Landscape Architecture

The Secrets Behind the High Line

In a lengthy interview with ASLA's blog, The Dirt, Robert Hammond, Co-Founder of the High Line, details the birth, life, and lessons of the phenomenally successful park.

February 10, 2012 - THE DIRT

Green Sponge Will Clean Contaminants Entering NYC Waterway

Matt Sledge profiles the work of a landscape architect who has designed an attractive and innovative system for keeping contaminants out of one of New York's most polluted waterways.

February 10, 2012 - Huffington Post

The Burden of Frederick Law Olmsted

Mark Hough laments the chronic, debilitating inferiority complex afflicting Landscape Architects and the crutch that Frederick Law Olmsted provides.

February 8, 2012 - THE DIRT

Is the High Line Gay?

Erik Piepenburg speak with Friends of the High Line co-founder Robert Hammond about the celebrated park's connections to gay culture in New York City.

February 6, 2012 - The New York Times

An Injection of Urbanism in the Land of Sprawl

Anthony Flint reports on the Buffalo Bayou restoration project in Houston, where a remarkably green sensibility has infused the capital of fossil fuels.

February 4, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Boston's Emerald Necklace Waits for its Saviour

As urban parks across the country are being created and refurbished thanks in large part to private philanthropy (e.g. the High Line and Millennium Park), Charles Birnbaum asks who will come to the rescue of Boston's famed Emerald Necklace.

February 4, 2012 - Huffington Post

Is One of New York's Most Successful Parks Heading for a Reckoning?

Charles V. Bagli and Lisa W. Foderaro report on the successes and challenges facing Hudson River Park, which is now running short on money for routine maintenance, and was supposed to be the model for New York City parks to come.

January 30, 2012 - The New York Times

Reinventing St. Petersburg's Waterfront

Suzanne LaBarre has the details on Michael Maltzan and Tom Leader Studio's competition winning entry to reinvent the Florida city's outdated waterfront.

January 29, 2012 - Fast Company Co.Design

Landscapes That Fool You

The Dirt profiles three recent projects that play with the ideas of landscape, nature, and the eye of the beholder.

January 22, 2012 - THE DIRT

Baltimore Bets on Placemaking

Investment in improving public spaces seen as key to keeping and attracting businesses and residents in Baltimore.

January 16, 2012 - The Baltimore Sun

L.A. River: From Afterthought to Asset

With strong advocates in Washington and in City Hall, planning continues for an ambitious multi-billion dollar effort to overhaul the Los Angeles River and its relationship to the city.

January 11, 2012 - Planning

Taking Parking Lots Seriously, as Public Spaces

With perhaps as many as 2 billion parking spaces in the US, planners and architects should "take seriously" the parking lot as an actual, useful public space.

January 7, 2012 - The New York Times

Why Your City's Urban Canopy May Be Failing

Trees are an increasingly important part of the urban infrastructure. However, a lack a awareness about how to plant and nurture large trees in urban environments dooms many trees to lackluster performance and a short life.

January 4, 2012 - The Globe and Mail

Now Unoccupied, LA City Hall Lawn to Get Made Over

There's no budget for anything over-the-top, but it is an opportunity to bring in drought-resistant landscaping. The Department of Recreation and Parks is evaluating ideas.

January 3, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

2012's Big Urban Projects

Will Doig takes us through some of the biggest projects to look out for across the nation this year, proving that cities are neither as cash-strapped nor as unimaginative as we perhaps thought.

January 2, 2012 - Salon

Spain's Six-Mile Madrid Rio Park Replaces Freeway

The NYT chief art critic, Michael Kimmelman, reviews Madrid's almost complete six-mile long park, Madrid Rio, that is having a transformative effect on the city. The park was made possible by the under-grounding of the M-30 ring road.

December 28, 2011 - The New York Times

Alleys for People?

Can the community of Long Beach, California use examples from much larger places like San Francisco and East Village to reclaim its extensive public alleys?

December 23, 2011 - Long Beach Post

The Largest Urban Park In America Coming To Chicago

A new park in Chicago aims to turn 140,000 acres of under-used and post industrial land along the Second City's southern rim into the country's largest urban park. Governor Pat Quinn hopes to add private funding to the $17m allotted by the state.

December 20, 2011 - The Atlantic

Security Perimeter Design Gets A Facelift

For almost a decade, security features have been added to the perimeters of important public buildings without regard for aesthetics, and now are being 'beautified,' across the nation.

December 19, 2011 - The Atlantic

Even or Odd? Rome Restricts Car Use

With pollution levels becoming dangerous in Rome, Italy, the government is taking a hard line on driving. In late November, only cars with even-numbered license plates were allowed to drive in the city, with odd plates the next.

December 12, 2011 - TheCityFix.com

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.

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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.

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