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
Checking in
We hear about a clever digital tool changing our urban environments, look at Toronto’s plans to loosen the reins on high-rises and visit a new museum in Sarajevo.
Tall Stories 161: Torre Littoria
We’re in Turin to ponder a towering relic of Italy’s fascist past. Referred to as Mussolini’s finger, this skyscraper has stayed standing despite the wishes of residents.
Cities through the artist’s eye
We stroll through the halls of The Urbanist art gallery to look at how the artist’s perspective can help us paint a new picture of the cities we live in.
Tall Stories 160: Glasgow City Chambers
Monocle 24’s Daniel Bach tells us about the Glasgow City Chambers, which hide one of the city’s greatest architectural features in plain sight.
Urban rulebook
What does it take to be a good citizen? Authorities can set the tone but in the end it’s residents who define the places they live. We look at what’s required to make our cities thrive – and yes, it means following a couple of rules here and there.
Tall Stories 159: Uno Prii
Monocle 24’s Will Kitchens looks at two quietly iconic residential tower blocks from Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood.
Private and public development, part two
We continue our conversation with architect Monica von Schmalensee, developer Jared Della Vale and urban-planner Alfredo Caraballo on the role that private developers play in cities. Plus: we take a closer look at the new World Trade Center.
Tall Stories 158: New-town Britain
Monocle’s editor Andrew Tuck takes us back to 1971 to tell us all about the UK’s new-town model.
Private and public development, part one
What role do private developers play in changing public spaces in our cities? This week we join the Van Alen Institute in London as it visits, learns about and passes judgement on the city’s headline-grabbing projects.
Tall Stories 157: Helsinki’s Mikael Agricola church
This week Monocle 24’s Markus Hippi takes us to Helsinki where one church has a unique feature that most Finns have never heard of.
