Livable Cities
As Cities Densify, New Building Design Strategies Keep Them Livable
Cities need to increase density, but the design of buildings can drastically affect people’s quality of life. Architects are using new tactics and tools to create innovative structures where light, air, and space are not compromised.
The Problem With All Those 'Livability' Rankings
Why is it that smallish cities in western Europe always score so well? Perhaps the underlying assumptions behind ostensibly data-driven "livability" rankings cater to a certain audience and leave most of us out.
Most Livable Cities Revisited
This "livable cities" ranking considers transit, walkability, and bikeability.
Innovations in Street Furniture Reflect New Approach to Public Space
After a tour of Los Angeles street furniture, Alissa Walker offers her reflections on cities' changing approach to public space.
Africa's Most Livable Cities
From beach towns to UNESCO World Heritage Sites to sleek, modern capitals, Africa is home to a complex diversity of urban environments. Yolaan Begbie explores the 10 most livable, for those "[t]hinking about making a move to the continent."
Chinese Cities are Huge, But What's it Like to Live There?
We get it, China's cities are big and getting bigger. But what's it like to live there? Isaac Stone Fish takes a closer look at the quality of life in Chinese cities, and finds them almost uniformly monolithic and unlivable.
Partisanship Stalls Infrastructure Investment, Says Blumenauer
Congressional support for transportation and infrastructure projects has traditionally been bipartisan. In an interview, Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon discusses how political tantrums in Congress may handicap the US in the long run.
Melbourne Ranked as Most Livable City
With high scores in five broad categories, Melbourne, Australia received the highest spot in livability rankings from The Economist's research unit.
The Importance of Corners
Chuck Wolfe focuses on the role of the urban corner, terming it "the central place of urban life".
Dominance on the Most Livable Cities
Why do cities in Australia and Canada consistently dominate livability ratings?
The Dark Side to the World's Most Livable City
From high drug use to overpriced housing, Vancouver has its flaws despite its 5-year strong top spot as the world's most livable city.
Which is More Livable: Eco-Cities or Mega-Cities?
Are greenfield developments designed with sustainability in mind or already-built metropolises better for the environment and the people?
The Kids Are All Blight
The cities that often top the "most livable" lists like San Francisco, Portland, Boston and D.C. also happen to have the lowest percentage of households with children. Does that mean that kids make places un-livable?
Can Cities Make Us Happier?
PlaceMaker Hazel Borys explores what might be the most important metric of sustainable places.
For Lack of a Better Term
Chuck Wolfe discusses the challenge of finding a more marketable term to encompass all of the prevailing theories of "transit-oriented development", "walkability", and "liveability." His suggestion? Urbandwidth.
The Key to Livability May Be Education
Pittsburgh and other college towns top Forbes Magazine's annual Most Livable Cities list of 2010.
Most Unaffordable Housing, Most Livable Cities?
The Economist magazine has published it's list of the most livable cities in the world. But quite a few of these cities have the most unaffordable housing, complains Owen McShane.
Sanjay Gupta Discusses Livable Cities
Correspondent/neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta, who has been tapped to fill the Surgeon General position by President-elect Obama, talks about 'livable cities' as they relate to climate change and public health.
Without Community Gardens, 'Livable City' is a Misnomer
This commentary from the Austin American Statesman argues that the city's aim to become the country's most livable city is undercut by its low number of community gardens.
Making Cities More Livable with Bikes
This piece from the Globe and Mail argues that a bikeable city is a livable city.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.
