So you want to be an urbanist?

Chapter 1

The periodic table of architecture

Architecture is as much about aesthetics as mathematics but achieving the balance between beauty and numbers is easier said than done. British architect Graham McKay found a way of organising architectural aesthetics into a clear-cut framework: the periodic table of architecture.

Chapter 2

Rachel Haot: creating a strong digital strategy

If you want to build a city today you’ve got to have a strong digital strategy: a relatively new and rapidly developing field of urbanism. Rachel Haot is the chief digital officer and deputy secretary of technology of New York State. She tells us about the best ways to maximise a city’s potential through digital.

Chapter 3

Planning a beautiful waterfront

Rio de Janeiro’s port is one of the oldest parts of the city, with a history dating back to the late 1700s. Gearing up to next year’s Summer Olympics, the port is up for a face-lift. So how do you plan a beautiful waterfront? Monocle’s Sheena Rossiter talks to some urban experts about Rio’s plans for the new Porto Maravilha.

Chapter 4

Brian Evans: how to build a city from scratch

What is your starting point to build a city when your canvas is empty? For purpose-built cities such as Canberra, Brasília and Abuja, this is a question that urban planners are often faced with. Brian Evans, head of urbanism at the Mackintosh School of Architecture, tells us about some of the factors to take into account when creating a city from scratch.