31 October 2022
09 minutes
Photo: Alamy
Ivan Carvalho visits a Louis Kahn-designed laboratory that exemplifies science and aesthetics cohabiting in harmony.
31 October 2022
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
Mipim property fair
We report from Mipim, the world’s leading property fair, which is taking place in Cannes. We meet investors, developers, planners and local leaders to hear how they’re working to build more sustainably and create better…
Tall Stories 348: Hollyhock House, Los Angeles
Christopher Lord visits one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most impressive Californian creations – the first piece of modern US architecture to make it onto Unesco’s World Heritage List.
Good sports
What roles do stadiums, parks and clubrooms play in our built environment? We look at the intersection between sports and city planning, delve into the US pickleball craze and explore Argentina’s sports clubs.
Tall Stories 347: Park Strip, Anchorage
Gregory Scruggs talks us through the various ways that Park Strip has been used since the birth of Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage.
Wilding the city
As urban areas grow, how can we ensure that the link between nature and our cities isn’t severed? We visit Bangkok’s recently opened Benjakitti Park, discuss Ben Wilson’s new book ‘Urban Jungle: Wilding the City’ and go…
Tall Stories 346: Paharpur Business Centre, New Delhi
Geetanjali Krishna visits the so-called “healthiest building in Delhi” to find out how greenery is helping to fight back against air pollution.
Books and banks
How can ordinary city buildings have an extraordinary effect on their communities? We explore libraries to banks to see what impact they’re having on their neighbourhoods and what connection they have with citizens.
Tall Stories 345: The Diefenbunker, Ottawa
Paul Logothetis explores the story of Cold War Canada through an extensive network of tunnels and offices built beneath a farming community in Western Ottawa in the 1960s.
Communist Graz
What is it like to live in a communist-run city? For residents of Austria’s second city of Graz, that question ceased being hypothetical in 2021 when Elke Kahr of the Communist Party of Austria was sworn in as mayor. In…
Tall Stories 344: Mercado do Bolhão, Porto
Ivan Carvalho visits Porto’s much-loved Mercado do Bolhão to uncover the legacy of an urban landmark that continues to bring residents together.
The High Lines
Since opening to the public in 2009, New York’s High Line has inspired cities the world over. We explore the route of what’s set to be the Camden Highline, walk along Singapore’s Rail Corridor and return to the original.
Tall Stories 343: Punxsutawney Phil
Chris Cermak looks at the meteorological powers of a particular Pennsylvania groundhog and the annual celebrations that take place in the town of Punxsutawney to mark his famous forecast.
Park life
How has the way in which we perceive our parks changed and how have planners adjusted to our current needs? We explore examples of well-considered green space and ponder what’s next for the park.
Tall Stories 342: Montreal’s Metro
Hester Underhill explores how the metro system beneath Canada’s second-largest city, and its collection of stunning mid-century designed stations, came to be.
US Conference of Mayors
Chris Cermak, Monocle’s Washington correspondent, reports on the US Conference of Mayors. The meeting is an opportunity for local leaders to get together and share best practices – but also for the federal government to…
