Central and South America
Central and South America
Brazil Bus Fare Increases Rescinded; Will Mass Protests End?
The mass protests that have swept through Brazilian cities over the past week where sparked by planned bus fare increases, but quickly expanded to encompass a variety of complaints. Will the protests end now that fares have been lowered?
Proposed Bus Fare Increases Roil Brazil
'Unruly' protests by residents opposed to planned hikes in the cost of bus fares have shaken Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in the past week. The country has a history of transit fare protests going back 130 years.
Denver Micro-Housing Competition Demonstrates Global Interest in Compact Housing Solutions
Although he recognized that Denver does not have an immediate demand for micro-housing, architect Jeff Sheppard launched a design competition that proved global interest in the this hot housing type, writes David Hill.
Planners Transform Forgotten Spaces into Public Places in Mexico City
In one of the world's largest cities, every little bit of space counts in the quest to create respites from the clamor. A popular program in Mexico City is turning vacant and neglected spaces under its freeways into commercial and recreational space.
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.
Bogota Plans Mass Tactical Urbanism Offensive
This weekend, Bogota, Colombia will launch its second 100en1día (100 in 1 day) event, a blitz of urban interventions meant to multiply the impact of citywide citizen activism exponentially. Cities across the world are following their lead.
Once a Paragon of Pollution, Mexico City's Residents Breathe Easier
While the news has been full of warnings about the rapidly deteriorating air quality of cities in the developing world, David Agren examines how one megacity has managed to drastically clean its polluted air over the past twenty years.
Leading Mexican Modernist Architect Dies at 94
Sam Dillon eulogizes architect Pedro Ramirez Vazquez, who helped transition Mexico "from a mostly peasant society into a modern industrial state," as much with his political skills as his technical skills.
Buenos Aires Confronts its Crumbling History; But is it Too Late?
The retirement of Buenos Aires's beloved wooden train cars are emblematic of the city's struggle to preserve its physical heritage amid underinvestment, widespread demolition, and uninspired redevelopment, reports Emily Schmall.
Olympics Earn a Gold Medal in Displacement
Lawrence Vale and Annemarie Gray compare the cases of communities displaced by the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where redevelopment for the 2016 Games is underway, and Atlanta, 20 years ago.
Cars are the Cholesterol of Buenos Aires’ Veins
The problem of increasing congestion is plaguing the development of the city of Buenos Aires, not to mention the deleterious effects on residents' quality of life.
Mexico City's New Smog-Eating Building
A new building at a Mexico City hospital has been screened with an advanced, and quite attractive, tile that breaks down the harmful pollutants in smog into less toxic substances, reports Zak Stone.
U.S. Developers Dive Into South America's Thriving Real Estate Markets
With growth rates expected to continue to surpass the United States and Europe over the next decade, U.S.-based developers are making big bets on the demand for residential, office, and retail properties in Brazil, Uruguay, and Colombia.
A Call to Conserve Havana's Art Deco Delights
The absence of redevelopment over the past 50 years has allowed Cuba to become "one of the world’s most significant but overlooked troves of Art Deco architecture." With many buildings in a state of disrepair, some are trying to raise awareness.
Can Rail Fill the Gap if Keystone XL Isn't Approved?
"Yes it can", at least to some extent appears to be the answer according to the WSJ. While the Keystone XL pipeline can move 830,000 barrels of oil a day, rail shipments are set to double this year to 200,000 barrels. Not so, according to the NRDC.
Will Chavez's Successor Unleash Venezuela's Massive Oil Wealth?
For all his intentions to help the poorest in his country, Hugo Chávez's handling of the golden goose - Venezuela's massive oil wealth, was badly mishandled during his reign. Output decreased, debt increased, and he left behind a polarized society.
An Incremental Approach to Slum Improvement
Flavie Halais looks at both successful and unsuccessful cases of alleviating slum conditions on three continents. For the best results, practitioners must be more adept at problem solving and creativity than pure design.
Medellin Chosen as 'Innovative City of the Year'
From an initial list of 200 candidates, Medellín, Colombia has been selected as the winner of The Wall Street Journal and Citi's “City of the Year” competition.
Meet Mexico City's Pedestrian Protecting Superhero
Sarah Goodyear introduces us to Peatónito, the masked Lucha Libre inspired defender of pedestrians.
Livable Cities Awards Enable Healthy Urban Infrastructure
Rain water collection in Yemen, shaded bus shelters in Uganda and a pop-up modular park in Argentina are the legacy of Philips's Livable Cities Awards.
Pagination
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
KFH Group Inc.
Greater Baltimore Committee
Eagle County Government
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello