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The Urbanist - latest episodes
Tall Stories 442: 24 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
Tomos Lewis ponders a potential spring clean of Canada’s official prime ministerial residence.
Materials matter
How can the materials with which we choose to build affect the economics, sustainability and resilience of our built environment? We explore the material world through a recent title about available resources, an explainer…
Tall Stories 441: Shuri Castle, Okinawa
Tomás Pinheiro describes the recent renovation of one of Okinawa’s Unesco World Heritage Sites after a devastating fire in 2019, as well as the history of reconstructions that this castle has undergone.
Destinations for 2025
We visit two destinations that should factor into your 2025 travel plans. In Portugal we assess the hospitality sector after a record year in visitor numbers, then we tune in to the sounds of Tokyo to hear what sonic att…
Tall Stories 440: Motel Plitvice, Zagreb
Guy de Launey reviews an icon of Yugoslav architecture in a motorway service station just outside Zagreb.
The best of ‘Tall Stories’ in 2024
Monocle’s editor in chief, Andrew Tuck, rounds up his favourite episodes of ‘Tall Stories’ from 2024.
The best of 2024
Monocle’s editor-in-chief Andrew Tuck recalls some of his favourite interviews and reports from the year on ‘The Urbanist’.
A very Urbanist Christmas
Our holiday special brings you a collection of yuletide traditions from cities around the world. Then, we roll out another festive round of ‘The Urbanist’ quiz and give you the perfect gift idea for the urbanist in your…
Tall Stories 439: Deer Valley Resort, Utah
Jessica Bridger straps on her skis and takes us to a grand American resort whose wild, man-made landscape stuns visitors.
Swimmable cities, Battersea Power Station and indigenous retail
Matt Sykes, co-founder and convenor of Swimmable Cities, describes how our urban centres can band together to promote more swimmable urban waterways. Then Sebastien Ricard from Wilkinsoneyre unpacks the transformation of…
Tall Stories 438: Cusco’s duality
Elna Schutz explores how antiquity and modernity coexist in the city of Cusco, perched high in the Andes.
How municipal architects shape our cities
From the perspectives of towns, cities and countries, we look at the role of the municipal architect today to see how this centralised advisor can help to cut red tape, mould an identity and connect stakeholders for better…
Tall Stories 437: Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation, New York
Paul Logothetis takes us to an intriguing new building that is just as awe inspiring as the exhibits housed within.
‘The Land is Full’, plus urbanism for young and old
We speak to Thomas Woltz of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, whose new monograph, ‘The Land is Full’, explains why all land comes with deep history and cultural ties. Then we inspire young urbanists with the author…
Tall Stories 436: Tallinna Linnahall
David Plaisant visits a Soviet-era concert hall that has been disused for the best part of 15 years and is loved and loathed by the city’s residents in equal measure.
