World

Global issues, U.N., etc.

A Fake Door in Paris

Four years ago, artist Julien Berthier put up a fake business front on a blank wall in Paris. Today the door is still there, one of a handful of fake storefronts in the world, says Geoff Manaugh.

May 24, 2010 - BLDGBLOG

Transport Revolutions

Lester Brown explores how bus rapid transit systems and other innovations are transforming transportation in cities across the world.

May 24, 2010 - Grist

Retrofitting a "Planned" City in Mumbai

Navi Mumbai was a planned community built in the 1960s to reduce congestion in the city. The design catered only to the rich, with a golf course and upscale residential development. With a mandate to get more diverse, Navi Mumbai is at a loss.

May 21, 2010 - TheCityFix Mumbai

Dreaming of Networked Cars

Brad Templeton dreams about a world of mini robot cars and the infrastructure savings that would result.

May 19, 2010 - Brad Ideas

Time for an International Conservation Market?

A recent proposal by Britain's Conservative Party to create a system of conservation credits to protect biodiversity should be expanded to a global scale, according to this piece from The Guardian.

May 19, 2010 - The Guardian

Harnessing Tidal Power With Underwater Kites

A Swedish startup is developing a kite-like turbine to capture the power of ocean waves to generate electricity.

May 14, 2010 - GOOD Magazine

What Motivates Street Art?

Are street artists inspired by the desire to improve their environment, or to comment on the banality of it?

May 11, 2010 - This Big City

The Issue No One Likes To Talk About

Population is the last taboo, says Mother Jones, but on the way to 10 billion in 2045, we might want to consider having the conversation.

May 11, 2010 - Mother Jones

Park Formulas do More Harm Than Good

Peter Harnik, director of the Center for City Park Excellence at the Trust for Public Land, believes that formulas for how much parkland cities and neighborhoods cause more harm than good.

May 7, 2010 - NRDC Blog

The Future, Interactive Built Environment

Filmmaker Keiichi Matsuda imagines a future where augmented reality is everywhere, blanketing the built environment with advertising and interactive elements.

May 7, 2010 - Vimeo

Is 'Parametricism' the Sustainable Style of the Future?

Patrik Schumacher of Zaha Hadid Architects argues that the unified style of architecture for the 21st century will be 'parametricism'.

May 7, 2010 - The Architect's Journal

Saving Sidewalks With Root Barriers

Everyone wants street trees, but roots can tear up sidewalks and cause pedestrians to trip. John Olson has the infrastructure solution.

May 6, 2010 - EV Studio

Call Yourself "Green"? Then Stop Driving!

In the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil catastrophe, Geography professor Jason Henderson calls out "green" liberals who insist on driving.

May 6, 2010 - AlterNet

The Periodic Table of City Planning Elements

Break out the Bunsen burner: Ric Stephens has broken down the science of city planning into this handy chart of elements.

May 6, 2010 - Ric Stephens

Turning Excess Heat Into Energy

'Waste heat' is a hot area of research as an alternative energy source. Providers say they can turn excess heat produced by machines in factories into clean electricity.

May 4, 2010 - greentechmedia

Deepwater Horizon Disaster May go Global

The incredible pressures at work three miles below the ocean may prevent capping or relieving the oil gusher in the Gulf of Mexico. If it continues for months or years, the scope of the disaster could be global, warns James Moore.

May 4, 2010 - Huffington Post

I'm Not A City Planner, But I Play One in Video Games

Today IBM is releasing a new video game called CityOne that reportedly is like SimCity but with more serious environmental and economic issues at stake. And yes, the gamer plays the role of a city planner.

May 4, 2010 - Fast Company

The Impossibility of Vertical Farming

Stan Cox and David Van Tassel point out that skyscraper farms will never work as promised because of their inability to provide natural sunlight.

May 3, 2010 - AlterNet

Could 3D Printing Revolutionize Buildings?

Geoff Manaugh of BLDBLOG proposes that the future of building could include a permanently-installed 3D printer, constantly churning out new rooms.

May 3, 2010 - BLDBLOG

Clean Cars: Salvation or Problem?

Alternative energy cars: will they be our salvation, or will they perpetuate auto-dependency? Jan Lundberg critiques the Sierra Club's longstanding priority on increasing fuel efficiency.

May 2, 2010 - Culture Change

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.