Architecture
Did Corrupt Building Practices Contribute to China's Earthquake Disaster?
As rescue work continues in the aftermath of the earthquake in China's Sichuan province, many -- including the state-run media -- are asking questions about why so many buildings collapsed, and blame corruption and shoddy construction methods.
Street Signs And Traffic Islands As Art?
A Los Angeles activist and artist has taken to placing street signs mimicking the city's no parking signs on traffic islands, declaring them parks.
An Interview With The New Dean Of Harvard's Design School
Planning students today care as much about the social aspects of cities as they do of their physical design, says Mohsen Mostafavi, the new dean at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design.
Los Angeles Cracks Down On Mansionization
Despite concerns about lowering property values across the city, the L.A. City Council moved to limit the size of newly constructed homes in older neighborhoods to about 4,000 square feet.
Tycoon Plans Multi-Billion Dollar Home
Nita and Mukesh Ambani are planning a $2 billion, 440,000 square foot, 27-story home for their family in Mumbai -- designed by architecture firms Perkins + Will and Hirsch Bedner Associates.
Green Affordable Housing Complex Opens In Harlem
A new 85-unit apartment building in Harlem shows that affordable housing and green building practices can go hand in hand.
Pod Hotels: The Urban Motel 6?
Resembling a compartment in a first-class airplane cabin more than a standard hotel room, new pod hotels are popping up in major travel centers in Europe and North America, offering mini-rooms that provide travelers with lower-cost lodgings.
Green Incentives Don't Help Small Businesses
While cities are eager to encourage businesses to go green, many government incentive programs are not designed with small businesses in mind.
A New Downtown Skyline For San Francisco?
San Francisco planners unveiled a rezoning proposal that would permit new skyscrapers around the new Transbay terminal, shifting downtown southward around a planned 1,000 foot tower -- which would be the tallest on the West Coast.
For These Homeowners, The Smaller The Better
Smaller, environmentally friendly homes -- ranging from as much as 1000 to as little as 70 square feet -- are a hot trend in modern architecture. Eco-conscious (and wallet-conscious) buyers are increasingly interested in these new "micro mansions".
The Value Of Outdoor Space
Private outdoor space, such as balconies and terraces, are valuable assets to highrise urban dwellers in New York City -- at least, on paper. Whether or not they are actually used to enjoy the outdoors is another issue entirely.
Sustainable Cities Could Save The Planet
A review of the 7th annual EcoCity World Summit reveals some of the ideas and innovations the planners, architects and builders are using to create greener and more sustainable cities.
New Urban Developers Surviving The Current Economic Storm
As the housing industry flounders, New Urbanist developers are using the flexibility inherent in their community plans to their advantage.
Does LEED Have a Big City Bias?
The vast majority of LEED-certified green buildings in the U.S. are located in major cities, leading some to wonder whether there might be an inherent bias in LEED's standards.
Dubai Floats Idea to Build Around Sea Level Problems
With rising sea levels and a penchant for ambitious new building ideas, Dubai is moving forward with plans to construct floating buildings and islands.
The Challenge of Vertical Construction
A 17-story condominium tower in Boise, Idaho is being built on a 32-foot-wide footprint. Workers talk about the challenges of constructing such a skinny building.
A Look Back At Pie In The Sky Plans
From mile-high skyscrapers and floating cities, a look back at some of of the impractical and unrealized dreams of architects and planners.
Words Of Advice For The New Urbanism Movement
While The New Urbanism has certainly helped to change the way people think about how communities can be built, it's still seen as a boutique product. More needs to be done if New Urbanist developments are to really compete with mainstream sprawl.
Architects Redefining The Retail Project
Architype Review profiles 8 retail buildings in the words and images of their design teams.
In the Eye of Beijing's Boom
This article from National Geographic looks at the construction boom that is rapidly changing the face of Beijing.
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.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
