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 21: the Cascade
In the Armenian capital of Yerevan there is one structure that draws attention like no other: the Cascade. We check out the brainchild of a group of pioneering modernist architects in the 1960s.
Housing
This week we explore housing projects and how to make them work, from Sydney’s most notorious and somewhat unusual Sirius Building to Singapore’s social housing and the UK’s infamous council estates.
Tall Stories 20: the tabaccheria sign
What is the secret to effective, eye-catching shop signage? In the case of the Italian tabaccheria – known for its white “T” against a dark background – consistency is key.
Why so moody?
There’s a correlation between the built environment and the way we feel as an individual but how does that apply to the population as a whole? This week we assess if there’s such a thing as a “collective mood” in our urban environments and what essentially makes a city happy…
Tall Stories 19: the Brazilian kiosk
They might not be the most glamorous in the world but there’s something thrilling to be found in the gritty grey newsstands on the streets of São Paulo.
Water under the bridge
Bridges play an active role in the way in which we interact with cities and they also influence how our urban environments evolve. This week we discover how something that is meant to unite us can be divisive, from a pedestrian crossing in Adelaide to Calgary’s Peace Bridge. Plus: we…
Tall Stories 18: Moscow’s Egg House
The architectural and urban legacy of former Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov remains the subject of heated debate. While he condoned the destruction of historic buildings and streets, he also encouraged architectural experiments such as the city’s Egg House.
DNC, World Fair and taxi sharing
We hear from two mayors on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention on how to better connect local authorities with state and federal government. Plus: we hitch a ride in Beirut’s taxi-sharing system and reflect on the fact that it’s been a year since the World Fair packed its…
Tall Stories 17: Madrid’s Torres Blancas
Built in the 1960s, Madrid’s eccentric Torres Blancas continues to rouse the imagination of the Spanish capital despite being closed off to a rather curious public.
Rio’s Olympic urban legacy
In this special episode of ‘The Urbanist’ we look at the highs and lows of Rio’s urban makeover, how the city will be seen during the Games and more importantly what will remain after the Olympic movement leaves town.
