In an interview with the Journal of International Affairs, Rem Koolhaas discusses the effects of globalization on architectural practice and cultural identity, and what city he thinks will be the "Rosetta Stone" of the 21st century.
Next American City has excerpted an interview with Koolhaas that appeared in the JIA's recent issue on "The Future of the City." In it, Koolhaas discusses the impacts of globalization on architecture, including the positive effect that his firm's recent work in the developing world has had on his office, and the spiky way (to paraphrase Richard Florida) in which globalization has effected national and cultural identity.
Koolhaas also describes the evolution of the city in the 21st century:
"The reinvention and the re-imagining of cities is taking place all over the world. The energy that inspires reinvention either comes from pressure - when negative forces lead to a breakthrough, which is what I noticed in Lagos - or cities get their energy from striving. Cities are machines for emancipation. When the striving for emancipation is at its most intense, when there is the clearest promise of success, change is at its most intense. That is why cities in the West are so morose. We can strive until we're blue in the face, but we have nothing to change, at least not in the way that other parts of the world will change. In these places - particularly in the Middle East and Africa - real change is happening now."
FULL STORY: INTERVIEW: Rem Koolhaas on the Invention and Reinvention of the City

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?

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
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.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie