The Urbanist

Hugo Valenti, Managing Director of the Smart City Expo, discusses why Barcelona excels in urban innovation and citizen engagement. Maimouna Binti Maud Sharif, former mayor of Kuala Lumpur, shares her insights on repurposing heritage buildings for community revitalization. Futurist Nikki Greenberg emphasizes designing cities for future generations with emerging technologies, while Tina Backstrom from LA highlights the importance of biking infrastructure and AI in post-disaster recovery. Together, they unravel the challenges and creative solutions shaping tomorrow's cities.

Ivan Carvalho, a writer and storyteller specializing in architectural history, shares the fascinating tale of Frank Lloyd Wright's Marin County Civic Center. He explains why officials rejected plans to bulldoze the landscape, inviting Wright to create a harmonious design with nature. Discover how graceful arches connect the site, allowing cars to glide beneath. Carvalho highlights the vibrant color palette chosen posthumously and links the center's futuristic vibe to George Lucas's Star Wars inspirations, showcasing its lasting cultural significance.

Liz Diller, co-founder of Diller, Scofidio + Renfro and the visionary behind New York's High Line, shares insights on the project's ongoing evolution and its impact on the surrounding neighborhood since COVID. She recounts the challenges of staging cultural events, like an opera on the High Line, and hints at future expansions. Sheena Rossiter discusses urban growth challenges in Canadian cities, highlighting the need for denser, mixed-use developments and effective policy changes to accommodate rising populations.

Noor Amylia Hilda, a passionate journalist, takes us on a nostalgic journey through Abu Eli, a beloved pub in Beirut with a revolutionary past. She highlights its unique decor filled with portraits of revolutionaries and explains how the venue transformed from a comrades' hangout to a must-visit spot. The eclectic crowd enjoys the house's quirky rules and warm hospitality, including sticking banknotes on the walls. Noor reflects on the bar's rich music heritage and its role as a refuge for younger generations seeking connection and community amidst the chaos.

Monocle’s man in Milan, Ed Stocker, decamps to Turin to bring us a collection of conversations from Utopian Hours, the festival dedicated to city making. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We explore Wilton Park, a stunning 600,000 sq ft development by IPUT, Dublin’s leading property-investment company. Chief executive Niall Gaffney gives us a tour and talks about quality of life in urban settings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charlotte McDonald-Gibson uncovers the modern story behind the US capital’s most infamous building.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join renowned artist Olafur Eliasson, known for his thought-provoking public artworks, and Stella Iannou, the Artistic Director of Sculpture in the City. They discuss how public art transforms our relationship with urban spaces. Eliasson reveals his approach to designing inclusive installations that foster emotional connections. Iannou highlights the importance of making financial districts feel more welcoming. Together, they explore the civic value of art, its role in climate advocacy, and initiatives that engage communities in creative dialogue.

Alexei Korolyov takes us to the former site of one of Budapest’s largest flour mills, which has been reborn as a lively cultural hub.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discover how good design can help the nursing shortage in the United States, learn about Helsinki’s annual herring market and hear how Norway is developing urban robot farming.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.