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How has Covid-19 made us rethink our cities?

Pandemic lockdowns have changed the way that we view the city. Cécile Poullain argues that the time is right to rediscover the concept of ‘The..

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LEGO Can Build a Northern Overground

A lot of people have been left disappointed by scaling back of HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail. But Ian Wray argues that, in the UK,..
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What does the feminist city look like?

The Academy of Urbanism Young Urbanists hosted an event on 15th September looking at the feminist city. Young Urbanist Kirsty Watt, organiser and chair, reflects..
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Politics and Pitched Roofs

From its beginnings the Academy of Urbanism has been embroiled in the debate about traditional design, indeed in the early years a well-know architect resigned..
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A Refugee Tale

As the world faces another refugee crisis Andreas Markides reflects on a time when he too was a refugee.
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Congress: Responsive Cities

This year’s Congress may have been virtual but an innovative approach to the study tours meant that you felt you were almost there. Heather Claridge..
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Why Don’t We Just Listen to What Cities Say?

Chuck Wolfe asks in his new book Sustaining a City’s Culture and Character, what do these terms mean and why do we care about them so much?
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Opinion

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My Own View is: HAPPINESS

As urbanists we believe that good quality urban environments make us happy. But, asks Andreas Markides, what do we mean by happiness? At several of..
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What is it about architects and urbanism?

Combining two pieces originally written for Building Design Magazine David Rudlin tries to explain to architects the difference between architecture and urban design. No so..
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SOUNDING-OFF: Cow Pie

Having travelled from Perth to visit the V&A in Dundee the question C. Gull poses this month is ‘Why choose a Japanese architect to design..
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News & Reviews

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REVIEW: Common Good: Design and Sustainability in the North

On the 10 November, to coincide with COP26, a new group of northern urbanists held their first event; Design and Sustainability in the North. Vicky..
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REVIEW: Triumph of the City, Edward Glaeser

Ten Years after its original publication Nicholas Falk rereads this hugely influential book following a visit to Coventry, finding much wisdom but remaining frustrated that..
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REVIEW: Eyesore to Icon: Stonebow House, York

Sensitive architecture and a careful urbanism has transformed a brutalist eyesore. John Mullin reviews the rehabilitation Stonebow House in York. When I went to live..
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Essential Urban Design: A handbook for Architects, designers and planners

David Rudlin reviews Rob Cowan’s new book that sets out to create, in words and distinctive hand drawings by himself and others, the definitive text..
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Message from the Chair

The Academy of Urbanism’s Chair Andrew Burrell on recent developments within the Academy As many of you will know it was my privilege to assume..
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Space Syntax Training

My Place

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Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur, India

Shruti Hemani, Urban Designer & Illustrator I qualified as an architect in India and trained as an urban designer at Nottingham University. I worked with..
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Villa Onala, Lagos, Nigeria

Tosin Oshinowo, Architect I was born in 1980 in Ibadan in Nigeria and spent part of my childhood in Lagos. It was happy and uneventful..
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Prince’s Exchange, Leeds

Simon Smithson, Architect I guess you could call me a Leeds lad as I was born at Jimmie’s, went to Leeds Grammar School, and did..
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My Shed, Lingerfield, N.Yorks

Alistair Kaye, Proprietor autoVIP I’m a real townie, all the way from industrial Bradford in the days when it still had industries. I’ve spent most..
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108 Fine Art, Harrogate

Andrew Stewart, Gallery Owner I live in a town house with my family and art.  The house has had a colourful life. Allegedly built for the..
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Holland Park, London

Kathryn Firth, Urbanist Since arriving in London 23 years ago I have felt incredibly privileged to be within a 7-minute walk of an extraordinarily rich..
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Southchurch Hall, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

Ann Limond, Secretary I came to England from Calcutta as a small child and grew up in Southend, a seaside town full of fun places..
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Portsoy, Aberdeenshire

Willie Watt, Architect I am an architect and urban designer, a past President of the RIAS and winner of the Sir Robert Lorimer prize for..
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The Yogi Pool, River Spey

Andrew Burrell: Architect and Property Developer Having spent my working life as a developer dealing with the complexities, nuances and finances of urban form, my..
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Gertrude Jekyll’s Garden, Lindisfarne Castle

 Helen Castle: Publishing Director at RIBA Positioned on a basalt outcrop, Lindisfarne Castle is the focal point of Holy Island. When the tide is out and..
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Galashiels, Scottish Borders

Susie Stirling: Civic Designer Liverpool is where I was born. Earliest memories stem from visiting the iconic waterfront, with The Three Graces as an architectural..
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Tron Square, Edinburgh

Richard Murphy OBE: Architect Two things influenced me to be an architect – one was that my family moved to a new development in the..
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