How can nature be more an intergral part of architecture?
"We pay almost no attention to the complex and subtle ways in which buildings and nature can relate to each other. We have all but written nature out of urban design; we have turned it into an afterthought. And it isn't even an afterthought in most urban architecture. It just isn't there. We save nature for the country, where we indulge it to excess, and then we forget all about it in the city...Why are there not more collaborations with landscape architects? Landscape, after all, is also the crafting of space and the making of form. But most of the time landscape architects arrive on the scene after all architectural decisions have been made, relegated to the tasks of either embellishing what is already there or working with pieces of land that are separate and distinct from the building and considered outside the realm of the architecture."
Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan
FULL STORY: Collaborating With Nature

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Greening Oakland’s School Grounds
With help from community partners like the Trust for Public Land, Oakland Unified School District is turning barren, asphalt-covered schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that support outdoor learning, play, and student well-being.

California Governor Suspends CEQA Reviews for Utilities in Fire Areas
Utility restoration efforts in areas affected by the January wildfires in Los Angeles will be exempt from environmental regulations to speed up the rebuilding of essential infrastructure.

Native American Communities Prepare to Lead on Environmental Stewardship
In the face of federal threats to public lands and conservation efforts, indigenous groups continue to model nature-centered conservation efforts.
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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.
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