URBLOG

What's it like to live or work in a Le Corbusier building?

The pearl of the Punjab

Chandigarh, built on the baking plains of northern India, is one of Le Corbusier's greatest achievements. But does the city deserve World Heritage status?‘Le Corbusier designed Chandigarh for people: there are cycle tracks for the poor and playgrounds for the children. The architecture is really neat and clean, with green space and buildings in balance. People from outside do not think it is India.'   

Bunting on civility

From buses to blogs, a pathological individualism is poisoning public life

  Our shared spaces have become a bear pit. This ever-crumbling civility risks our wellbeing and points to a bleak future.

The regeneration game

Why cities' plans for renewal often sound strangely familiar

'Why do city councils have the same ideas about how to grow? One reason is that they have the same people advising them. '

'...it would be good if the government put some power back into the hands of the regeneratees themselves. '

Lord's debate Olympic legacy 17th January 2008

'Things imposed on people by central bodies or external agencies do not work, nor do the more cosmetic kinds of regeneration initiatives that we sometimes find. Local participation and ownership, the right kind of infrastructure, a good quality built environment, the best kind of public space; all of these help to build sustainable communities.' Bishop of Newcastle

Sayonara, salaryman

From The Economist print edition

Once the cornerstone of the economy, the paternalistic relationship between Japan's companies and their salaried employees is crumbling.

Delhi cleans up for Commonwealth games

Randeep Ramesh in The Guardian
Businesses, farmers and drivers in India enraged by plans for 'world-class' city by 2010 .

".....the games are just under three years away, India's capital is being reshaped as the city prepares for the biggest sporting event in its history. The Delhi government has begun putting up posters saying the capital will be transformed into a "world-class city" by the 2010 deadline....campaigners say that the rush to modernise is bringing "unsuitable" development to many parts of the capital. "

Drinking places: where people drink and why

JRF compares urban and rural drinking

A new report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation investigates where people drink alcohol and why in two contrasting communities, one urban and one rural.

"It is clear then that drinkatainment is seen by local authorities as an opportunity to pursue economic development and urban regeneration. A perceived cost-benefi t analysis of alcohol-led regeneration clearly comes down to economic and cultural activity versus concerns over perceived levels of increased violence and disorder."

UK cities in the world: 2008 and beyond

Article from Centre for Cities

"Our cities are plugged into the global economy – and are shaped by events in urban places across the planet.  [...] UK cities will be shaped by other cities’ problems: notably conflict and climate change. Cities in the developing world – marked by poverty and inequality – are becoming key sites of religious and ideological conflict. UK cities’ security cordons will tighten in response. But at the same time, global conflicts are increasing the numbers of migrants to the UK, particularly to London and our biggest cities. "