Slate
The Man Behind the Pattern Language
Witold Rybczynski profiles Christopher Alexander, author of A Pattern Language, one of the most influential books in urban planning. Alexander recently won the Vincent Scully prize from the National Building Museum.
Subway Sociology
Because of the abundance of social interaction and diverse clientele, subways have long been the sites of sociological experiments to understand human behavior.
Jaywalking Not As Big A Safety Issue As Assumed
Over the past 15 years, more than 76,000 pedestrians have been killed in the U.S. Some say preventing a significant portion of these deaths is as simple as enforcing jaywalking laws. Not so, argues Tom Vanderbilt, author of Traffic.
Drive A Hot Rod, Save The Planet
How can a Porsche be better for the environment than a Prius? If you use transit to commute, and only take the hot rod out on the weekends. Slate writer Joe Eaton sold his Volvo for a combination of transit and fun.
The Transformation of Harlem
Photographer Camilo Jose Vergara's pictures document Harlem's journey from a "rundown version of Paris" in the 1970s to the "global Harlem" of luxury condos and corporate franchises [includes slideshow].
What Happened to America's Trains?
In an age of rapid technological improvements in almost every aspect of life, it's difficult to understand how a technology like trains could actually be less advanced now than it was in the 1940s, writes Tom Vanderbilt.
Hot Trend in Architecture: The Appearance of Instability
Witold Rybczynski takes a look at the new tendency toward buildings that look collapsible, rather than the solid-looking buildings of the past. Is this trend a symptom of our shaky times?
The Bridges are Alright
America's infrastructure isn't as fragile as current media coverage has made it out to be, according to Jack Shafer.
Governor: Toughest Job in America?
Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer says that as a result of outmoded industrial and funding models, state governments are facing grave financial problems.
Will "Ghost" Towers Dominate U.S. Skylines?
Paul Smalera sees in the the ghost towers of Bangkok a disturbing warning for economically distressed urban developments in the United States.
Costs and Benefits of Green Jobs
The stimulus package promises to create new green jobs, but are they really the economic solution they're cracked up to be? This piece from Slate questions the common perception.
Stimulus Should Fund New, 'Transformative' Ideas
In this column, former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer calls on the Obama Administration to direct its stimulus package towards innovative technologies and "transformative" projects, not just the status quo roads and bridges of the past.
A Look At Big Box Reuse
This slideshow from Slate looks at how to reuse abandoned big boxes.
The Seasonal Surge in House Prices, Explained
New research can serve to explain why it is more expensive to purchase a house in the summer--and why it might be worth it.
Beijing's Vanishing Alleyways
Rob Gifford reviews Michael Meyer's new book "The Last Days of Old Beijing," and how it brings to life a rapidly vanishing element of the Chinese city: the hutong, or alleyways, which are being swiftly demolished and redeveloped.
Cities Built From Scratch
This slideshow from Slate looks at the elaborate plans for new cities in the United Arab Emirates, and compares them to other built-from-scratch cities in history.
Libraries in the Digital Age
In this slideshow from Slate, Witold Rybczynski looks at public libraries from across the country and wonders how they will and should react to the increasingly digital age.
The Era of the 'Ghost Mall'
A slowing economy will lead to the era of the 'ghost mall', according to this article from Slate.
Is LEED Way Behind?
Flaws in LEED's rating system make it much too easy to get certified, which begs the question: Does LEED really succeed in making our buildings any greener?
Why Municipal Wi-Fi Projects Fail
Why many cities attempts to create city-wide wireless networks have failed....and why some cities have been successful.
Pagination
City of Yakima
City of Auburn
Baylands Development Inc.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Town of Zionsville
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.