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?

December 25, 2009 - Low-tech Magazine

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.

December 24, 2009 - Renewable Energy World

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.

December 24, 2009 - Design Boom

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.

December 21, 2009 - Leonardo Vazquez, 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.

December 20, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

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.

December 19, 2009 - The Architect's Newspaper

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.

December 19, 2009 - Architectural Record

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.

December 18, 2009 - Treehugger

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.

December 18, 2009 - IBM's Smarter Planet blog

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".

December 18, 2009 - The Boston Globe

'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."

December 17, 2009 - The Independent (UK)

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.

December 17, 2009 - googlestreetviews.com

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.

December 16, 2009 - WFMU

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.

December 15, 2009 - Marketplace

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.

December 15, 2009 - The Economist

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.

December 14, 2009 - Foreign Policy

The Role of City Parks in Creating Climate Friendly Communities

Parks and trails can be used to create low carbon cities.

December 13, 2009 - City Parks Blog

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.

December 11, 2009 - Miller-McCune

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.

December 10, 2009 - SpacingMontreal

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.

December 10, 2009 - ynetnews.com

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.