Europe

The Most Expensive City For Housing In Eastern Europe

Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, is widely believed to be the most expensive city in which to buy a house in eastern Europe. Prices have seen a major surge in the last few years, with some prices increasing by up to 25% in the last two months.

January 8, 2007 - BBC

The Debate Over Berlin's Tempelhof Airport

Though hemmed in by urban development and eclipsed by the city's other two airports, plans to close down Tempelhof continue to meet resistance.

January 2, 2007 - The Washington Post

Pedestrians Versus Motorists In Paris

Plans for making Paris a greener and more pedestrian friendly city are infuriating motorists in the city.

December 30, 2006 - NPR

A Green, Car-Free, Family-Friendly Neighborhood In Germany

The Vauban neighborhood on a former military base in Freiburg, Germany was not designed around the automobile. In fact, some streets are too narrow for them. And unlike much of Europe, this is a city made to accommodate young families with children.

December 30, 2006 - The Christian Science Monitor

Planning And Preservation In St. Petersburg, Russia

A new report from The Classical City, a journal dedicated to preserving St. Petersburg, Russia, describes the destructive effects of the city's new plan and calls for architecture that is consistent with the city's character.

December 23, 2006 - The Classical City

Paris Says No More Clothing Stores On Champs Elysées

The city's commercial planning committee rejected an application from Swedish retailer H&M, saying the famous boulevard -- already home to major clothing retailers -- needs less shops and more cinemas, restaurants and cafes.

December 16, 2006 - The Times (London)

Affordable Housing By Ikea

The Swedish furniture retailer is expanding its market to include ready-made and modestly-sized homes. Already selling well in Scandinavia, the homes are part of a new plan to address Britain's affordable housing shortage.

December 2, 2006 - The Guardian Unlimited

Controlled Chaos In Transportation Planning

As an apparently successful experiment, several European cities are doing away with traffic signs in hopes that drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists will interact in a free and humane way.

November 27, 2006 - SPIEGEL Magazine

New Rules May Allow Sunday Shopping On Champs-Élysées

Rules may soon be changing along the Champs-Élysées in Paris, allowing more shops to open for business on Sundays -- a day the country traditionally sets aside for rest.

November 27, 2006 - International Herald Tribune

Friday Funny: Sheep Protest Against Urban Sprawl

Farmers in Spain led hundreds of sheep down city streets to protest urban encroachment on farm lands and livestock trails.

November 24, 2006 - CNN

Where Have All The Traffic Signs Gone?

Planners in Europe are experimenting with removing traffic signs to encourage human interaction between motorists and cyclists and pedestrians.

November 19, 2006 - Spiegel Online

Congestion Pricing Returning To Stockholm

The capital's congestion charge scheme is being reintroduced with a proposal to appease drivers by using the proceeds for highway improvements.

November 18, 2006 - The Local

Saving Bucharest's 'Little Paris'

The decision by local officials to demolish one of the oldest buildings in the city, which serves as a clinic, has brought civic groups together to protest the insensitivity towards the city's historic heritage.

November 16, 2006 - INTBAU News

Paris Wants To Woo The 'Creative Class'

Once a magnet for writers, painters and other artistic types, Paris' Mayor wants the city to attract the laptop toting young bohemians that represent the new 'creative class'.

November 15, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Geneva's 9-Point Plan To Stay The Global Governance Capital

A group of urban experts has released a plan to keep Geneva at the forefront of international affairs and governance. Included in the plan is a call to ensure the city's compatibility with technology and information media.

November 14, 2006 - SwissInfo

In Denmark, Linking Beauty And Rail In New Design

These renderings for a new project in Denmark show how towers and open space combine to promote mass transit and reject old-fashioned ideas about monolithic design.

November 13, 2006 - Streetsblog

Extended Hours Does Little For Swiss Shopping Center

Depsite a change in local laws that let businesses stay open 90 minutes later, few businesses in the northwestern Swiss city of Basel have extended hours, worrying officials that their idea of creating the "largest shopping center in the region" has fallen short.

November 12, 2006 - Basler Zeitung

Rail Agreement Links Asia To Europe

An agreement has been reached between 18 countries to move forward on a long-sought plan to connect railways between Singapore and Turkey, creating a vast network expected to boost the economies of currently remote areas.

November 12, 2006 - Armenia Liberty

Romanian Infrastructure Catches Up

In Romania, construction of infrastructure was formerly a slow and inefficient process that left many in the country without access to basic needs like water and roads. But now, construction has picked up and the country's services have vastly improved.

November 12, 2006 - The Diplomat Bucharest

Resuscitating Iceland's Capital

New development plans for the city center of the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik have city officials and residents looking optimistically towards a rebirth of a declining local economy.

November 12, 2006 - The Reykjavik Grapevine

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.