With 235 U.S. military sites around the world set to be realigned or closed over the next ten years, Michael J. Coren asks whether the end of military bases will lead to the start of new public spaces.
Coren reports on the Open Architecture Challenge competition being hosted by Architecture for Humanity (AFH) to solicit ideas for how to transform military sites into pubic amenities. The six-month competition is asking entrants to develop recommendations for bases in, and with, their own communities, or from a list of five recommended sites planned for closure including Cuba's Guantanamo Bay Detention Center, Flak Towers in Vienna, Austria, and the Johnston Atoll (United States Minor Outlying Islands).
According to Coren, "They're raising some tough questions in the process: 'Can we re-envision the more than 750,000 abandoned bunkers that pepper the Albanian landscape? Is there a second life for the recently bombed Libyan military strongholds? Can we use environmental diplomacy to re-imagine Guantanamo Bay Detention Center? Is there a way to turn vacated bases in Afghanistan into places of learning?'"
The competition is open to design related professional and non-professional multi-disciplinary teams, with registration ending April 15th.
FULL STORY: Can The End Of Military Bases Mean The Start Of New Public Spaces?

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance
The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package
Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane
The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont