11 February 2021
Episode 487
30 minutes
Photo: Alamy
This week we report on the Urban Land Institute’s 2021 Europe Conference. In line with the current climate, this was a virtual affair but, as always, it was an event packed with great guests sharing their ideas on how to make our cities better.
11 February 2021
Share episode
Chapter 2
5 minutes
Photo: ULI
15
15
/
What’s the best way to organise urban life? For urban scientist Carlos Moreno, chair of entrepreneurship, territory and innovation at the Panthéon Sorbonne University in Paris, it’s all about the local approach and the “15-minute city” concept.
5 minutes
Share chapter 2

Chapter 4
5 minutes
Photo: ULI
15
15
/
Josja van Der Veer is director of urban planning and sustainability for the city of Amsterdam. She’s responsible for a mammoth task of defining a grand vision for the future of the city and how to better use existing buildings and public space.
5 minutes
Share chapter 4

Chapter 5
6 minutes
15
15
/
Milan was one of the first cities in Europe to go into lockdown, which meant that its leaders had to learn on the go and adapt quickly. We hear from Pierfrancesco Maran, who is deputy mayor for urban planning, green areas and agriculture for the city of Milan.
6 minutes
Share chapter 5

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
Sweden's urban experiments
We’re shining a light on Sweden – a country that dares to take urban experimentation to the next level. We visit an exciting community project in Duved, explore the architectural variety of Linköping and hear why Helsing…
Tall Stories 350: Mother of Kartli, Tbilisi
Sally Howard visits the “Mother of Georgia” statue to see what this monument to femininity says about the role of women in the post-Soviet state.
Fresh perspectives
We gain novel views on the urban environment as we delve into the world of ‘meanwhile use’, stop by The Urban Room to see how Auckland is enjoying a fresh look at the city and try to redefine public perception of an infa…
Tall Stories 349: Jamsu Bridge, Seoul
Jeyup S Kwaak brings us the story of Seoul’s ‘diving bridge’, which struggles to keep its head above water during its region’s rainy season.
Mipim property fair
We report from Mipim, the world’s leading property fair, which is taking place in Cannes. We meet investors, developers, planners and local leaders to hear how they’re working to build more sustainably and create better…
Tall Stories 348: Hollyhock House, Los Angeles
Christopher Lord visits one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most impressive Californian creations – the first piece of modern US architecture to make it onto Unesco’s World Heritage List.
Good sports
What roles do stadiums, parks and clubrooms play in our built environment? We look at the intersection between sports and city planning, delve into the US pickleball craze and explore Argentina’s sports clubs.
Tall Stories 347: Park Strip, Anchorage
Gregory Scruggs talks us through the various ways that Park Strip has been used since the birth of Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage.
Wilding the city
As urban areas grow, how can we ensure that the link between nature and our cities isn’t severed? We visit Bangkok’s recently opened Benjakitti Park, discuss Ben Wilson’s new book ‘Urban Jungle: Wilding the City’ and go…
Tall Stories 346: Paharpur Business Centre, New Delhi
Geetanjali Krishna visits the so-called “healthiest building in Delhi” to find out how greenery is helping to fight back against air pollution.
Books and banks
How can ordinary city buildings have an extraordinary effect on their communities? We explore libraries to banks to see what impact they’re having on their neighbourhoods and what connection they have with citizens.
Tall Stories 345: The Diefenbunker, Ottawa
Paul Logothetis explores the story of Cold War Canada through an extensive network of tunnels and offices built beneath a farming community in Western Ottawa in the 1960s.
Communist Graz
What is it like to live in a communist-run city? For residents of Austria’s second city of Graz, that question ceased being hypothetical in 2021 when Elke Kahr of the Communist Party of Austria was sworn in as mayor. In…
Tall Stories 344: Mercado do Bolhão, Porto
Ivan Carvalho visits Porto’s much-loved Mercado do Bolhão to uncover the legacy of an urban landmark that continues to bring residents together.
The High Lines
Since opening to the public in 2009, New York’s High Line has inspired cities the world over. We explore the route of what’s set to be the Camden Highline, walk along Singapore’s Rail Corridor and return to the original.