Architecture
Soviet Monorail to the Future
The blog of Pavel Popelskii highlights illustrations from a time when Russia was looking towards a bright, space-age future, with nuclear-powered dirigibles and "super mega jet air cushion trains".
Bulldozing Quincy, Mass - and Building it Back Up
Most cities don't get the chance to start from scratch. But Quincy, Mass. plans to raze most of its 50-acre center and build it anew with the aid of a private developer's upfront funding - a plan that may rewrite the rules of urban development.
Schizophrenic Urbanism
A new exhibit in Poland celebrates the urban designs of Jan Gluszak, a "poet and philosopher, architecture visionary, dreamer and idealist" who envisioned new ways of living.
The Role and Impact of Preservation in L.A.
In this Q&A, architect Brenda Levin talks about the role of preservation in Los Angeles, and how restoring and reusing some of the city's historic buildings has created a long-term benefit.
Can Elk Grove Handle A Zaha Hadid?
A previous Elk Grove, CA city council hired architect Zaha Hadid to design their city center, but the new council hates her "squid-like" design.
'Pocket Neighborhoods' On the Rise
Small neighborhood developments of cottages with low square footage known as "pocket neighborhoods" are catching on, especially with empty nesters looking to downsize.
The Architecture of Openness
Critic Christopher Hume says that "an architecture of openness" is overtaking Toronto, foregoing individual personality for a greater sense of community and connectivity.
Landscape Architects' Influence Grows
As green spaces and public areas increase in demand, more and more projects are being awarded to landscape architects rather than architects, some foresee a potential professional turf war.
Aligning Historic Preservation and Sustainable Design
Sustainable design and historic preservation design have sometimes been at odds. But a group of experts says these two goals can work together to improve building sustainability.
Small is Beautiful (and Necessary)
Building sizes have been creeping upward for centuries, but green building expert Jason McLennan argues that smaller structures are better, more beautiful, and ecologically inevitable.
New, Sustainable Building Material for Skyscapers: Wood
Could "timber skyscrapers" be in our future? Architects and engineers are seeing wood as a way to build sustainable 20-30 story structures with modern no-how.
The McMansions of the Future
Livejournal has posted a series of paintings that ran as part of a 1961 Motorola advertising campaign that depict a futuristic lifestyle and featuring cavernous modern living spaces.
"Podiumism" and it's Discontents
Developer Brad Lamb is cranky about urban planners' insistence on building tall buildings on podiums that meet the street, then taper off in the Vancouver style to let in light and views.
Chandigarh Endangered
Le Corbusier's modernist city, long a target of criticism from urban planners, is reportedly being sold off piece by piece. Preservationists are incensed and are leading an effort to preserve the city's signature style.
The New Urban Design Undergrad
The New School is now offering an undergraduate degree in urban design. Urban Omnibus talks with the program's director about why the program was created and what it intends to accomplish.
Top 10 Websites - 2011
Our annual list of the 10 best planning, design, and development websites represents some of the top online resources for news, information and research on the built environment.
A More Design-Savvy World
Architecture critic Paul Goldberger says that the real change in the last couple of decades is that high-quality design has become more mainstream, even if a lot of stuff is still "lousy."
Walmart Heads for D.C.
A proposed D.C. development would place hundreds of apartments above a store, but other projects emphasize parking, not pedestrian-friendly streets. Chicago and New York also face Walmart campaigns.
The Dungheap of Unbuilt Stadiums
Slate looks at America's long history of dreaming up grand stadiums that end up unbuilt, from a waterfront stadium on Manhattan's West Side to a floating stadium in Puget Sound.
Design Solutions for Japan's Recovery
In the coming days and years, Japan needs to address a host of issues related to earthquake recover and design, including damaged infrastructure, population and housing, energy, the economy and global impact.
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
