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
Tall Stories 409: The Giant Dipper, Santa Cruz
Tom Webb assesses the appeal of a historic wooden roller coaster that has just celebrated its 100th birthday.
Conflict and the city: rebuilding
In part two of our series looking at conflict and the city, we examine the concept of rebuilding, as well as how the character of the city plays a role in the process. Plus: how to create a new metropolis while showing compassion for the past.
Tall Stories 408: Seun Sangga, Seoul
Tomás Pinheiro tells us how Seoul’s first mixed-use development came about and the challenges that it will face in the future.
Conflict and the city: protest
In part one of our series looking at conflict and the city, we explore protests, their effect on the built environment and how activism is shaped by the public realm.
Tall Stories 407: Daughters of the American Revolution HQ, Washington
Charlotte McDonald-Gibson explores the largest women-owned piece of real estate in the US, which has played an important role in the history of the nation’s capital.
Urban transformation in the US
This week, we take the temperature of urban development in the US and check in with a few projects currently under way. We explore The Underline in Miami, Hazelwood Green in Pittsburgh, Detroit’s tallest skyscraper in 50 years and the transformation taking place in Queens.
Tall Stories 406: Terminal 2, Kempegowda International Airport
Geetanjali Krishna touches down in Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport to experience the wonders of its verdant, new 255,000 sq m terminal.
Who holds the power in our cities?
We look at democracy in urban areas and examine city planning and the impact of voter choice. How can decision making in cities become more open and inclusive? Plus: we go back to the beginning to discover how candidates secure a spot on the ballot paper.
Tall Stories 405: River Shannon
Sarah Grice recalls a fishy tale about the longest river in the British Isles, the Shannon in Ireland.
Sustainable building materials and circular construction
As global urban development continues at pace, the need to use sustainable materials and building techniques in our cities increases. How is innovation helping the construction industry to reduce its impact on the environment? We explore some of the ideas that are hoped to make a difference.
