Landscape Architecture

Design Competition for Bordeaux Puts Nature First

As the city of Bordeaux, France, makes plans to move up the list of major European cities, it's calling on a multidisciplinary design competition for ways to revitalize its city from the top down by integrating "natural areas."

August 30, 2012 - The Design Observer Group

Year's Best in Landscape Architecture Announced

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has just announced the winners of its 2012 Professional and Student Awards.

August 28, 2012 - American Society Of Landscape Architects

Refugees Find Sanctuary in Urban Gardening

Melanie Eversley writes on the healing power of urban gardens and farms for refugees new to the U.S. who are looking for a taste of home.

August 28, 2012 - USA Today

New York Fails to Document Parks Inequality

A law passed unanimously by New York's City Council just four years ago requiring the Department of Parks and Recreation to document "how much money was flowing into different parks across the city" is being neglected, reveals Jacob Hodes.

August 28, 2012 - The New York Times

New Initiative Seeks to Address L.A. Parks Disparity

Last week, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa launched the city's "50 Parks Initiative," a public-private partnership that plans to add over 170 acres of new park space throughout the city's "park-poor population-dense" neighborhoods.

August 27, 2012 - Streetsblog LA

The Downside of the High Line

Yes, there are critics of the High Line, and this is a particularly strident one. Accusing the park not only of gentrification of Manhattan's West Chelsea, Jeremiah Moss attributes the High Line's popularity to transforming NYC into Disney World.

August 27, 2012 - The New York Times - Opinion

Finding Mayor Bloomberg's Fingerprints on a Transformed New York

As the end of the Bloomberg Era in New York draws to a close, The Architect's Newspaper goes agency by agency exploring how the Mayor has steered the forces of NYC real estate to meet goals for a cleaner, greener, and more equitable city.

August 26, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Making the Grass Greener, By Any Means Necessary

With drought conditions not seen in the U.S. since the middle of the last century, the battle to maintain the lushest lawn in the neighborhood has heated up. The Dirt bloggers report on the growing trend of lawn painting.

August 23, 2012 - THE DIRT

Can Bid for NID Save Hudson River Park

Running out of options to help pay for spiraling maintenance costs at the park that runs along Manhattan's western waterfront, Friends of Hudson River Park (FOHRP) have begun floating the idea of establishing a Neighborhood Improvement District.

August 20, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

If You Can't Stand the Heat....Stay Out of Phoenix

Already the hottest major American city, Peter O'Dowd describes how planners in Phoenix are preparing for the increased sizzle brought on by global warming.

August 17, 2012 - NPR

Green Streets: Even Better Than Advertised

According to a new research study out of the UK, green streets are much more effective at cutting pollution than previously thought.

August 16, 2012 - THE DIRT

Philadelphia's New Plaza Serves as Welcome Mat to the City

Located adjacent to the nation's 3rd busiest train station, Philly's new multi-use plaza - dubbed The Porch - provides a welcoming entryway to the city and a model for a "lighter, quicker, cheaper" approach to urban improvements.

August 10, 2012 - Switchboard

What Montreal Has to Teach us About Great Urbanism

Old urbanism holds countless lessons on satisfying livability. Montréal shares some of its insights in this photo blog by Hazel Borys.

August 8, 2012 - PlaceShakers

Manhattan Plans to Expand its Waterfront Renaissance

Not to be outdone by its neighboring boroughs across the East River, Manhattan is hoping to embark on an upgrade to its eastern waterfront. Tyler Silvestro has the details.

August 7, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

New Research Suggests Immersive Urban Parks Work Best

Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city in your neighborhood park? For a true mental vacation, head for the park with the densest vegetation, writes Eric Jaffe.

August 5, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Brooklyn Looks Gift House in the Mouth

Brooklyn Bridge Park's privately funded field house proposal, complete with Olympic-class velodrome, faces criticism over its size, effects on the surrounding neighborhood, and arguments over open space versus space for sports facilities.

August 5, 2012 - The New York Times

Chicago Produces First Parklets

As they wait for construction materials to arrive, the race is on to see which of Chicago's two permitted parklets, which the CDOT calls "People Spots," will be the city's first to be completed.

August 5, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Can the Los Angeles River Reclaim a Starring Role?

From its mountain tributaries, to the San Fernando Valley, through Downtown, and across the basin into the Pacific Ocean, Christian MilNeil tells the story behind the ecological and recreation rehabilitation of the Los Angeles River.

August 3, 2012 - Grist

Updated Designs Depict High Line's Grand Finale

New renderings unveiled this week at a meeting to solicit community input show what designers James Corner Field Operations, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Piet Oudolf have planned for the third and final section of the High Line.

August 2, 2012 - High Line Blog

Uncovering the History Behind Our Own Homes

Is your home historic? The Atlantic Cities challenges its readers to look at the history behind their own homes, providing a list of 10 things one can do to learn something new about the place we spend most of our time.

August 2, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

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.