World
Global issues, U.N., etc.
Could Trolley Canal Boats Make a Comeback?
Low-tech Magazine details the history of the trolley canal boat, a staple of the past for transporting goods down canals and waterways. Could something like this make a comeback?
The Coming Transition to Electric Cars
A new report from PikeResearch predicts the future for electric vehicles in 2010, including the prediction that hybrids will dominate the market.
Malcolm Wells, R.I.P.
Malcolm Wells was a pioneer of sustainable design, with an emphasis on green roofs and underground buildings. He died recently at the age of 83.
Cultural Competency: A Critical Skill Set For The 21st Century Planner
Understanding the needs of ethnic minorities is critical for contemporary working planners, says Leonardo Vasquez, AICP/PP.
Architecture's Rise in Visibility, But Not in Power
Los Angeles Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne looks back at the past ten years of architecture and sees a growth in the field's importance in the U.S., though not in its power.
Animating Architecture
With computer animation becoming ubiquitous, the usual flythrough no longer makes an impression. Nate Berg looks at the leading edge of architectural animation.
Digital Surfaces Pose Opportunities and Challenges
Through advancements in technology, digital facades are becoming significantly easier to implement on a wide variety of architectural projects. Programmable surfaces maybe a big part of the future of buildings.
The Last Ten Years in Architecture
Treehugger's Lloyd Alter takes a look back at the last ten years of architecture and finds some progressive trends and positive signs for the future.
Five Advances in City Networks Coming Soon
Adam Christensen of IBM's Smarter Planet blog predicts five ways that cities are going to become smarter by networking their environment.
Filling in the City
As climate talks start and stop in Copenhagen, Anthony Flint argues for local action by affecting the built environment. He calls for more infill redevelopment, saying "we need more city".
'Urban Planning is Dead in the U.S.,' Says Gehry
In this interview, Frank Gehry defends his record and balks at being called a "starchitect."
Street Views as Art
Montreal artist Jon Raufman uses Google Street Views as his raw material, finding images that capture unintentional moments, like a house on fire or a nude bather.
DJ BLDGBLOG
Geoff Manaugh of BLDGBLOG joins WFMU's DJ/Rupture as a guest selecter, offering some musical picks and discussion about the architecture of sound -- and the sound of architecture.
The City Solution to Climate Change
In this commentary from the UN climate talks in Copenhagen, Worldchanging's Alex Steffen looks beyond the quick fixes and geoengineering and notes that making cities more sustainable will help fight climate change.
The Longest and Most Frustrating Commutes
This chart from The Economist lists how frustrated international workers are with the commute times in their countries. The U.S. ranks surprisingly low.
U.S. Megaprojects Are Not in the U.S.
Some say the age of mega infrastructure projects is over in the U.S., but this piece from Foreign Policy argues the U.S. megaproject lives on -- just not inside the U.S.
The Role of City Parks in Creating Climate Friendly Communities
Parks and trails can be used to create low carbon cities.
Green Roofs Also Capture Carbon
A new report shows that green roofs not only help by cooling the sun's rays, they also are effective for carbon sequestration.
The Importance of Beauty
A study by Richard Florida and others concludes that the beauty of a place is a highly significant factor in community satisfaction.
Grand Entrance Planned for Jerusalem
Mayor Nir Barkat is behind a plan to revitalize the entry to the capital with skyscrapers and a modern look.
Pagination
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont