A century after Frederick Law Olmsted, landscape architects are resuming their role in giving shape to cities.
A new exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art examines the capacity of landscape architects to transform formerly industrial or decrepit urban spaces into public green space. In his review of MoMAs Groundswell: Constructing the Contemporary Landscape, Witold Rybczynski observes that the exhibit illustrates a renewed vitality in the discipline of landscape architecture. Taking the long view is what landscape architecture can contribute to urbanism in the parks, gardens, and other man-made landscapes that are designed to evolve over time. He reflects that that plans for the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site would have benefited from this perspective, lamenting the insistent emphasis on architecture rather than the long-term landscape.
Thanks to Deborah Myerson
FULL STORY: The Aesthetics of Urban Renewal
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Transit Riders Face the Highest Safety Risks in These 10 States
According to federal data, the average number of safety incidents on public transportation averaged 55.2 per 100,000 people across all states between 2010 and 2023. Which states came in well above the national average?
How California Transit Agencies are Addressing Rider Harassment
Safety and harassment are commonly cited reasons passengers, particularly women and girls, avoid public transit.
Significant Investments Needed to Protect LA County Residents From Climate Hazards
A new study estimates that LA County must invest billions of dollars before 2040 to protect residents from extreme heat, increasing precipitation, worsening wildfires, rising sea levels, and climate-induced public health threats.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.
