Urbanism
Welcome to Poveglia: Venice’s locals-only island
Some cities suffering the consequences of mass tourism have begun concealing and cordoning off small, tucked-away pockets for locals to enjoy without tourists. Amsterdam has its hidden swimming spots shared only via word-of-mouth, and…
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Sadiq Khan supports “a better Heathrow, not a bigger one” as £21bn runway plans are submitted
London’s mayor remains opposed to the 100 per cent privately-funded plans for a £21bn runway at Heathrow, and previously detailed to Monocle the reasoning behind his reluctance.
How more cities can unlock the hidden potential of urban swimming – the joyful perk hiding in plain sight
Swimming, floating or simply messing about in open-air bodies of water is good for us. Cities can free their rivers, ponds and lakes to make it possible. Here’s how.
Urban regeneration can save our cities – all it takes is fresh perspective
As cities densify and space grows scarce, a quiet revolution is transforming forgotten corners into new opportunities.
My life as a park bench
Have you heard? You humans are rethinking the very function that we benches have performed so honourably for centuries. It’s time to take a stand.
The Seine’s reopening to swimmers marks a watershed moment for Paris’s civic renewal
For the first time in more than a century, Parisians have been allowed to swim in the Seine. Three outdoor bathing areas opened to the public this weekend amid a searing heatwave, though authorities…
What we gain and lose with the rise of sky gardens
Although green spaces are always a welcome addition to urban landscapes, vertical lawns can never replace real parks in the heart of cities.
How to tap nature’s chilling effect for a sustainable way to cool urban areas
The hum of power-hungry air conditioners has become the soundtrack of summer in the hottest cities. The architect behind a Gold Lion-winning pavilion at Venice Biennale shares a possible solution.
Seville, the ‘frying pan of Europe’, holds the secrets to managing the blistering summer heat
As temperatures continue to soar, heatwaves have become a Spanish tradition. The city of Seville is drawing on both ancient knowledge and cutting-edge science to keep its citizens cool.
How to cool cities naturally, without resorting to air conditioning
Humanity has adapted to environmental challenges. But to mitigate the effects of a warming world, cities must look to the past to glimpse a better future.
Caught in an architectural déjà-vu? Emre Arolat offers salvation, one building at a time
Too many architects are like faded pop stars, stuck belting out their design hits on repeat. But this Turkish architect makes buildings that speak to the present in new ways.
