Top 10 Urbanism Blogs

It is the beginning of 2008 and thus, time to review a few of our favorite sites as featured in our sidebars. Our first review centers around Urbanism blogs. The blogs are ranked in the order in which our editor finds them to be most relevant to the topic, by their visual appeal, and finally by the frequency in which they are updated. Of course this is a highly subjective selection and we welcome any comments or suggestions for blogs that we may not have featured here or elsewhere on our site.

01:: Where

“A blog about urban places, placemaking, and the concept of “place”.” Clearly one of the most comprehensive blogs regarding urbanism, the site features images, articles, reviews and a myriad of other writings pertaining to the subject. As the author indicates on the site’s homepage, “The professional planning and architecture communities are responsible for stewarding the most complicated — and, in terms of day-to-day impact — the most socially relevant area of the arts. But the importance of the work done in these fields is often overlooked by the public.”

02:: Plataforma Urbana

Chilean blog regarding urbanism with a South American focus. The blog is a highly organized, visually stunning with an emphasis on quality writing as well as imagery and supporting diagrams.

03:: Urbanity

Spanish blog featuring excellent photography, articles and presentations of both the built and un-built urban environment.

04:: varnelis.net|network culture

Recently revamped, this blog authored by Kazys Varnelis (Director of Network Architecture Lab, Columbia University) provides critical, in-depth analysis of issues both relating to and shaping today’s urbanism. The quality of the writing is among the best featured here.

05:: Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space

Produced by Washington, DC native Richard Layman the blog in the author’s words, “…focuses on place and placemaking and all that makes it work–historic preservation, urban design, transportation, asset-based community development, arts & cultural development, commercial district revitalization, tourism & destination development, and quality of life advocacy–along with doses of civic engagement and good governance watchdogging.” The site features articles on numerous happenings from both the DC metro area as well other urban regions in the United States.

06:: UNHOUSED

A blog devoted to exposing, exploring and providing solutions to many of the housing crises found around our planet. The breathtaking photographs found here are sure to provoke reactions that hopefully will lead to better living conditions for those affected. Alternatively, many interesting and thoughtful designs are showcased as solutions to the overall problem.

07:: blog like you give a damn

Official blog for Architecture for Humanity: Minnesota featuring excellent articles, photographs and news articles pertaining to their organization. A must read for those familar with this AFH and their works.

08:: Web Urbanist

A frequently visited site that features daily top photos, artworks, inventions, etc. that are both directly and indirectly related to urbanism. The tagline really says it all: urban design, culture, travel, architecture and alternative art.

09:: deputydog

Another mash-up style blog similar to Web Urbanist featuring photos, articles and “top” categories for your perusal and commentary.

10:: urban-ism

Urban-ism is a blog that not only features photographs, videos and articles on urbanism, but also gives architectural criticism on projects predominately found in Canada.


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