HOK is designing a brand-new, 8,000-acre city in India, and is taking design inspiration from a desert cactus.
"HOK's team examined the existing ecosystem and determined that the now arid landscape was once a moist deciduous forest. "In its original state, trees would have maintained soil quality, stored water through the dry season, and provided a canopy to control evaporation." Using trees as the design principle, HOK worked with Buro Happold, an engineering consultancy, to design a building foundation system that stores water, just like the trees that once existed on site did."
FULL STORY: Biomimetic Buildings

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

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The state will field bids to demolish, repair and rebuild homes in the mountains. After struggles in eastern NC, officials aim to chart a different course.
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.
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions