The hottest Urbanism Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Well, We've Got a New Dumbest Article I've Ever Read

Exasperated Infrastructures • 12 implied HN points • 20 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Urbanism
  1. New Urbanism aims to create community-oriented spaces by promoting walkability and reducing car dependency. It wants to offer people choices in how they live, not just stick them in cars to get everywhere.
  2. The suburbs provide safety and an ideal home for families, but there are also options for urban living that can be affordable and community-focused. Both need to coexist to cater to different people's needs.
  3. Zoning laws and development policies must be reformed to make housing more affordable and accessible. This way, everyone can find a place that suits their lifestyle without facing unnecessary barriers.

Think the city is a museum? Wait until you hear about the suburbs

Urben Field Notes • 43 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Urbanism
  1. The housing crisis is not just in cities, but also in suburbs where banal cityscapes are treated as architectural gems.
  2. Historic preservation policies in expensive cities like New York often benefit elite areas while ignoring the suburbs and banal neighborhoods.
  3. Efforts to address housing shortages in major cities like New York require redeveloping existing structures and involving suburbs in housing solutions.

Cleveland's Loss, and Ours

Notes from a Small Press • 14 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Urbanism
  1. Richey Piiparinen was passionate about Cleveland and its community. He cared about urban development and enjoyed discussing these ideas with others.
  2. The importance of local connections is highlighted, showing how friendships can inspire new projects. Richey and friends worked together to improve their city.
  3. Richey's legacy reminds us of the value of creativity in places that might feel overlooked. His work showed that every city has stories worth sharing.

What Lies Beneath

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 59 implied HN points • 11 Nov 21
🎭️ Culture Urbanism
  1. There are coal cars from 1875 sitting at the bottom of Lake Washington. They sank during a storm and divers found them in the 1990s.
  2. Submerged forests in Lake Washington are remnants from an earthquake about 1,100 years ago. Some trees are still well-preserved under the water.
  3. Excavations for light rail in Seattle uncovered old items like shoes and bottles, showing the area's diverse history. These findings help us understand the past better.
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Issue 17: No great stagnation in cruise ships

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 12 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Urbanism
  1. Cruise ships show that new ideas and growth are still possible in design and urban living, even as some land technologies seem to stall.
  2. Madrid has successfully built its metro system much faster and cheaper than cities like London and New York by using smart planning and incentives for local leaders.
  3. Many animals, like horses and crabs, are essential for creating life-saving chemicals, reminding us that we still rely on nature, even as technology advances.

What the "Urban Tough Guy" Act is About

I Might Be Wrong • 10 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Urbanism
  1. Some people try to act tough in urban settings to impress others or seem interesting. They might feel insecure about their boring hometowns and want to create a different identity.
  2. The 'Urban Tough Guy' persona often comes from a desire to stand out in a world that seems more exciting than their own life. It's a way to cope with feelings of inadequacy.
  3. This attitude can lead to unrealistic expectations about urban life, making it seem like only the strong survive, when in reality, safety and community matter more.

Freewheeling Futures

Reboot • 15 implied HN points • 07 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Urbanism
  1. Autonomous vehicles should be deployed responsibly, with full participation of the public.
  2. Car-centric urbanism has negative impacts and it's crucial to prioritize public transportation and mixed-use urbanism.
  3. To ensure optimal benefit to society, emerging technologies like AVs should be governed accountably with input from residents and careful planning.

The Monocrisis

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 13 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Urbanism
  1. Housing is a critical issue that impacts every aspect of life in developed countries.
  2. The difficulty in building housing contributes to wealth inequality and racial segregation.
  3. Urban sprawl and car dependency have negative consequences on the environment and contribute to economic and social disparities.

Rabbit Holes 🕳️ #40

Creative Destruction • 7 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Urbanism
  1. The Age of Reorientation focuses on shifting our perceptions and imaginations to prefigure a better future.
  2. Earth-Centered Design calls for designing with nature in mind to promote sustainability and cooperation.
  3. Practicing Non-Duality involves recognizing the interconnectedness of self and the world to bring empathy and a sense of letting go.

Rabbit Holes 🕳️ #53

Creative Destruction • 5 implied HN points • 18 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Urbanism
  1. Spirituality can be a missing element in sustainability efforts, focusing on inner development rather than just external actions.
  2. Technology and convenience may create a feeling of disconnection and lack of control in our lives, rather than making things easier.
  3. Open-source urban design encourages flexible, adaptable, and nature-inspired city planning that involves the community in ongoing development.

