The sharing economy is a promising concept, but it’s still far from perfect. People use platforms such as Uber, Lyft or AirBnb to supplement their incomes, socialize and access various resources without having to spend large sums at a time to acquire them. But researchers Solomon Greene and John McGinty wrote a paper where they argue …
Vilnius (Lithuania) has the cleanest air among urban agglomerations in Europe, but it is also one of the most motorized cities in the world, along with Athens (Greece) and Los Angeles (US) – see the top 10 motorized cities here. It seems unlikely for these two facts to be true in the same city, as …
As cities become denser they also need to become more effective and liveable. Open data can be a great starting point for many actions that a city may take to improve services and living conditions for its citizens. Below are some policy areas where open data can be of great help for authorities and people. …
China has made remarkable advancements in many aspects of development (civil engineering, industry, urbanization, etc.), but landscape architecture can certainly be seen as the most outstanding of all. Here are ten examples of projects where sustainability, functionality, creativity and concern for the environment all come together. 1. Zhengzhou Vanke Central Plaza, by Locus Associates, Zhengzhou …
As technology and infrastructure improved, people forgot about the rivers flowing in their cities. Lately, 10 cities have been reconnecting with their rivers. Since the industrial revolution cities have been designed to take over nature, but now planners are pushing to reintegrate nature into the urban landscape. Rivers are one part of this movement, with some …
When discussing smart cities, a structural question has been creating intense debate among experts – should a smart city be compact or allow ‘urban sprawl’, outward expansion into surrounding rural areas? Many argue that urban sprawl is a dangerous process because it takes over valuable farmland, at a time when food production is already not …
‘Inside Out’ is a global participatory art project ‘with the potential to save the world’. Inspired by creator JR’s large‐format street “pastings”, the project gives everyone the opportunity to share their large-scale portrait and make a statement about the things they care about. It is a global platform for people to share their untold stories …
You might be using your laptop, phone or dearest tablet to read this article. Today, tech gazettes are everywhere, and without them we all feel empty. But these things break, or we quickly move on to better ones even if they’re still working. Due to rapid technological development, higher incomes and demand in all aspects …
We are seeing the use of solar energy increasing every year, at the expense of coal which is slowly, but surely being replaced – according to Spencer Dale, BP chief economist, it doubles its capacity every 20 months. How can solar technologies be made more attractive to businesses, institutions and, most importantly, regular citizens? One …
Famous properties such as the Waldorf Astoria, Grand Hyatt, Loews Regency and the Peninsula are among 17 hotels in New York that have joined the NYC Carbon Challenge through which they commit to becoming greener, together with other buildings like hospitals, universities and multifamily residences. The 17 hotels contain more than 11,000 guest rooms, and …