Central and South America

Central and South America

To Bring Water to the Village, Teach Villagers About Water

In Nicaragua, villagers' access to freshwater resources is sometimes impeded by a gap in coordination between the self-governing indigenous communities present there. WaterAid worked with locals in one village to change just that.

August 1, 2016 - Doggerel

Brazil Olympics

Less Than the Olympic Ideal

A long-read in The Nation pokes large holes in the narrative of the Olympics as a beacon of equality and unity. The effect in Brazil, according to the article, has been quite the opposite.

July 27, 2016 - The Nation

Rio Subway

Rio Scrambles to Ready Subway Before Olympics

Beset by delays and financial problems, the state of Rio is having trouble completing a new subway line before the Olympics start a month from now. The time crunch may cut into time for testing, presaging problems in August.

July 6, 2016 - Associated Press via Chicago Tribune

Lessons learned in an earthquake's aftermath

The response to Ecuador's 7.8-magnitude earthquake went beyond just physically rebuilding the hardest hit cities

June 13, 2016 - Doggerel

Bogota, Colombia

When Urbanism Was a Weapon in the Cold War

The founding of Ciudad Techo in 1961 just outside of Bogota, Colombia played a key role in a strategy by the United States to beat back communist intrusions into Latin America during the height of the Cold War.

June 10, 2016 - Wilson Quarterly

Elderly Walking

10 Ways to Make Cities Livable for the Elderly

How can the New Urban Agenda respect the elderly—and make cities better for all of us in the process?

May 30, 2016 - Next City

Havana

In Pictures: Havana's Public Spaces

The recent thaw in U.S. relations with Cuba, as well as President Obama's visit last month, have spurred conversations about Havana's future. Its public spaces are worn, but they're busy and well-designed.

April 3, 2016 - Project For Public Spaces

Maokong Sky Gondola

When Other Transit Modes Won't Do, There's Always Sky Gondolas

One Toronto-area man is hoping that cable cars in the sky will one day complete the metro's transit system, but transportation experts see limited use for the technology.

February 29, 2016 - Hamilton Spectator

Havana

Everyone Wants a Piece of Havana—Can Cuba Keep Up?

Cuba and its capital city of Havana are experiencing several, simultaneous revolutions. The opportunity for residents is also an opportunity for developers and architects, as well as a challenge for planners.

February 2, 2016 - The Guardian Cities

An Appreciation of the 'Edgy Outskirts'

Long abused by those who favor more urban settings, the suburbs of major metropolitan areas should receive more credit for their cultural capital, according to this article written for Zócalo Public Square.

January 26, 2016 - Zocalo Public Square

Alejandro Aravena: First Chilean Architect to Take Home the Pritzker Prize

The awarding of the Pritzker Prize to the 48-year-old Alejandro Aravena sends a strong signal about the architecture world's focus on social responsibility.

January 13, 2016 - Curbed

These Books Work as Transit Tickets

This is cool: a Brazilian publisher created pocket books that double as transit tickets—and gave away 10,000 of them, each loaded with ten free transit rides.

January 7, 2016 - Open Culture

Rio De Janeiro's New 'Museum of Tomorrow' Studies Urban Ambitions

The world lacks any significant number of museums focused primarily on the issues of planning. Rio de Janeiro, however, will soon add one to the inventory.

December 20, 2015 - Next City

Famous Mexico City traffic

Gondola Monorail Could Ease Mexico City Traffic

Mexico City is considering a novel transit idea: two-person gondolas gliding along an aerial track. The costs of such a system may be far lower than extending the subway system.

December 5, 2015 - Quartz

A Planner's Perspective on Brazil's Water Crisis

With water shortages in São Paulo making headlines around the world, Brazil is rethinking its approach to water infrastructure. Arup's Pablo Lazo gives his perspective on the various entities that are acting for change.

November 23, 2015 - Doggerel

Buenos Aires bus stop

North America Needs a New Model for Pedestrian-Friendly Planning

Where pedestrian-only streets have failed to draw business, the problem may be a failure to think big enough.

September 15, 2015 - The Globe and Mail

View of Portland, Oregon from Pittock Mansion

Land Sparing Protects Urban Ecosystems Better Than Land Sharing

A study of two cities at opposite ends of the urban spectrum demonstrate how density matters for a number of ecological services.

September 4, 2015 - Pacific Standard

Pittsburgh Bridge

New App Plots the Most Beautiful, Walkable Route

Interested in finding the road less traveled by? Walkonomics has launched in seven cities around the globe.

July 25, 2015 - ASLA The Dirt

Brazil's World Cup Legacy Falls Short of its Billing

Evidence is building up that the Brazil's extravagant spending on the World Cup soccer championships last year won’t have the last positive impacts promised by government officials. Next up for Brazil: the Olympics.

May 13, 2015 - NPR

Supremo Tribunal Federal

MoMA Exhibit Explores Latin American Architecture

A new exhibit at MoMA celebrates the "fitfully idealistic" architecture of Latin America, 1955 through 1980. Broad in scope, the exhibition ranges from Brasília's bold utopianism to the community-focused tactics of Bo Bardi.

April 24, 2015 - The Economist

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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