Want Some Bad Food and Poor Design to Go With Your Tesla Charge?
04.01.2026
Elon Musk’s attempt at an urban restaurant strives to be cool but fails utterly.
Elon Musk’s attempt at an urban restaurant strives to be cool but fails utterly.
Josh Stephens
What Japan Gets Right (A Partial List)
12.09.2025
A few things that demonstrate the gulf between the island nation’s philosophy of how cities should work and America’s.
A few things that demonstrate the gulf between the island nation’s philosophy of how cities should work and America’s.
Why Hollywood and the Housing Industry Need Each Other
06.09.2025
In addition to sharing many inherent traits, the fortunes of the former depend on the affordability of the latter.
In addition to sharing many inherent traits, the fortunes of the former depend on the affordability of the latter.
The Brilliant, Unhinged Spectacle of Megalopolis
10.02.2024
A rare film that celebrates design and urban planning, Coppola’s latest epic is a mishmash of architectural, cinematic, and literary history.
A rare film that celebrates design and urban planning, Coppola’s latest epic is a mishmash of architectural, cinematic, and literary history.
Warlords in Our Midst
08.14.2024
Why Elon Musk is worse than science fiction.
Why Elon Musk is worse than science fiction.
The Las Vegas Sphere: A Placeless Object in a Placeless City
01.23.2024
The latest Sin City spectacle is just that—spectacle. Pure, crystalline spectacle.
The latest Sin City spectacle is just that—spectacle. Pure, crystalline spectacle.
Is Santa Clara—the Heart of Silicon Valley—Soulless and Banal by Intent?
06.20.2023
The city combines great wealth and utter placelessness.
The city combines great wealth and utter placelessness.
Reaching for the Heavens
03.14.2022
A new book on supertall buildings is an informative look at these awesome structures, but it could have offered a more critical perspective.
A new book on supertall buildings is an informative look at these awesome structures, but it could have offered a more critical perspective.
The Metaverse Lands in Downtown Los Angeles
12.13.2021
On Staples Center becoming Crypto.com Arena.
On Staples Center becoming Crypto.com Arena.
No, Los Angeles Is Not a City-State
06.03.2021
A recent Atlantic essay and new book gets LA all wrong (again).
A recent Atlantic essay and new book gets LA all wrong (again).
The High, Hidden Costs of Amazon
05.02.2021
Don’t be fooled by that smile printed on the boxes you’re receiving.
Don’t be fooled by that smile printed on the boxes you’re receiving.
Los Angeles’ Least Cool Councilmember Kills Its Coolest Street
09.28.2020
Introducing the “perennially out of touch” Paul Koretz.
Introducing the “perennially out of touch” Paul Koretz.
Laurel Canyon: The Classic California Urban Ecosystem
08.27.2020
The power of people and place can often defy formal design and planning.
The power of people and place can often defy formal design and planning.
Solving the Urban Riddle That is Los Angeles
07.29.2020
An excerpt from The Urban Mystique: Notes on California, Los Angeles and Beyond.
An excerpt from The Urban Mystique: Notes on California, Los Angeles and Beyond.
On Tea and Density in Old Delhi
03.11.2020
How a street-corner vendor symbolizes the incredible, contradictory aspects of a centuries-old place where the concept of urban planning is all but impossible.
How a street-corner vendor symbolizes the incredible, contradictory aspects of a centuries-old place where the concept of urban planning is all but impossible.
A Proposed “Iconic” Tower in San Jose is a Monument to Lousy Urbanism
05.14.2019
Sometimes civic ambition should aim lower.
Sometimes civic ambition should aim lower.
Letter from Southern California: Packing Books as the Woolsey Fire Approaches
11.12.2018
When I woke up Sunday morning, I breathed in the homes of my neighbors.
When I woke up Sunday morning, I breathed in the homes of my neighbors.
Reconsidering Paradise: How Honolulu Became a Poster Child for American Autocentric Urbanism
05.09.2018
If you’re going to pave over paradise, at least do it well.
If you’re going to pave over paradise, at least do it well.
A Tale of Two Cities: Tourism and Imperialism in Sri Lanka
02.28.2018
Are authentic places even possible today?
Are authentic places even possible today?
Cannabis, Urbanism and Storefront Ethics
01.03.2018
If pot stores are opposed on moral grounds, what about other legal but dubious establishments?
If pot stores are opposed on moral grounds, what about other legal but dubious establishments?
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