Monocle 24: The Urbanist

We ask why leaders often flirt with the idea of changing their country’s capital and what it means if those plans go ahead.

This week we head to the alleyways of Shibuya in Japan’s capital to learn how small coincidences can make seemingly impenetrable cities feel a little more welcoming.

They’re not for everyone but the best small cities can have life-enhancing advantages. Living in them isn’t only about space, comfort and affordability – but a more community-minded feel too.

This week Monocle’s Carlota Rebelo takes us to the neighbourhood of Silver Lake in Los Angeles to share the story of an unassuming city icon: a rotating sign outside a foot clinic.

This week Monocle’s Carlota Rebelo takes us to the neighbourhood of Silver Lake in Los Angeles to share the story of an unassuming city icon: a rotating sign outside a foot clinic.

How does the design of a transit map help to define a city? Our host Andrew Tuck is joined by three experts and enthusiasts in the field to discuss provenance and progression in the way we chart our transport lines – from London’s Tube to New York’s subway.

We visit HoHo Wien – one of the world’s tallest wooden skyscrapers. Towering 84 metres above northeast Vienna, this new wooden structure is being hailed as a “lighthouse project” of sustainable living.

We take a whirlwind trip around the world before returning home to London in our look back at the best of our Tall Stories series in 2019.

Monocle’s Andrew Tuck runs through some of the highlights of 2019 on The Urbanist, including the thoughts of Los Angeles’ chief sustainability officer, a tour of the city of Cayenne and a discussion with architect Alfredo Brillembourg.

Technology plays a huge role in our relationship with cities: from simple things such as being able to pay for your subway ride with your phone to more serious efforts such as using drones to help keep protests peaceful.