Gia Biagi on the Past, Present, and Future of Transportation

Exasperated Infrastructures • 4 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Urbanism
  1. Gia Biagi emphasizes the importance of understanding the impact and responsibility of a transportation department on the city's infrastructure.
  2. Chicago's uniqueness lies in its historical urban planning foundations, its continuous lakefront paths, and its negotiation of its river system, alongside its persistent efforts to address issues of segregation and systemic racism.
  3. Improvements in transportation planning require a balance between system-level thinking and attention to one-foot level experiences, as well as a recognition and utilization of expertise at all levels and across different scales.

We Didn't Build This City

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 6 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Urbanism
  1. Cities are often built for and by men, leading to limitations on women's public participation.
  2. Zoning ordinances have historically been used to promote racial segregation and inequality in cities.
  3. Urban policy and city planning have a significant impact on societal equality and wealth distribution.

C.R.E.A.M

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 5 implied HN points • 22 Feb 23
💼 Business Urbanism
  1. Location choice for businesses is influenced by factors like market size, transportation costs, and differences in costs
  2. Cities experience agglomeration of economic activities due to labor market demand and specialization
  3. Urban development is constrained by limited urban land types and non-infinite demand for services

What we learned at the 11th Street Bridge Park

The New Urban Order • 0 implied HN points • 07 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Urbanism
  1. A group of subscribers recently met up for a tour and discussion about the DC Bridge Park, illustrating the joy of connecting with like-minded individuals passionate about cities and urban exploration.
  2. The experience of the meet-up was enjoyable and left the author eager to organize another subscriber gathering for the following month.
  3. The post offers a 7-day free trial to access more content from The New Urban Order, encouraging readers to explore further insights and discussions about urban environments.

Nate Sloan: Public-Private Partnerships for Mediate-Immediate Experiences

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Sep 21
🎭️ Culture Urbanism
  1. Advertisement experiences in skyscrapers are positioned as an escape from enclosed spaces like the home office.
  2. Architectural experiences like 'Vessel' and 'Summit OV' reflect the merging of public and private spaces, driven by market incentives and social media influence.
  3. The dynamic between public and private sectors in urban development highlights the shift towards commercial interests over public good, impacting the concept of public space.

Front-Facing Garages Can Be Great

Cornerstone • 0 implied HN points • 17 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Urbanism
  1. Front-facing garages in townhouse developments can create a sense of community and social interaction among neighbors.
  2. Front-facing garages can lead to more serendipitous interactions among residents, fostering strong neighborhood connections.
  3. Garages can serve multiple purposes beyond car storage, such as providing secure storage for bikes and enhancing neighborhood walkability.

Wasting Land is Bad, Actually

Cornerstone • 0 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Urbanism
  1. Opposition to new housing developments can contribute to housing shortages and urban sprawl
  2. Having a negative attitude towards new neighbors can lead to wasting land that could be used for housing
  3. Issues with land use and development often highlight deeper societal problems, such as class warfare and misanthropy

Minivan As Grand Safety Compromise

Cornerstone • 0 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🏝 Travel Urbanism
  1. Minivans are a great safety compromise for occupants, other vehicles, and pedestrians/cyclists due to their design features like low front for pedestrians and tall rear for occupants.
  2. Vehicle size and weight affect safety, with minivans offering a balance and protection, especially in collisions with other large vehicles like trucks.
  3. Limitations and trade-offs exist in automotive safety, emphasizing the importance of considering alternatives and continuous improvement.

The Inclusive City

Demodexio • 0 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Urbanism
  1. The built environment shapes politics, and politics shape architecture, although the changes are subtle.
  2. The needs of women and children were not considered in city designs, leading to significant daily challenges.
  3. Advocacy is important, but dedicated committees and structural changes are needed to address societal issues effectively.

VFYW: Breaking Bad Bunny

The Weekly Dish • 0 implied HN points • 31 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Urbanism
  1. The VFYW contest brings a global community of sleuths together to solve window-photo puzzles and share entertaining facts and reactions.
  2. The project produced a 200-page photo book now sold via print-on-demand at a relatively high price, whereas earlier bulk printing made copies much cheaper.
  3. Winners often crack the locations by spotting tiny visual clues—like license plates, hotel logos, tree types, and parking structures—and participants trade follow-ups, stories, and local knowledge.