20 January 2020
05 minutes
This week we head to the alleyways of Shibuya in Japan’s capital to learn how small coincidences can make seemingly impenetrable cities feel a little more welcoming.
20 January 2020
Share episode
DownloadWant more radio episodes like these in your inbox?
Sign up to Monocle’s email newsletters to stay on top of news and opinion, plus the latest from the magazine, radio, film and shop.
The Urbanist - latest episodes
‘Grands projets’
We look at ‘grands projets’ in cities around the world, from turning the Champs-Élysées into a giant urban garden to a reimagining of the Los Angeles river and a new community in Canada.
Tall Stories 245: Reykjavík’s Ironclads
What form do the buildings in the world’s northernmost capital take? And what is behind their distinctive look?
Hopes for 2021
We ask a collection of city-makers, thinkers and doers to describe their hopes for urban life this year.
Tall Stories 244: Olympic Plaza, Calgary
Daniel Bach reflects on how hosting the Olympic Games can leave a legacy.
ULI Europe Conference
This week we report on the Urban Land Institute’s 2021 Europe Conference. In line with the current climate, this was a virtual affair but, as always, it was an event packed with great guests sharing their ideas on how to…
Tall Stories 243: Dragon gates, Hong Kong
We look into a strange feature that characterises many of Hong Kong’s tall buildings.
Vaccine logistics
We explore the rollout of mass vaccinations and how cities are playing their part in the solution.
Tall Stories 242: Funkhaus, Vienna
We visit an iconic broadcasting building to see how its role is changing but its culture and traditions remain.
Telling the story of New York
We look at the role New York City plays in some of our favourite films, television shows and songs.
Tall Stories 241: Monte Testaccio, Rome
We look to an ancient Roman waste-management technique that has permanently shaped the city’s topography.
Urban unrest
Taking to the streets is a powerful tool for citizens to hold their governments accountable. But what happens when things go wrong? This week we examine urban violence on different levels.
Tall Stories 240: Ciudad Real International Airport
We touch down at a white elephant of an airport built in Spain at the height of the financial crisis.
Mobility innovation
We get moving again with an episode all about innovation in the wide world of mobility.
Tall Stories 239: Sokol Village, Moscow
We visit a revolutionary Soviet suburb that's now run down and under threat of demolition.
The poetry of the city
We speak to a selection of writers to discuss how poetry can help us understand themes that affect urban dwellers.
