18 April 2019
Episode 392
30 minutes
Photo: ALAMY
Bigger planes and more flights have forced many cities to move their key airport far from the centre. But there is something special about watching the city from above as you land in what feels like the middle of it. This week we ask what makes a great city airport.
18 April 2019
Share episode
DownloadChapter 1
6 minutes
Photo: James Petts
15
15
/
London City airport is loved for its numerous transport connections and now thanks to the new Royal Wharf Pier, designed by Nex Architects, a ferry service will soon be able to drop passengers within a short walk of the departure lounge.
6 minutes
Share chapter 1

Chapter 3
5 minutes
Photo: ALAMY
15
15
/
Lisbon’s airport is one of the few in Europe that’s still located close to the heart of the city. But various governments have pushed for the Portuguese capital’s only landing strip to move elsewhere due to high costs and safety reasons.
5 minutes
Share chapter 3

Want 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
Monte Testaccio, Rome
We look to an ancient Roman waste-management technique that has permanently shaped the city’s topography.
Urban unrest
Taking to the streets is a powerful tool for citizens to hold their governments accountable. But what happens when things go wrong? This week we examine urban violence on different levels.
Tall Stories 240: Ciudad Real International Airport
We touch down at a white elephant of an airport built in Spain at the height of the financial crisis.
Mobility innovation
We get moving again with an episode all about innovation in the wide world of mobility.
Tall Stories 239: Sokol Village, Moscow
We visit a revolutionary Soviet suburb that's now run down and under threat of demolition.
The poetry of the city
We speak to a selection of writers to discuss how poetry can help us understand themes that affect urban dwellers.
Tall Stories 238: Mokuzai Kaikan, Tokyo
We visit the headquarters of the Tokyo timber wholesalers’ association, a building that “walks the walk” with its impressive wooden construction.
Best of ‘Tall Stories’ 2020
Monocle editor Andrew Tuck takes us on a tour of his favourite Tall Stories of the year.
Best of 2020
Monocle editor Andrew Tuck picks some of his favourite interviews and reports of the year on ‘The Urbanist’.
Health and the city in 2020
Andrew Tuck is joined by Carolyn Steel, author of ‘Sitopia’, and urban epidemiologist Tolullah Oni, who unpack the lessons for our cities from 2020. Plus: Jan Gehl brings us some inspiration and hope for what’s ahead.
Tall Stories 237: Home
Andrew Tuck shares his thoughts on one place we’ve all come to know a little better this year.
The Book Club: Part Two
We look at the history of our cities and how they’ve evolved with Ben Wilson’s new book ‘Metropolis: A History of the City, Humankind’s Greatest Invention’. Plus: a must-read list of other titles.
Tall Stories 236: Umlauftank 2, Berlin
We stop by the ‘Pink Pipe’, a strange piece of Berlin architecture originally built for naval research.
The Book Club: Part One
Read anything good lately? This week we delve into two new books about our cities, as we bring you part one of our humble urbanism book club. Featuring Deirdre Mask and Peter Bishop.
Tall Stories 235: The American suburb
Monocle’s Henry Rees Sheridan explores how we define the American suburb, with Jed Kolko, chief economist at Indeed.