The Urbanist
Monocle’s guide to better cities. Explore urban innovation, cutting-edge infrastructure, and compact living with insights from planners, architects, and city leaders.
Latest Episodes
Tall Stories 533: How Tokyo transitioned from the Tower to the Skytree
Gendel Gento discusses the history of iconic broadcasting towers in the Japanese capital and how the Tokyo Skytree came to be.
Bringing urban accessibility and enjoyment to the deaf community
We speak to DeafCity Hub’s founder Amanprit Arnold to learn how differently cities are experienced by the deaf community. Then Omnigym’s Kirsti Laasio discusses fitness accessibility for all, including the homeless.
Tall Stories 532: New York’s revived coastal focus at the restored Rockaway Ocean Club
Ed Stocker takes us to a restored beach club on the Queens coastline which brings a refreshed focus to New York’s oceanside assets.
Nadim Karam on the healing power of public art
Beiruti artist Nadim Karam joins us to discuss how art can be restorative to a city. We also speak to two members of the team behind the new Shenzhen Natural History Museum and preview the agenda for Comotion LA 2026.
Tall Stories 531: How Ascensor Concepción helps Valparaiso reach new heights
Jane Chambers visits Valparaiso’s oldest funicular to experience how this feat of engineering is still an important part of daily life.
If cities can’t take the heat, they need to rethink their design
We discuss how design can make urban centres more liveable amid rising temperatures, looking at the best examples from Rome to Dubai.
Tall Stories 530: The unique Soviet design behind Estonia’s Saare KEK building
Petri Burtsoff takes us to a rare piece of experimental, woman-led 1980’s Soviet design off the coast of Estonia.
Livex Abu Dhabi: Meet the former mayors
In our second episode from the Livex livability exhibition in Abu Dhabi, we hear from former mayors who helped to make their cities more livable. Plus: designing for wellness.
Tall Stories 529: Montreal’s Golden Square Mile
Paul Logothetis tells us the history of a section of central Montreal that manages to straddle the line between high class and hip.
Livex Abu Dhabi: Liveable and loveable cities
In our first of two episodes from the Livex liveability exhibition in Abu Dhabi, we hear from some exciting guests aiming to build cities that serve their people best.
