All Posts

cultural creativity in Berlin

Artists and bohemians have been flocking to Berlin since the wall came down in 1989. Affordable rents and vacant spaces allowed room for experimentation, as diversity in numbers created a dynamic infrastructure.[read more]

the future of public transit?

With all-wheel drive and electric power, the Otobuxi can travel with quiet ease on narrow, residential streets. The vehicle can accommodate up to 12 passengers and does not require a driver.[read more]

recycling to defeat Hitler?

Robert Long at The New Republic points to a few studies showing that conservatives are more likely to recycle when such activity is tied to values like patriotism.[read more]

angels in LA

Not all angels have wings. Some are clearly grounded and quietly working in Los Angeles city parks thanks to the partnership between the Recreation and Parks Department and the Los Angeles Parks Foundation.[read more]

Lima's Bus Rapid Transit

In a capital city with 8 million inhabitants, not only was Lima’s advanced bus system the first of its kind in the country, but it also provides valuable lessons for the rest of Latin America.[read more]

skate parks

Nowadays, skateparks seem to be the new form of the traditional town squares we all remember visiting during our childhood and adolescence years.[read more]

retrofitting old schools

With the potential to reduce carbon consumption by more than 50%, and make £120,000 a year, retrofitting its school is an investment that Impington Village College, near Cambridge in England, can’t afford not to make.[read more]

investing in sustainability

The rise of so-called “green MBA” programs is a welcome addition to the business landscape. The “jobs vs. the environment” debate is over and it’s pretty clear that business, in general, is on board with sustainability.[read more]

Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele, Milan

The developmental link between Expo 2015 and Westfield Milano, as well as a physical rail link between Linate and these sites, suggests this is a strong opportunity to build a mall for the next generation.[read more]

empty valley?

Without immigration, Silicon Valley is dying. Migration is ephemeral, particularly international migration. Here today, gone tomorrow. Entire regional economies depend on the influx of talent.[read more]

arterial road speeds

A poll was conducted, which revealed that among local listeners, 47% were in favor of increasing the speed limit, 33% for maintaining current regulations, and 20% calling for a decrease.[read more]

public transit

Friends told me I could easily get a house. But I didn’t want to increase my carbon footprint by moving into a bigger house just because I could afford it. And I was not going to drive to school everyday to study Sustainability.[read more]

Global climate change is a crisis, but it can also be an opportunity for new and innovative ideas, new opportunities to build sustainable economies, and new opportunities to build sustainable societies.[read more]

car crazy?

With continued fluctuation in gasoline prices and increasingly congested highways, many Americans are becoming more receptive to giving up their cars – or at least trading the daily commute to and from work.[read more]

affordable housing

San Francisco voters passed Proposition C, establishing a city-wide affordable housing fund on the enormous margin of 31 percent. And it couldn’t have come at a better time.[read more]

talking limits of Arctic resilience

The Arctic is in the spotlight like never before. Yet most discussions of the Arctic fail to consider how changes in climate, ecosystems, economics, and society interact.[read more]

ride-sharing in Mumbai

Recently, the State Government of Maharashtra began looking into a proposal to run long-distance, point-to-point shared taxi services to improve the quality of daily commutes in Mumbai.[read more]

solar-powered water pump

Can solar power help eradicate extreme poverty in the developing world? As we’ve shown a number of times, many social entrepreneurs think so, and are investing their time and money in a variety of technologies.[read more]

better bike lanes

Inspired by the European and Canadian model, bike sharing programs are now spreading across the States, set to transform American cities, with their number growing 50% this year compared with 2012.[read more]

tidal energy for Northern Ireland?

Global energy demand continues to grow and tidal wave energy generation devices can provide a significant source of renewable energy.[read more]

after the tsunami

Indonesia is prone to natural disasters. But today the country is better prepared. Why? Because of the lessons it learned in responding to a series of disasters that pummeled it between 2004 and 2010.[read more]

art meets infrastructure?

As a part of a midtown place-making project, the Coeur d’Alene Arts Commission sent out a Call to Artists for four free-standing sculptures that could be used as public bike racks.[read more]

green transportation

After your living space, your transportation choices are next on the list in terms of impact. So, what are the best choices in terms of climate impact? Take a look at this infographic for details on the ways you choose to get around.[read more]

Kathryn Gray is the coordinator of Transportation for Michigan, a coalition of Michigan communities working to make their surroundings more livable. Kathryn has studied social relations, policy, public affairs, and public administration. At Transportation for Michigan, Kathryn's eyes are focused on 4 major areas - funding reform,...[read more]

quality of life in Boston

For the past several years, the Boston Foundation has been collecting data on key indicators of the health of the city’s economic, social, and natural environment.[read more]

Braddock, outside Pittsburgh

When the numbers go down, the assumption is brain drain. The problem is lack of brain gain. But locals won’t hear of it despite the preponderance of data stating the contrary.[read more]

iBus in Indore, India

The city of Indore is home to more than 2 million people and is steadily growing. Prior to 2006, when the city transport agency was formed, there was no organized public transport system.[read more]

2013 Index

Ever wondered where you need to live in order to be considered unusual if you don’t ride to work? To have urban planners fighting over how to make the city as friendly a place as possible for you, the cyclist?[read more]

infrastructure/shutterstock

Building green infrastructure is often a good investment for nature, for the economy and for jobs. We should provide solutions that work with nature instead of against it, where that makes economic and environmental sense.[read more]

urbanism without effort?

While we might champion the programmed successes of certain iconic examples, we risk ignoring the backstory of urban forms and functions, and failing to truly understand the traditional relationships between people and place.[read more]