India
Reinventing America's Cities: Discovering Opportunities by Challenging Biases
Dr. Aseem Inam takes writers on urbanism and architecture to task for spreading stereotypes about "third world cities", particularly when used to generalize about urban form.
From Cheap Cars to Cheap Housing
The Indian discount automaker Tata is now venturing into home production, building 1,000 apartments near Mumbai with prices starting at $7,800.
Business Week
Signs of Urbanism Found at 2,500 Year Old Site in India
A brick structure was uncovered outside the city of Wari-Bateshwar, confirming that the site was part of a developed city as early as 400 B.C.
The Daily Star
Tent Cities As 'Informal Urbanism'
High Country News reports on Fresno's infamous Taco Flat in this 4-pager. Seattle's Nickelsville and Portland's Dignity Village are held up as better examples of squatter settlements. Architecture and 'informal urbanism' of tent cities is examined.
High Country News
The $2,200 Car
Tata Motors of India released their much anticipated $2,200 car yesterday, with 1m people already on the waiting list. Environmentalists fear that the surge in cars, even tiny ones, will make India's cities more autocentric.
Los Angeles Times
'The Ultimate User-Generated City'
A look inside the real slum featured in the movie "Slumdog Millionaire". The film won 8 Oscars including Best Picture.
The New York Times
An Inside-Out Mall in Mumbai
The 700,000k sq ft Oberoi Mall in Mumbai is an enclosed shopping center that also meets the street on the outside.
Shopping Centers Today
The Model Slum
According to Prince Charles, Dharavi, the slum featured in 'Slumdog Millionaire,' should be considered a model for the rest of the developing world.
The Guardian
Bikes in the World Today
This three-part series from the BBC looks at bicycles in the modern world -- from Paris to Uganda to India.
BBC
Art Invades New Delhi, Comments On Changing City
Public art installations around New Delhi highlights the challenges of preserving India's heritage amidst development. 'We ask people to think about constructing a modern city and the accompanying extinction and loss,' says artist Ravi Agrawal.
Washington Post
The Social In Security
The recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai are inspiring calls for heightened security and a less open society. Himanshu Burte argues that this is the wrong approach, and that throwing up boundaries would be a mistake.
BRT Fails in Delhi
The Bus Rapid Transit System has failed to meet the demands of New Delhi's riders and pedestrians. A better strategy, according to one report, is to improve its mass transit instead.
The Indian Express
Building With Terrorism in Mind
Buildings and public spaces were the focus of recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. This op-ed wonders how the building and design professions should respond.
Buildings
Mumbai After Terrorist Attacks
As Mumbai recovers from the recent terrorist attacks, social worker Katia Savchuk reflects on how cities can be resilient to terrorism.
Where
Expatriates Find Competition in Mumbai
Floods of British expatriates moving to Mumbai are finding the city practically as competitive and sometimes even more expensive than home.
BBC
Killer Brown Clouds On The Rise
A U.N. report details the severity of the 'brown cloud' phenomenon affecting much of Asia and other parts of the planet. In addition to reducing sunlight and causing premature death, the clouds affect weather patterns, harvests, and glacier declines
The New York Times
Bicycles Disappearing From Asia
Researchers in Asia are warning that unless governments start to make their urban planning policies more bicycle-friendly, bikes could virtually disappear from the urban environment within a decade.
The Jakarta Post
Dharavi: India's Model Slum
Mumbai, India's Dharavi is one of the world's biggest slums -- and its most notorious. Look beyond the stereotype, however, and you'll find a successful settlement with a vibrant community and economy. But developers want to raze it all and start again. Urban development consultant Prakash M. Apte says Dharavi is a model that should be replicated, not redeveloped.
Blocked Roads in Bangalore
Blogger S.G.Narayanamurthy reports from Bangalore on the continuing problems with obstructions to the streetscape from vendors, cafes, mechanics, parking, waste water, construction, etc. The story includes a slideshow.
Citizen Matters (in Bangalore)
















