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urbanism
My Memories of MLK's Speech
I am old enough and was lucky enough to have heard Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speak in person. It was not long before his death, at a mountain retreat facility owned by the Baptist church, not far from my North Carolina home. My friend Simon and I went. We were young, impressionable, and impressed. I wish I... [read more]
6 Trending Urbanist Themes for 2012
The Urbanist calendar published on Monday was, admittedly, a visual provocation, setting a stage for thought about important urban issues for 2012. I see great merit in such urban exploration with a descriptive, rather than prescriptive approach. But there is another provocation—from 2011 professional experiences and featured articles—... [read more]
India’s Urban Future
India is one of the few remaining large countries of the world yet to experience the urbanisation of its population. In most regions – from the US, to Europe and Latin America – more than 75% of people live in urban areas. By contrast, only 31% of India’s people live in cities. This, however, is set to change dramatically in the coming decades. By one estimate an additional 250 million people – equivalent to 80% of current population of the United States – will call India’s cities home by 2030. The number of cities with more than 1 million people will increase from 42 today to 68. [read more]
Tactical Urbanists Brighten Cities With Renegade Art
A group of friends in Miami have had enough of overgrown weeds on vacant lots and public property – particularly sidewalks – in their neighborhood, chronically neglected by city maintenance crews. Their solution? Spraypaint those babies. Not that they haven’t been artistic about it, on their stealth midnight missions to draw... [read more]
Hillbilly Urbanism
Despite Brian O'Neill's best efforts, Pittsburgh isn't part of Appalachia. However, Pittsburgh is located in Appalachia. Confused? Don't be:Hardly any part of the U.S. typifies the concept of rural like Appalachia. Even the most outdated historical stereotypes persist: hillside shacks, impoverished children with no shoes, moonshine.... [read more]
Apple Stores for Healthy Urban Economies?
By Robert Gibbs.The opening of Apple’s newest store in New York’s Grand Central Terminal prompted Brian Caulfield of Forbes Magazine to write an article about the often underestimated economic kick an Apple Store can bring to surrounding shops. Retail development guru and author of Principles of Urban Retail Planning and... [read more]
Imagining an Elastic City
Planters and urban gardening tools at Kennedy Greenway in central Boston, the site of the Occupy Boston encampment.Last spring, after attending a panel about urbanism in Mumbai, I wrote a blog post about what I called the "entropic city" — one that is constantly changing and re-imagining itself. “Entropy,” I argued, “is a... [read more]
Is There a New American City?
Are there any new ideas on cities? This was one of the provocative questions asked by San Francisco Chronicle design critic John King, Hon. ASLA, at the 2011 ASLA annual meeting general session. For the two master landscape architects on the panel, Martha Schwartz, FASLA, and Laurie Olin, FASLA; Charles Waldheim, Affiliate... [read more]
Retrofuturism, Renewables, Colonisation and Endless Cities – Four Visions of the Future
What are the fundamental trends of our age? In central London on November the 25th and 26th, thirty forward-thinking minds will attempt to address this topic at the iq2 if conference. This Big City contributor Rachel Armstrong will be one of the speakers, all 30 of whom will also be exploring this (massive) question: how will our homes, lives and cities be transformed by an urbanised, environmentally conscious and technologically empowered humanity? [read more]
A City Authentic: Lancaster, PA and New Urbanism
Back in 2008, Lancaster, PA mayor Rick Gray bluntly stated "get ready for a sea change," when discussing plans to transform the city's downtown into a walkable, vibrant destination. "Walkability is what the new urbanism is all about," Gray told the Lancaster New Era at the time. "Will people want to walk for blocks around the convention center? Yeah, people will walk." [read more]
Creating Balanced Cities – An Interview with Tia Kansara
Sustainability activist Tia Kansara hopes for a future made up of cities that prioritise people and support nature. Along with Melissa Sterry, Tia is part of Earth 2.0, a movement which aims to re-establish a harmonious relationship between humanity and nature. I was recently lucky enough to interview Tia and her Earth 2.0 colleague Melissa on future urbanism, and how African cities can thrive, despite challenging natural conditions. [read more]
WWII Urbanism in North America: 1940-1949
After a longer than expected hiatus, my series on the history of urbanism is back! I can’t promise a return to a weekly posting schedule, but I hope to post at least on installment a month until the series is complete. The 1940s The 1940’s saw rise of the first American planned communities. It also saw the... [read more]
Sustainable Cities Collective
What's New on
Kaid Benfield is director of sustainable communities and smart growth at the Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington, DC. More »
Chris Cheatham is a LEED Accredited Professional and green building authority who frequently speaks to groups and associations. More »
Jared Green is Web Content and Strategy Manager at the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) More »
Rodrigo Herrera Vegas is a writer for for one of Argentina's main newspapers, La Nación, and a radio show host. More »
Warren Karlenzig Warren Karlenzig is the founder and president of Common Current. More »
Geoff Wilkinson is the Vice Chair of the Building Standards Faculty of the Chartered Institute of Building.i More »
Chuck Wolfe Chuck Wolfe is a lawyer, professor, and photographer who blogs at MyUrbanist. More »
- YOU
- TheCityFix - produced by EMBARQ
- Green Buildings Alive
- Kaid Benfield
- This Big City
- polis blog
- Tyler Caine
- Centre for Cities
- Next American City
- Waverly de Bruijn Klaw
- julian dobson
- Vanessa Francis
- Rodrigo Herrera Vegas
- Kristen Jeffers
- Warren Karlenzig
- Jason King
- Mark Lovett
- Adam Mayer
- Daniel Nairn
- Foster Pepper
- Project for Public Spaces
- Douglas Reiser
- Jim Russell
- Neil Takemoto
- Grown in the City
- ECPA Urban Planning
- Jovan Vucetic
- Geoff Wilkinson
- Chuck Wolfe
Transformation Through Technology: Delivering Better Public Services
When: Thu, 2012-05-24 08:00
Webinar: ISO 20121 - Sustainability & Event Management
When: Thu, 2012-05-24 08:00
Sustainability and Affordable Housing: an Interactive Charrette
When: Sat, 2012-06-02 11:00
Tourism and Sustainable Futures: Beyond 2015
When: Fri, 2012-06-15 09:00
Public Sector Leadership: driving cultural change
When: Thu, 2012-06-21 14:36
Youth Policy Summit on Urban Sustainability at UC Denver
When: Sun, 2012-06-24 12:00
“Ever since it appeared in The Road. Braddock has been on my radar for some time. They have been working hard up there for a long time. Very good to see the community pushed into the spotlight. Looking forward to watching this series of articles!”
“I don't walk by choice. My vision forced me to give up my car years ago. I won't lie, I miss being able to drive. I hate the bus, though Santa Clara's VTA is one of the best systems in the country. But I am able to get around. And I walk to shop, sometimes as far as 3 miles away. Sometimes I take the bus back, sometimes I just walk back. This changes ...”