Blue Zones

Basement-level garage door with floodwater halfway up on home in Far Rockaway, New York after hurricane.

Over 500 NYC ‘Blue Zones’ at Risk of More Destructive Floods

High-risk flood zones cover roughly 20% of the city’s land.

April 3, 2026 - The City

People running and cycling on wide paved path next to water with Singapore skyline with high-rises in background.

Singapore: A Model for Longevity and Quality of Life

Singapore's remarkable rise in life expectancy, driven by government policies on health, green spaces, and social cohesion, has earned it the distinction of being named the world's sixth “Blue Zone.”

October 14, 2024 - BBC

Shuri Castle in Naha City

What the World's 'Blue Zones' Teach About the Built Environment

Public health outcomes, like long life spans, result from a built environment that encourages movement.

May 14, 2019 - Quartzy

Is Bloomberg to Thank for New Yorkers' Increasing Life Expectancies?

New Yorkers can expect to live eight years longer than they could just 20 years ago. Do Mayor Bloomberg's policies and initiatives deserve some credit? A mounting body of evidence ties urban form to human health.

February 10, 2013 - The Guardian

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.

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.