Why Every Planner Should Watch Ikiru by Akira Kurosawa

(This piece includes major spoilers for the film’s plot.) Many urban planners, myself included, put Japanese planning on a pedestal of sorts. Japan is known for its urbanist achievements from efficient high-speed trains to delightful mixed-use neighborhoods of alleyways with tiny stores below compact residences (illegal to build in most of the United States, never… Read more Why Every Planner Should Watch Ikiru by Akira Kurosawa

Tactical Urbanism: tangible and innovative ways to spark urban joy

Seattle Design Festival by Trevor Dykstra (flickr) Cities across the world use tactical urbanism to create engaging and active streetscapes. Reclaiming streets for pedestrians; activating parks and plazas with sculptures, seating, and plants; and making room for urban play — these are just some ways that urban design can spark joy. These action-oriented approaches are… Read more Tactical Urbanism: tangible and innovative ways to spark urban joy

An Objective Analysis of Urban Corruption in India – Working With, Not Around

While evaluating corruption in India, one only focuses on the ways in which it inhibits growth. However, when looking at corruption at the local levels (local administration, city governments, municipal corporations, local development authorities), there should be more nuance and variation in one’s evaluation. By bringing together insights from Yuen Yuen Ang’s ‘China’s Gilded Age:… Read more An Objective Analysis of Urban Corruption in India – Working With, Not Around

WHAT WE’RE READING – FEBRUARY 20

Five articles curated by the Wagner Planner staff: Here’s what the Wagner Planner staff is reading. This week: Efforts to reconnect sections of Buffalo divided by a highway, fare reductions for low-income transit riders in Boston, reflecting on the impact of a sustainable public housing development in the Bronx, preparing NYC public schools for climate… Read more WHAT WE’RE READING – FEBRUARY 20