World

Global issues, U.N., etc.

The Ugliest Buildings in the World?

The Telegraph takes a shot at identifying the 21 ugliest buildings ever designed and built. Some of their choices will no doubt surprise you, including one that hasn't even been completed.

April 6, 2012 - The Telegraph

How Can Atlanta Become a Smart City?

Maggie Comstock looks at what it takes to be considered a "Smart City", and asks what an organizationally and infrastructurally challenged city like Atlanta can do to raise its IQ.

April 5, 2012 - Sustainable Cities

Durable, Custom, and Affordable Homes: This Builder Shows It Can Be Done

Simplify some steps, delete a few details, and you can get an affordable, multi-century house for under $80 a square foot.

April 4, 2012 - PlaceShakers

Bus Rapid Transit: from Adelaide to Zurich

Emily Badger profiles a new web-based information resource on all things BRT, launched this week by EMBARQ, with the International Energy Agency and the Bus Rapid Transit Centre of Excellence.

April 4, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

The Smart Home of the Future: Nurse or Nudge?

Depending on your outlook, the smart home of the future may be an essential caregiver (or an annoying nudge) explains Emily Badger, who explores the new technology giving homes the ability to reason what’s going on inside them.

April 3, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Will the Near Future be a Harsh Climate for Suburbs?

In this excerpt from her new book, "Before the Lights Go Out" author Maggie Koerth-Baker warns of the converging crises of peak oil and climate change on suburban areas.

April 3, 2012 - Scientific American

UN Issues World Happiness Report

The first ever World Happiness Report, published by Columbia University's Earth Institute, reflects a new worldwide demand for more attention to happiness and absence of misery as criteria for government policy.

April 2, 2012 - The Earth Institute

Provocative Images of Cities Without People

The Daily Mail shares the wonderfully scary work of Paris-based artists Lucie and Simon, who have created "Silent World," a series of enchanting but disturbing images of the world's major cities, bereft of people.

April 2, 2012 - Daily Mail

As the Global Population Explodes, Experts Ask Where They'll Live

A conference held in London last Tuesday, called "Planet Under Pressure," provided a forum to begin to answer the question, reports Roxanne Palmer.

April 2, 2012 - International Business Times

Romney Addresses Mayor’s Conference, Praises Building Heights

“I love being in cities,” said GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, at a recent Conference of Mayors gathering in Miami. “All of your buildings are just the right height.”

April 1, 2012 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Desperate Dems Invite Japanese Station Master Cat to Lobby for Transportation Bill

Committee Member, Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA) said she was encouraged by reports that Tama's popularity back home in Japan has generated an economic impact estimated at ¥1.1 billion for the area surrounding Kishi Train Station.

April 1, 2012 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

California Redevelopment Officials Suffering Redevelopment Withdrawal

Since the dissolution of California's redevelopment agencies earlier this year, at least 20 former redevelopment officials have been admitted to a special facility to treat their "redevelopment withdrawal."

April 1, 2012 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Occupy Movement Calls on Planning Officials to Create 'Occupy Zone'

Sensing the potential for the movement to gain a toehold through land use regulations, leaders of New York City's Occupy movement have called on city planning officials to create an official 'Occupy' zoning designation.

April 1, 2012 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Anti-Urban Presidential Candidate Now Anti-Suburban, Too

After bemoaning cities as the domain of Democrats, GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum tries to appeal to his party by extending his criticism to suburbs, calling them "too close to cities."

April 1, 2012 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Pop-Up Store Qualifies for Historic Preservation Protection

Bluto's Artisanal Olives has only been open for three weeks, but historic preservation officials in San Francisco have rallied to include it in the city's official list of historic places.

April 1, 2012 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Lacking Funds for Bike-Sharing, City Launches Bike-Stealing Program

City leaders in Cleveland had hoped to build a bike-sharing program throughout the downtown area. But with unexpected reductions in the budget, the bike rental plan has been altered to a theft-based system.

April 1, 2012 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

What's Wrong With Architecture School?

Sam Lubell interrogates the gulf between architectural education and architectural practice and the distressing state of affairs in which "architects coming out of school are not well enough prepared to practice architecture."

March 30, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

New York to Beijing in Two Hours?

If the ET3 company can get its proposed maglev tube system off the ground, science fiction could become reality, writes Eric Jaffe.

March 29, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Simple Steps to Climate Resilience

Kaid Benfield highlights nine low-tech steps that he recommends can help communities prepare for the coming changes in global climate.

March 29, 2012 - Switchboard

What Will It Take to Win the Global Competition Between Cities?

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, someone who may know a thing or two about running a successful city, pens an opinion piece examining what it takes to succeed in the global competition for people, visitors, and business.

March 28, 2012 - The Financial Times

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.

Comprehensive Bikeway Design Workshop

Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University

Early Bird Deadline – save on your tuition fee!🚨

Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)

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.