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
Summer book club, part 1
We call our summer meeting of The Urbanist book club with two titles that tell stories of American urbanisation, from the suburban boom and Asian immigration to the creation of Chicago’s iconic skyline.
Tall Stories 364: The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Rio de Janeiro
Mariella Bevan browses a historic library that is helping to preserve the written heritage of the Portuguese language in Brazil.
Sound spaces
We explore how designing with acoustics in mind can shape our urban environment and the effect of music spaces on a city’s social fabric.
Tall Stories 363: Cité du Vin, Bordeaux
Amy van den Berg explores a museum that’s bringing tourism back to the city in one of France’s most famous wine regions.
City profile: Bratislava
Change is afoot in the Slovak capital. We meet Matus Vallo, Bratislava’s bass-playing architect mayor, and his unofficial network of urban change-makers to hear about the city’s renaissance. From improved public spaces to the restoration of neglected buildings, this is a city on the up.
Tall Stories 362: Madison Square Garden, New York
HJ Mai delves into the debate over what’s next for New York’s most emblematic sports and events venue.
Toronto’s mayoral election
As Toronto prepares for a snap mayoral election on 26 June, we explore the urban issues at stake and hear how the vote presents an opportunity for change.
Tall Stories 361: Habitat 67, Montreal
Paul Logothetis explores the terraces and towers of Montreal’s most famous housing complex.
Rethinking spaces for transport
We explore some examples of adaptive reuse that are transforming old transit hubs – and designing new ones. Plus: the annual European Tramdriver Championship.
Tall Stories 360: Ontario Place, Toronto
Tomos Lewis assesses plans for Toronto’s iconic waterfront entertainment space.
