South Asia

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

The Tokyo Model: From Post-War Slum to Superpower

In this compelling essay, authors Matias Echanove and Rahul Srivastava take a look at Tokyo's post-war development and explore how lessons learned from its unplanned growth may be useful for other rapidly urbanizing Asian cities today.

January 20, 2013 - Next City

Rich Seedlings for the Urban Revolution

Over the next few decades, half of global economic growth is predicted to come from the slums of developing world cities. Gaia Vince believes the key to the coming urban revolution is how these shantytowns evolve.

January 16, 2013 - BBC

A Simple Solution to Kabul's Massive Traffic Problem

The proposal is simple. Instead of investing billions of dollars more on elaborate infrastructure or trust a corrupted police force, the concept is to nudge this complex system at two targeted points in the city, argues Mitchell Sutika Sipus.

January 2, 2013 - Humanitarian Space

How the World Bank Helped Create the World's Deadliest Road

It doesn't traverse a deep gorge or curve around a mountainside, so what makes the N2 in Bangladesh one of the world's deadliest highways? Annie Kelly explains.

December 19, 2012 - The Guardian

As Economies Return, So Does Frightening Asian Air Pollution

New studies are raising alarms about the growing threat of harmful air in Asia's cities. One recent report warns that air pollution could become the biggest environmental cause of premature death by 2050 if action is not taken.

December 5, 2012 - The New York Times

Bring Your Own Bag in Delhi

Every year, Delhi produces 250,000 tons of plastic waste. Starting on November 23, the city government "will begin enforcing a ban on the manufacture, import, sale, storage and use of plastic bags, sheets, films or tubs," reports Raksha Kumar.

November 21, 2012 - The New York Times

Iskandar Malaysia: The Future of Urban Living or Pipe Dream?

Across the strait from Singapore, Iskandar Malaysia is being planned as the world’s next eco mega-city. Its architects and developers hope it will offer an alternative to Asia's polluted cities and a glimpse of the future of urban living.

November 10, 2012 - The Guardian

Asia's Megacities are Most Vulnerable to Superstorms

A study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) identified twenty coastal cities, which by population, would be most exposed to flooding and superstorms. Fifteen are mega-cities in Asia.

November 1, 2012 - Channel News Asia

Norwegian Architects Honored for Defying Architectural Norms

Young architectural firm, TYIN Tegnestue, proves that good design can be affordable, and that architecture can be used to help solve some of the world's existing social ills, rather than exacerbating them, writes Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan.

October 17, 2012 - Fast Company Co.Exist

In Singapore, Your Landlord is Most Likely the Government

Singapore has a robust public housing program, which comes from the government operating 80% of the housing stock. Neal Peirce spells out how the system works.

July 4, 2012 - The Citistates Group

America's Fastest Growing Racial Group

Asian and Hispanic immigration rates have reversed from 2007: Asians now constitute 36% of all new arrivals (legal and illegal) while Hispanic rates, for a number of reasons, have dropped to 31%, according to a new Pew Research Center report.

June 22, 2012 - The New York Times - U.S.

Expanding the Hong Kong Subway, One Blast at a Time

In this video, host Richard Quest takes us underground to view the work firsthand, where two explosions occur daily right underneath dense city blocks.

February 11, 2012 - CNN Business 360

A Case Study of Apple Shows Why The US Can't Compete Globally

Apple's decision to performs most of its engineering and manufacturing overseas, highlights how the US government and the US manufacturing industry can no longer compete internationally. " 'Made in the U.S.A.' is no longer a viable option."

January 23, 2012 - The New York Times

Capitalizing on India's Auto-Rickshaw Sector

India's Bajaj Auto company introduces an ultracheap small car focused on the country's rickshaw industry. Meanwhile, an unrelated study finds that the unorganized auto-rickshaw sector presents a huge business opportunity.

January 6, 2012 - The New York Times

Kuala Lumpur's Sprawl Creating A Mini Los Angeles

In a recent report about Malaysia, the World Bank has said that the capital's urban sprawl is transforming it into a "mini Los Angeles" rather than a densely populated Asian City.

December 20, 2011 - The Wall Street Journal

Ambitious Effort to Urbanize India

The Indian government is betting big with simultaneously building a massive high speed freight corridor between Delhi & Mumbai as well the physical infrastructure for 24 new cities that will become an industrial corridor.

December 9, 2011 - Global Post

Jakarta's First Bicycle Lane Has Problems

In Jakarta, efforts to becoming a more livable city inspired the construction of a designated bicycle lane. The 1.5 km bike lane stretches from Ayodia Park To Blok M, but due to lack in law enforcement, bikes aren't the only ones using these lanes.

November 9, 2011 - This Big City

Melbourne Ranked as Most Livable City

With high scores in five broad categories, Melbourne, Australia received the highest spot in livability rankings from The Economist's research unit.

September 2, 2011 - TheCityFix.com

Condemnation and Cohesion in the Slums of Manila

The slums are either a socially cohesive neighborhoods or a major problem -- depending on who you are. This exploration into the slums of Manila show the disconnect between the people and the government about the slums and their future.

August 18, 2011 - New Statesman

Singapore's Green Plant Revolution

As Singapore's population booms, officials are working through plans to help the city absorb its people but also provide them with adequate green space.

July 31, 2011 - The New York Times

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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.