With an influential audience of city mayors, urban planners and architects, this is Monocle’s guide to making better cities, be it new technology, state-of-the-art subways or compact apartments. Nominee in the Smartest Podcast category of the 2019 British Podcast awards.
https://monocle.com/radio/shows/the-urbanist
Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 18 days 10 hours 6 minutes
Green spaces
Parks and gardens can provide a much needed escape from the day-to-day rush in a city. This week we discover London’s newest community garden south of the river, head to the outskirts of Vienna for a members-only green living experience and catch up with the Nature Society of Singapore.
Tall Stories 27: Belgrade’s Genex Tower
It could be one of the city’s icons but Belgrade’s Western Gate is not quite as it should be. Also known as the Genex Tower, this relic of the Tito era is the first notable structure seen by many visitors on their way into Serbia’s capital.
Historic preservation, cycling and 100 Resilient Cities
We talk to Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, about the quest to revitalise historic buildings in the US. Plus: architecture’s influence on the way we learn, cycling in Hong Kong and part two of our interview with Michael Berkowitz, president of 100 Resilient Cities.
Tall Stories 26: Florence’s Le Murate
Just a short walk from Florence’s historical centre you’ll find a structure that hosts a cultural centre alongside shops and a housing complex. But once upon a time this building was walled up from the bustling life of the city. We take a look at the fascinating history of Le Murate.
Abandoned buildings
Some buildings are completely derelict and inspire their fair share of urban myths while plans to repurpose long-abandoned structures mean that they’re often left in limbo. Plus: we chat to Michael Berkowitz, president of 100 Resilient Cities.
Tall Stories 25: Singapore’s Parkview Square
Between Singapore’s financial district and cosmopolitan Rochor you’ll see one of the city’s most eccentric buildings: Parkview Square. Or, as it is commonly known, the Batman Building.
Bicycles: hop on
As more and more people choose to hop on a bike rather than a crammed tram, we examine the cycle revolution that is just around the corner. We see how bike tours are improving one of Johannesburg’s poorest communities, check out cycling in traffic-prone Cairo and discuss how bicycles are used in celebrations in Vancouver. Plus: a 3,500km journey across Europe.
Tall Stories 24: Sint-Annatunnel
The river Schelde is the lifeblood of Antwerp but with no bridges crossing it there’s only one way to get to the other side by foot. We take a stroll down the Sint-Annatunnel.
Beyazit, biennales and bikes
We catch up with the Lebanese pavilion at the London Design Biennale, check out the newly renovated Beyazit State Library in Istanbul and explore Moscow’s disappearing kiosks. Plus: the latest trends in urban cycling from Eurobike 2016.
Tall Stories 23: Mount Pleasant Post Office
An underground railway, a billion letters and a good few inches of postman’s leg: we gasp at the utilitarian beauty of London’s Mount Pleasant Post Office.