors that monitor and display moisture and soil conditions on computers are saving millions of gallons of water at golf courses.

May 22, 2009 - The New York Times

Vertical Farming Innovator Discusses the Future of Food

Miller-McCune talks with vertical farming innovator Dickson Despommier about why his idea is the future of food for cities and how it can go from blueprint to reality.

May 21, 2009 - Miller-McCune

Combining Infrastructures

A team of French designers are the winners of Metropolis’s 2009 Next Generation competition with their design for a combined electrical-transmission tower and landfill.

May 20, 2009 - Metropolis Magazine

Peak Water: Tapping Out the Ogallala Aquifer

This piece from Scientific American looks at the jurisdictional challenge of conserving water in the cross-state Ogallala Aquifer, one of the world's largest sources of freshwater and the backbone of the nation's farm economy.

May 20, 2009 - Scientific American

Why Are Cities Growing?

With globalization meaning goods can be shipped cheaply anywhere, and the internet means you can work anywhere, why are cities growing like crazy? Prof. Edward L. Glaeser of Harvard says that proximity breeds innovation.

May 20, 2009 - The New York Times

White Roofs Can Be Wrong Roofs

White roofs have gained cachet as a solution to the urban heat island effect. But in places where there are more cold days than hot, a white roof that reflects warming sunlight might not make the best sense, according to this piece.

May 20, 2009 - Miller-McCune

Finding the Hidden Logic of a Place

Metropolis Magazine interviews David Gibson about his new book, The Way­finding Handbook: Information Design for Public Places.

May 19, 2009 - Metropolis Magazine

Disaster Risk Tied to Urban Growth

Two reports have linked patterns of urban development to disaster risk. As urban populations grow, these studies suggest developing countries will become even more vulnerable.

May 19, 2009 - The New York Times

Cheap Homes, Meet New Immigrants

Adam Matthews of GOOD Magazine looks at the $500 homes in places like Buffalo and sees opportunity for new immigrants, which in turn could help turn these places around.

May 19, 2009 - GOOD Magazine

Can Sports Save Ailing Cities?

With activities ranging from organized running to the Homeless World Cup, sports are helping to improve the lives of people on the ropes, bringing increased motivation and community-building.

May 19, 2009 - Next American City

Smart Growth: Claustrophobic, Unsafe, and Bad for Gas Mileage

Rick Harrison argues that smart growth looks good on paper, but in application the density creates a whole host of problems.

May 17, 2009 - New Geography

Climate Change Global Health Threat: Report

A new study warns that climate change could bring widespread harmful health threats to millions, and that plans for adapting human settlements to climate change need to address social inequities.

May 17, 2009 - CBC

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.