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The Urbanist
Monocle’s guide to better cities. Explore urban innovation, cutting-edge infrastructure, and compact living with insights from planners, architects, and city leaders.
Latest Episodes
Want to find utopia? Try Columbia, Maryland
We visit one of the US’s more successful attempts at a utopian society, as well as a mass-timber tower in Portland and the winners of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
Tall Stories 474: Fuggerei, Augsburg – Germany’s 88-cent rent
Valerie Hamilton takes us to the world’s oldest public-housing complex, which has a very unique payment system.
Crowdfunding community projects, personalised airport terminals and a Swiss folk festival
We explore a crowdfunding platform for community projects, learn how to personalise the airport-retail experience and head to the Olten Chilbi folk festival in Switzerland.
Tall Stories 473: The Hope for Peace Monument, Beirut
Noor Amylia Hilda takes us to the outskirts of Beirut to visit a monument for peace constructed from instruments of war.
How good design affects a city beyond the aesthetic – from coastal resilience to safer transit
We unpack two stories exemplifying the principle that thoughtful design can have a deeper impact than just being pleasant to look at.
Tall Stories 472: Al-Nawfara Coffee Shop, Damascus
Liam Syed takes us to a café in Damascus that serves up regional favourites blended with stories of the Syrian capital’s past.
How can the arts and culture sectors boost a city’s economy?
We assess how cultural spaces, music venues and arts festivals can bring a city economic success.
Tall Stories 471: Aalto Siilo – the ugliest building in Oulu
Wif Stenger describes how the so-called “ugliest building in Oulu” can be redesigned to serve as a community treasure.
Earning the commute – how do we get city centres humming again?
We chair a roundtable conversation on the future of the office and how good design can bring people back to our city centres.
Tall Stories 470: Szimpla Kert, Budapest
Geetanjali Krishna takes us to Budapest’s pioneering “ruin bar” to see how urban environments persevere through destruction.
