22 December 2016
Episode 271
30 minutes
Photo: Alamy
We bring you highlights from 2016’s ‘Tall Stories’, including a tale of the river Thames, the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial and Singapore’s Cavenagh Bridge.
22 December 2016
Share episode
DownloadWant more radio episodes like these in your inbox?
Sign up to Monocle's email newsletters to stay on top of news and opinion, plus the latest from the magazine, radio, film and shop.
The Urbanist - latest episodes
Tall Stories 102: Ronnie Scott’s
Ronnie Scott’s has been bringing some of the best jazz performers and singers to London since 1959. This week, our own Daphne Karnezis peeks behind the curtain to tell us the story of one of Soho’s most iconic venues.
Turning off the tap
Cape Town was set to run out of drinkable water in less than 10 days from now. But as the city narrowly avoided the dreaded “Day Zero”, it has ignited a worldwide debate about the issue and how to ensure this won’t happen…
Tall Stories 101: Record shops
Monocle’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco looks at the enduring appeal of record shops and how they can define cities. From music megastores to that cosy record shop, he muses on the main challenges of music stores today.
Animal spirits
This week is all about animals and cities: from backyard chickens to birdwatching and even entrepreneurs making life easier for your furry friend. Plus: how can we design our public spaces in a more animal-friendly way?
Tall Stories 100: London’s National Theatre
Our editor Andrew Tuck takes us to London’s National Theatre, a brutalist wonder built by the architect Sir Denys Lasdun.
Reclaiming the streets
Politics and city living are intertwined – and there’s no better place to witness it than at a demonstration. Be it a students’ march, silent walkout or pro-immigration protest, it’s about coming together in a public space…
Tall Stories 99: Brussels' Kanal
In 2023 a new museum for modern and contemporary art is coming to Brussels. We ask whether architecture and good design can bring new life to the Belgium capital.
Was that on purpose?
Around the world you’ll find examples of cities that were built to order. Because whether it’s a megalomaniac’s metropolis in the middle of the desert or a new administrative capital for a reviving nation, there’s something…
Tall Stories 98: Austria’s Kaiserlinden
This week we look at the Kaiserlinden: imperial trees planted in the heyday of the Austro-Hungarian empire at the end of the 19th century. Protected by the government, they are important political symbols of past glories…
Urban crime
The city has often been seen as a place where bad things happen – especially crime. And while many are still the backdrop against which murderers, robbers and fraudsters commit their offences, cities have actually become…
Tall Stories 97: Newport’s Transporter Bridge
From film appearances to miner takeovers, Newport’s Transporter Bridge has had a turbulent century at the heart of South Wales. Monocle’s George McDonagh, a native of the area, profiles of the iconic structure.
From grey to green
Cities are some of the world’s biggest polluters so how should we reimagine urban living to tackle climate change? We bring you a special report from the CitiesIPCC Cities and Climate Change Science Conference, where we met…
Tall Stories 96: Marrakech’s Jardin Secret
Monocle’s Chiara Rimella reveals the secrets behind Marrakech’s plant-filled courtyards – and tells us why this city could become a haven for gardens like the peaceful Jardin Secret.
Congestion charge
As London marks 15 years since it started getting cars off the streets with its congestion charge, we turn the spotlight to the UK’s roads. Does the congestion charge go far enough?
Tall Stories 95: Khodynka Field
Khodynka Field in northwest Moscow is the site of a tragic stampede that overshadowed the dying decades of the Russian empire. After the Revolution it became the hub for the Soviet aviation industry and today it is one of…
