In a comparative study of English towns, one small village with a compact and walkable design has been shown to seem much larger to pedestrians than a comparable area in a big city -- mainly because there is more to see there.
Portmeirion, Wales, is regarded in England as one of the country's most beautiful villages. It is now also being recognized for its near-illusory effect of seeming much larger than it actually is. Many in the architectural community are looking to Portmeirion's "fractal" design as the template for new village design.
"Architect Dr. Andrew Crompton from the University of Manchester asked architecture students to walk 500 metre along Oxford Road in Manchester and in Portmeirion from a Nelson statue to an arched gate."
"The average Manchester estimate for distance walked was 804 metres."
"In Portmeirion it was 1,497 metres - three times the actual distance."
"He added, 'It would seem that vastly more information is absorbed during a walk in Portmeirion than it is in Manchester.' "
" 'That should be of interest to urban designers whom I believe should create complicated, fractal environments like Portmeirion.' "
FULL STORY: Portmeirion's big success in space travel

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems
SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope
Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects
The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service