Europe

Finland's First Skyscrapers

An Italian firm plans to build the first skyscrapers in a central district in Helsinki, intended to house both homes and offices.

November 19, 2009 - Helsingin Sanomat

VMT Fee May Replace Car Taxes In Netherlands

Imagine this: Replacing the sales tax on purchasing a new vehicle and annual, 'fixed' fees with a VMT fee based on size, weight, and CO2 emissions of the vehicle. This is the plan of the Dutch government to reduce congestion and greenhouse gases.

November 16, 2009 - Breitbart.com

Sweden Goes YIMBY

In Stockholm, Sweden, a new group calling themselves YIMBY 'Yes in My Backyard' is promoting a vision of a dense, dynamic city.

November 13, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor - Global News Blog

Man-Made Mountain Proposed in Berlin

An architect in Berlin has proposed replacing the city's now-unused Tempelhof airport with a giant man-made mountain, dubbed The Berg.

November 13, 2009 - The Architect's Journal

A Sea of Infrastructure

An ex-pat American returns home to Milwaukee, and is overwhelmed by the extensive auto-oriented infrastructure needed to support the U.S. lifestyle, very different from his life in Almeria, Spain.

November 9, 2009 - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Brain Gain in Eastern Germany

After twenty years of reunification, the eastern part of Germany is finally beginning to lure educated workers back.

November 8, 2009 - The New York Times

Smaller May Be Better in Developer Biz

While a number of mega retail developers crashed and burned during the recession, some smaller developers have thrived.

November 6, 2009 - Retail Traffic Magazine

Solar Monorail

Bologna, Italy is getting a new monorail to connect the city with the airport, powered by photovoltaic panels built into the infrastructure.

November 3, 2009 - Inhabitat

Paris Bike Program's Thousands of Casualties

Paris and JCDecaux promise to forge on with the popular bike program, despite having lost thousands of bikes to recklessness and vandalism.

November 2, 2009 - The New York Times

The Barcelona Model of Reviving Industrial Areas

American cities are struggling to figure out how to transition formerly industrial areas to become vibrant and successful parts of the city once again. Neal Peirce says they should look to Barcelona, which accomplished it ten years ago.

October 26, 2009 - Citiwire

Denmark's Energy Efficient Poster Child

The Danish island of Samso is the poster child of clean energy. Its residents generate more energy than they consume. Now the Danish government wants to export that model back to the mainland.

October 25, 2009 - Der Spiegel

Odenseification

The City of Odense, Denmark has submitted a new master plan that guides development to make the city carbon-neutral by 2025.

October 19, 2009 - Sustainable Cities DK

Bike Across Water With the Velomobile

Inventor David Buchwaldek has created a kayak-like recumbent bike that can travel over roadways and bike directly into a body of water, becoming a tiny boat.

October 14, 2009 - Inhabitat

Carbon Capture and Storage Ignites Debate in Germany

A proposed CCS site under an eastern German village has met serious opposition from locals who fear their crops and families will suffer. Scientists and the energy company say it's perfectly safe.

October 7, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

France Plans Electric Car Charging Network

The French government hass announced plans to install electric car charging stations throughout the country.

October 3, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

The Disconnect Between Architecture and Everyday Use

A new film focuses on the life of a home designed by architect Rem Koolhaas for a client in a wheelchair, which radically redefines domestic living, and the results of the experiment when put to actual use.

October 1, 2009 - The Wall St. Journal

Stockholm's Congestion Pricing Cuts Traffic, Boosts Clean Vehicle Sales

Stockholm's congestion charge is not only reducing traffic and greenhouse gas emissions, it's also increasing sales of alternative fuel vehicles.

September 30, 2009 - The New York Times

Poltical Courage & Raising The Gas Tax

Another column by New York Times columnist, Thomas Friedman on the need to raise the gas tax - in this one, he compares the U.S. to Europe and concludes that the former are 'wimps' for not having the courage to raise gas or carbon taxes.

September 27, 2009 - The New York Times - Opinion

Urban Sports Creating New Life in Civic Spaces

Urban sports like bike polo and urban golf are taking off in Germany, and are beginning to bring life back to formerly uninhabited concrete spaces.

September 26, 2009 - Der Spiegel

Russia Rolls Out New High Speed Rail

Siemens has retrofitted trains for cold Russian winters; they are being rolled out now between Moscow and St. Petersburg and could be a model for American HSR.

September 26, 2009 - New York Times

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.