World
Global issues, U.N., etc.
'Invisible Streetlights' Could Provide Energy & Aesthetic Benefits
Solar sculptures light up at night to take the place of energy-intensive streetlights.
The Mentally Disabled in Public Spaces
A psychology site reviews Mental Health and Social Space: Towards Inclusionary Geographies, a book by Hester Parr that looks at new ideas in including (or excluding) people with mental disabilities from public spaces.
Avoid Smelly Humans In Your Own Transit Compartment
Australian designer Hamit Kanuni Kuralkan has designed a transit concept lined with one-person compartments for personal space.
Ending Our Love Affair with SUV Burgers
We shouldn't be blaming biofuel production for rising food prices and environmental degradation while ignoring the immense harm of industrial meat production, writes Frances Cerra Whittelsey.
Is Globalization Slowing?
Alex Steffen of WorldChanging proposes that globalization could soon change direction as transportation costs increase.
If They Don't Like It, Why Build It?
Architect Robert Adam likens modern architecture to modern democracy, where decisions made on high supposedly represent the will of the people.
Embracing 'Tactility'
Architect Ken-Ichi Sasaki believes that planners have focused too much on the visual to the detriment of the tactile.
Moscow Tops List of World's Most Expensive Cities
Moscow tops an annual ranking of the world's most expensive cities. The survey examines housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment for corporations and government agencies determining living costs for expats.
Personal Rapid Transit: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?
Malcolm Buchanan writes that advances in control technology and the upcoming launch of the Heathrow Airport PRT mean that Personal Rapid Transit is ready for the spotlight.
Project Lilypad: A 'Floating Ecopolis'
Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut has designed a floating city with the noble goal of housing displaced peoples who's homelands have been destroyed.
Is Prefab Overhyped?
Prefab housing is experiencing a revival of interest among architects and design magazines. But as one realtor puts it, “I just think the whole thing is a false promise."
What Country Uses the Most Gas? California
Alexis Madrigal at Wired digs into the stats, and find that the state of California uses more gasoline than any country in the world.
Film Celebrates 'Garbage Warrior' in Struggle Against Planners
A new documentary film looks at the achievements of Michael Reynolds, who for 20 years has been building eco-friendly, off-grid "earth ship" houses built out of natural materials and car tires.
Do Sustainable Buildings Need to Be Ugly?
As the number of sustainable buildings increase rapidly, ecologically friendly designs are shedding an ugly past for a sleeker and more striking future.
Influence of Landscape Architects Rises With Urbanization
Landscape architects aren't typically well known, but their work is a major part of many peoples' lives. As urbanization increases, their influence on city dwellers will become more noticeable, according to this article.
The American Dream in Reverse
With housing prices out of reach for many immigrants in the U.S., more and more are investing in houses in their home countries -- and their governments and local lenders are doing all they can to encourage it.
The Importance of Posters in Public Life
Street posters play an important role in participatory civic life, according to this article from re:place magazine.
Green Report Card Rates Countries, Highlights Shortcomings
Grading countries for their environmental friendliness reveals some surprising results about which countries aren't doing enough to clean themselves up.
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.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
