Urbanism
Page 62
City slickers
The measure of a city is its everyday wonders, not just grand projects. From punctual transport to well-designed schools, here’s our list of the top 25 urban elements that make a city great.
Drugs, guns and nice sofas
In Herat, elaborate palaces are being built by businessmen who have made fortunes from post-war opportunities. A mix of foreign influences, the houses have created a new school of design: Narcotecture.
Build me Hong Kong
To counter competition from China, South Korea plans to build new cities to rival Hong Kong and Singapore as hubs for hi-tech services and tourism. But can the ambitious nation pull it off?
Two wheels good
Some 58 per cent of all journeys in Groningen are on a bicycle. Its 180,000 residents own 300,000 bikes. The Dutch city is a manifesto for getting people in the saddle.
Observation
With some cities it’s love at first sight, with others it’s third time lucky. In the case of me and Seoul, it’s more of the latter.
Schanzenviertel and Karolinenviertel
Once home to immigrants, students and punks, Hamburg’s Schanzen and Karolinen districts are now morphing into a destination of new business start-ups and buzzy bars and shops.
