The humble apartment, as a typology, has been with us for millennia.

The urban apartment, while it may feel like a modern invention, dates back thousands of years, writes Ashley Gardini in a piece for JSTOR Daily.
In the Americas, the ancient city of Teotihuacan housed up to 200,000 people in compact compounds. “While these may have looked a bit different than what we think of as apartments today, evidence shows that these structures ‘generally consist[ed] of several rooms at slightly different levels, arranged around open spaces (courtyards, refuse areas, and light wells) that serve[d] as places for ritual, rainwater collection, partial refuse disposal, and light provision.’” In ancient Rome, ‘insulae’ of up to five stories housed residents of crowded cities.
Later in history, planners and leaders attempted — with varying degrees of success — to sanitize and organize cities by building massive apartment blocks. As technology evolved, so did the ability of builders to construct larger and taller buildings. “In the twenty-first century, even as we continue to build larger and taller structures, architecture needs to respond to the climate crisis and other evolving environmental factors.” A wood-based material called mass timber is being explored as a sustainable alternative to other construction materials that is strong enough to use in buildings of up to 25 stories (to date).
FULL STORY: The Eternal, Essential Apartment

Legendary Parking Guru Donald Shoup Dies at 86
Urbanists are mourning the loss of a dynamic voice for parking reform and walkable cities.

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

Federal EV Charging Program Suspended
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program planned to fund the construction of hundreds of EV charging stations across the country.

A Monument to Resilience: Native Hawaiian Art Installation Honors History and Healing
The towering ʻUmeke Lāʻau installation by Native Hawaiian artist Meleanna Aluli Meyer, unveiled at Honolulu's city hall, is a powerful symbol of cultural resilience and healing.

Rethinking Fire-Resistant Landscaping: Which Trees Should We Plant?
Fire experts emphasize the need to replace highly flammable trees like Mexican fan palms and eucalyptus with fire-resistant species such as oak, sycamore, and toyon, while also strengthening home fire defenses to reduce wildfire risks in California.

Fremont, California Criminalizes Homelessness, “Abetting” Encampments
Non-profits worry the ordinance, which does not explicitly exempt service providers, will have a chilling effect on unhoused residents and those who offer resources.
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