Colin Rowe and the Impact of Great Teaching
02.23.2026
Part 2 of our consideration of the influential architect, planner, and educator.
Part 2 of our consideration of the influential architect, planner, and educator.
urban design
The Urban Design Legacy of Colin Rowe
02.10.2026
A recent book on the architect, planner, and educator sheds new light on his seminal career.
A recent book on the architect, planner, and educator sheds new light on his seminal career.
It’s 2026: Time for a Comprehensive Plan for New York City
01.05.2026
Mayor Mamdani has the opportunity to finally provide a planning vision that supports residents and social value instead of the real estate industry.
Mayor Mamdani has the opportunity to finally provide a planning vision that supports residents and social value instead of the real estate industry.
The Overlooked Charms and Underappreciated Glories of “Flyover Country”
12.23.2025
Wonderful things can be found in the towns and cities between the coasts—but only if you’re willing to keep your eyes and mind open.
Wonderful things can be found in the towns and cities between the coasts—but only if you’re willing to keep your eyes and mind open.
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.
No More Atlantic Yards!
12.02.2025
Can Mayor Mamdani embrace “social value” in New York City real estate?
Can Mayor Mamdani embrace “social value” in New York City real estate?
Con Permiso: Learning to Navigate Public Space in Mexico City
12.01.2025
Social graciousness when paths cross is fundamental to this city.
Social graciousness when paths cross is fundamental to this city.
Raving Amid the Ruins
11.24.2025
Using the underground dance party milieu as a tool for dreaming up and building a new urban future.
Using the underground dance party milieu as a tool for dreaming up and building a new urban future.
Los Angeles and the Density Paradox
11.12.2025
The city is already overloaded with cars, yet it lacks the density needed for transit to work effectively. Moving beyond this stalemate is essential.
The city is already overloaded with cars, yet it lacks the density needed for transit to work effectively. Moving beyond this stalemate is essential.
In Praise of Urban Density
10.27.2025
A large population is a quality-of-life benefit, not a dystopian threat.
A large population is a quality-of-life benefit, not a dystopian threat.
Letter From Malibu: Chaos, Civic Dysfunction, and Looming Corruption
10.15.2025
City Hall controversies expose municipal rot, even as residents grow weary waiting to rebuild after the fire.
City Hall controversies expose municipal rot, even as residents grow weary waiting to rebuild after the fire.
Our Housing Crisis Is a Monumental Failure of Design
10.14.2025
Here’s a comprehensive blueprint for creating a new path forward.
Here’s a comprehensive blueprint for creating a new path forward.
Decades-Old Zoning and Building Codes Are Responsible for Our Housing Choices
09.29.2025
Architect-planner Dan Parolek—who coined the phrase “missing middle housing”—is working to solve entrenched problems.
Architect-planner Dan Parolek—who coined the phrase “missing middle housing”—is working to solve entrenched problems.
The Lost Soul of Oakland: Living Large in Lower Rockridge
09.24.2025
Real estate speculation is eroding the beauty of a great urban neighborhood.
Real estate speculation is eroding the beauty of a great urban neighborhood.
The Atlanta We Inherit: History, Architecture, and the Fight for Public Space
09.16.2025
A proposal to turn a John Portman-designed skybridge into a space that celebrates the city’s history and design legacy.
A proposal to turn a John Portman-designed skybridge into a space that celebrates the city’s history and design legacy.
Kansas City: Wandering the Middle Ground
09.08.2025
An L.A-born urban planner finds traces of home in the Midwest.
An L.A-born urban planner finds traces of home in the Midwest.
Lessons From Katrina: The Next Planning Frontier Is Community Empowerment
08.26.2025
Powerful forces become available when communities are willing to take control of their collective destiny.
Powerful forces become available when communities are willing to take control of their collective destiny.
Courtyard Urbanism: What’s Missing From American Cities
08.19.2025
Why and how I became a citizen urban planner and advocate.
Why and how I became a citizen urban planner and advocate.
A Book on Common-Sense Architecture
08.12.2025
Milton Shinberg leads the profession back to people through the human sciences.
Milton Shinberg leads the profession back to people through the human sciences.
New York City—the Metropolis Built on Water
08.05.2025
A talk with photographer Stanley Greenberg about his new book documenting the vast infrastructure of the city’s water system.
A talk with photographer Stanley Greenberg about his new book documenting the vast infrastructure of the city’s water system.
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