Monocle 24: The Urbanist

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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.

Monocle


    • Jun 2, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 18m AVG DURATION
    • 651 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Monocle 24: The Urbanist podcast is a fascinating and informative resource for anyone interested in city planning and public transportation. With its diverse range of topics and global perspectives, it provides an engaging way to learn about cities around the world. Whether you're a student studying urbanism or simply someone curious about how cities work, this podcast is a valuable source of knowledge.

    One of the best aspects of The Urbanist podcast is the variety of topics covered. From discussions on innovative transportation solutions to interviews with architects and urban planners, there is always something new and interesting to learn. The reports from contributors around the world add depth and diversity to each episode, giving listeners a global perspective on urban issues. This not only broadens our understanding of different cities but also highlights the common challenges faced by urban areas worldwide.

    Another standout feature of this podcast is its ability to captivate listeners for extended periods of time. The stories presented are so engaging that it's easy to find yourself listening for hours on end. It offers a wealth of information that goes beyond surface-level analysis, delving into the complexities and nuances of city life. This depth makes it an excellent replacement for traditional morning radio shows, providing thought-provoking content that can stimulate further discussion and reflection.

    While The Urbanist podcast has many strengths, it does have one minor downside - the mid-episode commercial break. However, this interruption can be easily overlooked considering the high-quality content provided throughout the rest of the episode. Furthermore, advertising helps support the production costs associated with creating such a valuable resource free of charge.

    In conclusion, The Monocle 24: The Urbanist podcast is an essential listen for anyone interested in city planning and public transportation. Its range of topics, global perspectives, and captivating storytelling make it both informative and enjoyable. Whether you're studying urbanism or simply have a curiosity about cities around the world, this podcast offers valuable insights into the complex and ever-evolving world of urban life.



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    Latest episodes from Monocle 24: The Urbanist

    Tall Stories 461: Casa Vintilă Brătianu, Bucharest

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2025 5:15


    Elena Kuji Buteică guides us through Casa Vintilă Brătianu’s storied past and the careful restoration turning it into a space for community and public life in the heart of the Romanian capital.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Worker housing in Saudi Arabia, public art in Abu Dhabi and Corner Corner

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 34:38


    We recap the successes of the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial. Plus: worker housing in Saudi Arabia and a new urban-farming development in London’s Canada Water district. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 460: Waldorf Astoria, New York

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2025 7:27


    Sally Howard tells us the secrets behind a repolished jewel in Manhattan’s hospitality crown.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The V&A East Storehouse

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 27:18


    Born partly out of the necessity to store the V&A’s extensive collection, the V&A East Storehouse is already a curious asset in its own right. We uncover its design, construction and operation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 459: Robin Hood Gardens, London

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 9:08


    Sophie Monaghan-Coombs tells us how the new V&A East Storehouse is bringing the memory of brutalist London housing estate Robin Hood Gardens to life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Building better cities for children

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 33:50


    Carlota Rebelo reports from Bratislava for the second edition of the Start with Children summit, unpacking how child-friendly design can lead to better cities for all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 458: Wonder Cabinet, Bethlehem

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 9:02


    Liam Syed takes us to a cultural facility in the West Bank, which provides its users with an outlet for their cultural expression and helps to strengthen the area’s creative infrastructure.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Urban icons: Luis Barragán's Mexico City, Hästen 21 and the London Eye

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 32:46


    From a Mexican architect’s greatest structures to the famous London Eye, we explore the effect that iconic pieces of the built environment can have on their cities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 457: Biblioteca Pública Virgilio Barco, Bogotá

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 7:15


    Camille Rodríguez Montilla takes us to a masterfully designed public library in the heart of Colombia’s capital.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Chiefs – Jakarta 

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 30:17


    We recap some of the most exciting city-focused conversations from Monocle’s The Chiefs conference in Jakarta.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 456: Markterei, Vienna

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025 8:21


    Alexei Korolyov takes us to a redesigned hydraulics facility that is taking on a new life in the Austrian capital.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    austrian tall stories alexei korolyov
    Canada election: the city issues at stake

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 29:22


    As Canada heads to the polls, we take a look at how urbanism made its way onto the ballot, from the housing shortage and cities’ response to tariffs to plans for Toronto’s Downsview Airport.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 455: Dalhalla, Rättvik

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2025 7:13


    Francesca Gilks takes us to a Swedish open-air amphitheatre built in a former limestone quarry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    How can sports venues enhance our cities?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 29:35


    We delve into the power of sports to help propel the regeneration of an entire neighbourhood. We’ll explore how smart stadium design can help cities grow in a more sustainable way and hear from the architecture firm behind the world’s largest landscape-led project, Riyadh’s Sports Boulevard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 454: Matadero Madrid

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 3:52


    Carla Hyenne takes us to Matadero Madrid to see how some well-timed redevelopment nearby made it an even more attractive destination for visitors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Reusing waste heat, The British Library's solar project and India's stepwells

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 33:15


    What are some of the ways that heating the air and water in our buildings can be made greener? We consider innovative solutions from the capture and redistribution of a building’s warmth to a solar project in London that is decarbonising The British Library’s water-heating process. Plus: we visit one of India’s historic stepwells to see how the ancient structures could provide an answer to the country’s water-supply woes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 453: Patel Chowk Metro Station, New Delhi

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2025 5:49


    Geetanjali Krishna explores the exhibits at a unique station in the Indian capital, which aims to slow down hurried commuters and provide them with a chance for discovery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    New York: privatising housing co-ops, mapping congestion and the ‘City of Yes'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 33:12


