Medellín

The public market at Warwick JUnction in Durban, South Africa is visible with the city ‘s high-rise buildings in the background.

6 International Models of Urban Revitalization

The New York Times recently published an article exploring six cities from around the world reinventing themselves for the 21st century: Paris, Sydney, Medellin, Lisbon, Singapore, and Durban.

April 3, 2023 - The New York Times

Medellin

Infrastructure Investment for Public Safety: Lessons from Medellín

A natural experiment in Medellín indicates that infrastructural investments can reduce crime and improve perceptions of public safety.

January 20, 2022 - Streetsblog Chicago

Metro Cable

On Public Transit, Some of the World’s Best Sightseeing

From Los Angeles to Hong Kong to Sydney, the best—and the cheapest—views are on ferries, buses, trains, and gondolas.

August 23, 2019 - The New York Times

Medellin

The Resilience of Culture

Cultural institutions and heritage sites may contribute to a city’s social cohesion and attract investment.

March 22, 2019 - CityLab

Medellin

3 Reasons We Should Pay Attention to Medellín

Medellín has been called the most innovative city in the world, and recently hosted the World Urban Forum WUF7 to huge acclaim. It has taken back the city's public realm, found simple solutions to complex problems, and emphasized a "City for Life."

April 15, 2014 - Brent Toderian

Medellin Holiday Lights

Colombia's Carbon Neutral Christmas Wonderland

Medellín's spectacular holiday lights display draws thousands of tourists to Colombia's second-largest city every year. Few visitors are likely to realize that the energy intensive displays are carbon neutral.

December 25, 2013 - Next City

Medllin Skyline

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.

March 2, 2013 - Urban Land

A Cable Car Comeback

Sophie Landrin looks at the global rise in the use of cable cars - the kind you find on a ski lift and not on the streets of San Francisco - as a transportation alternative. Several French cities are developing plans to become "wired".

November 9, 2012 - The Guardian

What Medellin Teaches Us About Design and Social Engagement

Michael Kimmelman ventures to Colombia's reborn second city to explore what new buildings and infrastructure have brought to the city's residents, what it has not, and what remains to be done.

May 20, 2012 - The New York Times

Lessons on Urban Redevelopment from Colombia's Divergent Design Stories

The cities of Bogotá and Medellín have made dramatic transformations over the last ten years, driven in large part by their influential mayors. But while one continues to soar, the other is in crisis, reports Justin McGuirk

April 17, 2012 - The Guardian

Street Gang's Extortion Causes Massive Bus Strike in Medellin

Extortion by street gangs has been a way of life for bus drivers in Medellin for years. But recent refusals to pay -- and subsequent murders of drivers -- has led to a massive bus strike.

August 1, 2011 - The City Fix

Exciting Things Happening in Medellín

Medellín, Colombia is better known for drug kingpins than architects, but a boom in exciting contemporary architecture with a humanitarian approach has both planners and designers flocking to the city.

May 11, 2010 - The Los Angeles Times

Improving Safety Through Architecture and Public Works in Colombia

This piece from Utne Reader looks at the role of architecture in the public works projects of Medellin, Colombia, a city that has struggled with severe crime.

January 30, 2010 - Utne Reader

Can the Colombian Renaissance Be Sustained?

Globalization has spurned a renaissance in the formerly crime-ridden Colombian city of Medellin. But some worry that the city's improvements may only be temporary.

July 13, 2008 - The Washington Post

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.