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
Discover Reykjavik
How does a remote city such as Reykjavik mark its spot on the map? Listen in as we chat to the mayor of Reykjavik, Dagur Eggertsson; find out how the city’s bookstores are bringing the community together and why geothermal power is being used to heat part of the Atlantic…
The second city
Being number two is not always a bad thing. In this episode we explore second cities and the ways in which they step out of the capital’s shadow. From Milan’s business hub to Melbourne’s food culture, these are the things that help us measure a city. Plus: we sit down…
Bad people, nice buildings
Architecture has always been the unfortunate sidekick of any dictatorial regime, with its imposing buildings marking a new era of nationalism and the power of its ruler. In this episode we explore the architectural legacy of fascist, imperial and dictatorial regimes around the world and what these buildings actually stand…
Failed bids
We explore projects that were planned but never realised and wonder how different a city might look if it had received a green light. Featuring a case of protected heritage, the high-speed train in Brazil that never took off, the runner-up of an architecture competition and why Toronto has failed…
Mind your manners
There’s a set of unspoken rules of conduct that make our cities tick: standing on the right on an escalator, properly tipping in a restaurant and behaving in a certain way on public transport. But how do people manage to remain civil in a hostile urban environment? Join us as…
Power city
We explore how politics have changed Brussels, visit an old embassy for sale in Belgrade and discover some of Hong Kong’s power clubs. Plus: we ask if Vienna is still the stage for international diplomacy and walk through Embassy Row in Washington DC.
Easy access
The way our buildings and public spaces are planned has a significant impact on our quality of life. We explore the theme of accessibility: from how to use inclusive design to a cab service in Hong Kong especially for wheelchair passengers. Plus: we find out what happens when technology and…
Law and order
Crime and illegality are ubiquitous in our urban environment, from illegal housing, street art, rough sleeping to organised crime. On this episode of The Urbanist we tackle the illegal city and look at how our cities are dealing with those who are bending the rules.
City corners
Hear about the corners in our cities. Find out about what makes the perfect corner shop, the superb grid design of Eixample in Barcelona, London’s very own Speakers’ Corner and the most iconic corner building of all, The Flatiron Building in New York.
Easy living
As Monocle’s Quality of Life survey hits the newsstands, we take a look at what’s making our cities tick. How is Tokyo at the forefront of an urban-garden revolution and how does Vienna aim to create a major business hub? Plus: we discuss what metrics we will have next year…
