Most of us are urbanites, new UN study
A town in the Faroe Islands. Rural, but pushing on urban, finds new UN study. Most of the world isn't as remote and disconnected as you'd think
urban planning
Surprising Reasons Why Cities Need More Shade
Urban dwellers need more shade. A recent Israeli report explains why.
Saudi city goes underground to avert vehicular traffic
Is there anything worse than being in a hot city with cars idling, kicking up heat and pollution? We don’t think so, and apparently Erick van Egeraat agrees. The city of Unaizah has approved Egeraat’s plans to build a massive ring road around the city, as well as an underground street.
Dubai’s new air conditioned city to woo the wealthy elite
Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai will soon play host to the world’s largest shopping mall – the gargantuan Mall of the World. Comprised of 48 million square feet of over-the-top retail, residential, and even medical services, the covered pedestrian city is expected to attract some 180 million visitors a year. I shudder at the thought.
Green up or ship out – Saudi clamps down on construction industry
Saudi Arabia has announced that the construction industry has five years to “green” up their business. Amid a massive construction boom, the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) has decreed that all companies must reduce their air, water and noise pollution in keeping with regulations approved in 2008.
Chinese investors to build a mini Dubai in Kenya
The Kenyan government is reportedly paving the way for China to build a new city just outside of the capital. Some 100 Chinese investors aim to build roughly 20 skyscrapers in the enclave, which is expected to become a shopping destination for products from China and other countries.
An urban park that embraces its desert environment
How many times have you seen a big old patch of lawn in the middle of Abu Dhabi and cringed?
Dubai unveils lamp-shaped ‘Aladdin City’ towers
Three lamp-shaped towers make up the new Aladdin City that is being constructed in Dubai as part of an effort to boost the city’s profile ahead of the 2020 World Expo. I wonder what the genie thinks?
Cyclists “go Dutch” and 100+ historic bikes in Israel this week
Nobody knows more about bicycles than the Dutch, but Israelis will have a chance to glean some design and urban planning wisdom from the waterlogged nation next week at the “Going Dutch” conference established by their Prime Minister and (the much more fit) Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Casablanca’s ‘Gardens of Anfa’ are wrapped in bougainvilleas and jasmine
Maison Edouard François designed a colorful new mixed-used residential master plan for Casablanca, a cosmopolitan Moroccan city made famous by a movie with the same name.
Offshore crescent-shaped moons and modular land buildings for futuristic metropolis
Luca Curci architects have designed a concept for a futuristic metropolis in the United Arab Emirates that is comprised of modular “organic” buildings on land and offshore crescent-shaped “moons.”
Qatar Emir Selects Arched Design ‘Vaulted Spaces’ for Doha Metro
As Qatar prepares for the 2022 World Cup amid bribery allegations and gross human rights violations, the world is watching every move. Which may explain why the Emir controls every major and minor decision – including the new Doha metro design.
The Lagoons – Another Enormous Waterfront Development for Dubai
Dubai is getting another enormous development, except this time, Emaar Properties and Dubai Holding are pitching The Lagoons as an entrepreneurial and cultural hub for tomorrow’s youth.
On Planning Crowded Cairo with Dr. Abdulrahman Makhlouf (Interview)
In the new Portal 9, the first Arabic-English journal about the city, the founder of Abu Dhabi’s urban planning department talks with editor Todd Reisz about planning crowded Cairo, working with Sheikh Zayed and practicing in mid-century Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Bulldozers Raze Ancient Urban Farm in Turkey
The Yedikule neighborhood of Istanbul is on edge as bulldozers recently razed two gardens that have been cultivated for the last 1,500 years, The Atlantic Cities reports. This is taking place in tandem with the ongoing Gezi Park saga despite a court’s ruling that the latter should not be cleared to make way for a shopping […]