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 104: Sea Point Pavilion
More than two decades since the end of Apartheid in South Africa, the city of Cape Town still struggles with a unique form of urban segregation. There is one space, however, where people of all backgrounds regularly come together to breathe in the salty Atlantic air and enjoy a day…
The crowd effect
We examine how crowdfunding is being applied to real estate and local government – and why one US mayor is taking this phenomenon with a pinch of salt. Can you create a more successful city if you ask the crowd?
Tall Stories 103: The Prince Charles Cinema
Almost every cinema is adopting a new gimmick in the hope of standing out from the crowd. But one cinema in London has such a unique history that it’s become as much of a cult hit as the films it presents.
Let’s get moving
We get a return ticket to one of the most important themes covered on ‘The Urbanist’ – mobility. As cities push to be less dependent on cars and promote public transport, we look at three outposts to see what they are getting right.
Tall Stories 102: Ronnie Scott’s
Ronnie Scott’s has been bringing some of the best jazz performers and singers to London since 1959. This week, our own Daphne Karnezis peeks behind the curtain to tell us the story of one of Soho’s most iconic venues.
Turning off the tap
Cape Town was set to run out of drinkable water in less than 10 days from now. But as the city narrowly avoided the dreaded “Day Zero”, it has ignited a worldwide debate about the issue and how to ensure this won’t happen in the near future elsewhere.
Tall Stories 101: Record shops
Monocle’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco looks at the enduring appeal of record shops and how they can define cities. From music megastores to that cosy record shop, he muses on the main challenges of music stores today.
Animal spirits
This week is all about animals and cities: from backyard chickens to birdwatching and even entrepreneurs making life easier for your furry friend. Plus: how can we design our public spaces in a more animal-friendly way?
Tall Stories 100: London’s National Theatre
Our editor Andrew Tuck takes us to London’s National Theatre, a brutalist wonder built by the architect Sir Denys Lasdun.
Reclaiming the streets
Politics and city living are intertwined – and there’s no better place to witness it than at a demonstration. Be it a students’ march, silent walkout or pro-immigration protest, it’s about coming together in a public space for a rallying cry that screams “enough!”.