    It’s all about New York this week: Jonathan Tarleton talks about his new book ‘Homes for Living’, which explores the privatisation of two housing co-ops; we look at traffic and downtown gridlock; and discover how the ‘City of Yes’ plan will bring more density to the city.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 452: Rideau Canal Skateway, Ottawa

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2025 6:39


    Paul Logothetis takes us to the world’s longest natural skating rink.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Live from Ned's Club in London

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 27:21


    Monocle’s editor in chief, Andrew Tuck, is joined on stage by Muyiwa Oki, the president of RIBA, alongside our executive producer, Carlota Rebelo, and design editor, Nic Monisse, to explore how thoughtful architecture, visionary developers and pioneering city-makers can redefine our cities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 451: Sun Valley Resort ski lift, Idaho

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2025 6:34


    Gregory Scruggs explains the story of an unlikely invention that changed the fortunes of ski towns worldwide.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Can San Francisco turn its downtown around?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 32:06


    We report from San Francisco as Monocle’s Christopher Lord speaks with some of the key players and devotees of the city’s downtown – an area that has most keenly felt the effects of the post-pandemic lull. The city’s mayor, as well as property developers and local business people, weigh in on the direction of travel they see for this gold-rush city known for its boom-and-bust nature.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 450: The Warburg Institute, London

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2025 7:00


    Sarah Grice explores the history and current day offerings of the Warburg Institute Library.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Mipim 2025: meet the mayors

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 37:48


    We are on the ground in Cannes for the global urban festival Mipim, where we speak with mayors from around the world who are looking to stoke interest in their cities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 449: Circo Voador, Rio de Janeiro

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2025 6:59


    Tomas Pinheiro tells us how concert venue Circo Voador became so intertwined with Brazilian music that it was named an intangible cultural heritage site.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Round megadevelopment in London and air pollution in Bangkok

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 30:46


    We explore The Round, a new almost 93,000 sq m landmark development in London, to hear how developers are putting community at its core. Plus: we’re in Bangkok to discover how the city is tackling its suffocating air pollution. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 448: Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2025 7:47


    Camille Rodríguez Montilla takes us to Universidad Central de Venezuela to see why it means so much to its students, alumni and the city as a whole.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Revisiting, reviewing and restoring the city

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 30:26


    We look back at snapshots of our cities as we speak to the man behind Milan’s Bosco Verticale a decade on from construction, revisit a collection of essays 14 years after they were written while strolling the streets of Toronto and see how the refurbishment of a traditional house in Old Delhi is giving a view into the city’s past.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 447: Kennedy Park, Lima

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 5:39


    Elna Schutz takes us to a park in Lima best known for its large number of well-cared-for resident cats.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Digital democracy and the new Riyadh Metro

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 29:54


    We explore how going digital can contribute to a thriving city democracy and improve other things such as climate resilience and urban loneliness. The CEO of digital community-engagement platform Go Vocal describes its benefit for communities, the developer behind Europe’s most digitally connected neighbourhood tells us how they did it and we stop by the new Riyadh Metro.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 446: Villa Rezek, Vienna

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2025 8:53


    Alexei Korolyov tells us about the refurbishment of one of Vienna’s most important modernist buildings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    villa tall stories alexei korolyov
    Developing London

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 30:32


    We take a look at three developments in the UK capital that will be worth a visit in the months to come. From a revitalised piece of industrial history to a colourful waterside park in a grey business district and the big tenants pitching up beside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 445: Maha Kumbh Mela, Prayagraj

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2025 6:58


    Geetanjali Krishna takes us to a temporary city on the banks of the Ganges river to investigate a large example of temporary urbanism brought about by a Hindu pilgrimage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Cultural city planning

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 29:43


    We explore how keeping culture in mind when planning our cities can have effects beyond just arts-related improvements. The people behind ‘The Routledge Handbook of Urban Cultural Planning’ tell us more. Plus: we visit a treasured museum in Lima and look ahead to some cultural institutions that are set to open in 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 444: Sacré-Cœur, Paris

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2025 4:49


    Carla Hyenne describes the history of Paris’s Sacré-Cœur basilica, which holds a history that many of those who visit the monument today might not be familiar with.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Los Angeles wildfires and the future of the city

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 33:40


    We discuss the environmental causes, political response and mobility fallout surrounding the Los Angeles wildfires. We examine some of the thousands of structures lost to this catastrophic blaze that tore through many of LA’s neighbourhoods and communities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 443: Helsinki's canopy kiosks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 4:18


    Petri Burtsoff visits his home city to see how it has revived its “canopy kiosks”, which have been a distinctive feature of the Finnish capital for a century.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The World Economic Forum: cities of tomorrow

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 34:10


    From creating more resilient cities to how architecture can lift a community, cities hold the key to meaningful change in the world. Monocle’s Carlota Rebelo reports from The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos to find out where cities are headed next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 442: 24 Sussex Drive, Ottawa

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 5:52


    Tomos Lewis ponders a potential spring clean of Canada’s official prime ministerial residence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    canada ottawa sussex drive tall stories tomos lewis
    Materials matter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 30:06


    How can the materials with which we choose to build affect the economics, sustainability and resilience of our built environment? We explore the material world through a recent title about available resources, an explainer on using soil for structures and a visit to the world’s leading trade fair for architecture, materials and systems.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 407: Daughters of the American Revolution HQ, Washington

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 6:41


    Charlotte McDonald-Gibson explores the largest women-owned piece of real estate in the US, which has played an important role in the history of the nation's capital. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tall Stories 441: Shuri Castle, Okinawa

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2025 7:14


    Tomás Pinheiro describes the recent renovation of one of Okinawa’s Unesco World Heritage Sites after a devastating fire in 2019, as well as the history of reconstructions that this castle has undergone. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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