History / Preservation

Abandonment, Authenticity, and Transgressive Placemaking

Kelly Bennett writes on the connections between authentic places, abandonment, and a new wave of placemaking.

June 5, 2013 - Citiography

Garage Sale Signs

Detroit Plans Massive Garage Sale

The Detroit Zoo's 'healthy, breeding female giraffe'? A classic Ford XD Cobra prototype? Belle Isle? Mark Stryker and John Gallagher look at some of the city-owned assets that could be sold to help pay off the city's monstrous debt.

June 3, 2013 - Detroit Free Press

Bypassing L.A.'s Fixation on Cars

In two new exhibits on Los Angeles's modern architectural history - part of the sprawling Pacific Standard Time Presents initiative - the city's infamous infatuation with the automobile is examined and then left behind in the rear-view mirror.

June 3, 2013 - LA Weekly

Data Centers: The Next Trend in Adaptive Reuse?

Sears is planning to convert a number of its shuttered buildings into data centers. Could this become a trend for the reuse of vacant buildings nationwide?

May 26, 2013 - Motherboard

Urban Ruins and the High Line Next Door

Chuck Wolfe suggests we all have the inspiration within us to envision how to remake our cities--from the conjecture of a Seattle restauranteur about Seattle's monorail to neighborhood examples of "we used this before, let's use it again".

May 26, 2013 - Crosscut

Chicago’s Top Tourist Attraction to Get Green Makeover

The $176 million Phase I design concept for Navy Pier unveiled last week promises a "parklike" feel along the banks of Lake Michigan.

May 24, 2013 - Chicago Tribune

Step Aside California, Michigan Modernism Gets a Spin in the Spotlight

During the post-war years, the Wolverine State gave the world much more than just elegant automobiles. A new exhibit explores Michigan's under-appreciated contributions to the design world.

May 21, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

The Urban Diary as a City-Dweller's Tool

Chuck Wolfe champions the 'urban diary' tool as a universal means to understand the city around us.

May 20, 2013 - Crosscut

Living with Frank Lloyd Wright

20 homes designed by the renowned architect are looking for a discerning owner. But buyer beware, says Joann S. Lublin, 'owning an architectural treasure can come with significant headaches.'

May 19, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

Remarkable S.F. House Embodies City's Evolution

A Victorian house in the Western Addition neighborhood of San Francisco may be the Zelig of the city's social history. From middle class professionals, to working class earthquake refugees, to Japanese entrepreneurs, to jazz mecca; it's seen it all.

May 15, 2013 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Belize's Epic Preservation Fail

A 2,300-year-old Mayan pyramid at the Noh Mul site in northern Belize was recently bulldozed "to make fill for roads," reports Brad Lendon.

May 14, 2013 - CNN

Robie House

Take a Vote: The Building That Most Shaped U.S. Culture

In advance of a new PBS documentary on America's architectural history, Architectural Record is soliciting votes for the building that most influenced life in the United States.

May 10, 2013 - Architectural Record

MoMA Rethinks Folk Art Demolition

After weeks of blowback to a controversial plan by MoMA to demolish its acclaimed neighbor, the museum announced that its newly hired design consultants will be allowed to consider integrating the former Folk Art Museum into its expansion plans.

May 10, 2013 - The New York Times

Mill Makeover a Model for Discarded Manufacturing Relics

C.J. Hughes looks at the $40 million conversion of the historic Loray Mill in Gastonia, North Carolina into a mixed-use retail and residential complex. Federal and state tax credits are providing the incentives for investors to back the project.

May 9, 2013 - The New York Times

America's Amazing Lost Markets

Before there were Safeways and Sam's Clubs, public markets served as the cultural and culinary anchors of towns across the United States. Many were also fine pieces of architecture. David K. O’Neil looks at 10 of the best that have been lost to time.

May 6, 2013 - PPS Placemaking Blog

The Dynamic Potential of Urbanism Without Effort

Chuck Wolfe summarizes a major tenet of his new book and suggests we risk ignoring the back story of urban forms and functions by failing to truly understand the traditional relationships between people and place.

May 5, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

For L.A.'s Union Station, Designers Aim for the Extraordinary

The consultants developing a master plan for L.A.'s historic Union Station have unveiled four design concepts for the station that seek to accomodate high speed rail and improve passenger amenities.

May 3, 2013 - Daily News Los Angeles

Massive Historical Map Collection Added to Digital Library

A private collection of 38,000 historical maps has been added to the Digital Public Library of America, reports Rebecca Rosen, making it more accessible to researchers and anyone interested in the history of their community.

May 2, 2013 - The Atlantic

L.A. Museum Redesign Aims to Redefine How the Public Engages Art

Soon to be unveiled plans for a $650 million redesign of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art by Pritzker Prize winning architect Peter Zumthor "would rank as one of the most significant works of architecture to rise in Los Angeles," if completed.

May 2, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

The Father-Son Team Who Elevated America's 'Public Palaces'

A new exhibit explores the role that tile masons Rafael Guastavino (father and son) played in embellishing many of America's greatest landmarks of the last century. Grand Central Terminal, Carnegie Hall, and the NY subway all exhibit their work.

April 30, 2013 - NPR

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.