Tag: Urbanism


Open Voices News Roundup: October 1

Every week, we bring you the latest news in placemaking, landscape architecture, the nature-mental health link, and much more. Check back every week for new roundups and items. The Mini Parks That Could Transform Los Angeles “A simple but radical idea is set to erode LA’s love affair with the car and reclaim some street…

Mayors Challenge: The Greening of New York City

Have you heard of the Mayors Challenge? It’s an initiative put forth by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, that’s a competition to identify bold ideas that solve major challenges and improve city life – and can spread to other cities. The grand prize winning city will receive a $5 million innovation prize; four runner-up cities will…

Open Voices News Roundup: September 24

Every week, we bring you the latest news in placemaking, landscape architecture, the nature-mental health link, and much more. Check back every week for new roundups and items. This week, creating your own healing garden; why low-income people need public spaces the most; and more….

Open Voices News Roundup: September 17

Every week, we bring you the latest news in placemaking, landscape architecture, the nature-mental health link, and much more. Check back every week for new roundups and items. This week, how sports teams are making cities greener, why the foreclosure crisis is affecting park systems in cities, and more….

Protecting Urban Ecosystems: An Interview with Timon McPhearson

Timon McPhearson came to our attention when we stumbled across his wonderful article for The Nature of Cities, about the important potential social and ecological benefits of vacant lots in cities. Turns out he’s a bit of an expert in the area — McPhearson is a professor of Urban Ecology at The New School’s Tishman…

Open Voices News Roundup: September 10

Every week, we bring you the latest news in placemaking, landscape architecture, the nature-mental health link, and much more. Check back every week for new roundups and items. This week: a roadmap for urban farming, what New York City looked like in 1609, and more….

Open Voices News Roundup: September 4

Every week, we bring you the latest news in placemaking, landscape architecture, the nature-mental health link, and much more. This week: the economics of environmental conservation; how some buildings can heal; and where urban trees really come from….

Recommended Reading: Corners of Green Serenity in Japan

From the New York Times comes a lovely article about “tsubo-niwa” — very small gardens that are popular in Japan, where urban apartments often can’t support a larger outdoors space. Though these gardens and green spots are quite petite — often no larger than the same area that would be covered by a king-sized mattress…

Open Voices News Roundup: August 27

Every week, we bring you the latest news in placemaking, landscape architecture, the nature-mental health link, and much more. In this week’s news, we talk about the urban garden as a crime fighter; how green streets cut pollution; how to involve children more in nature; and much more.

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Creating Urban Density With Reflective Spaces: A Q&A With Green Developer Jonathan Rose

Back when we were at the Greater & Greener Conference, we attended a panel by green real estate developer Jonathan Rose. Our ears perked up when he mentioned incorporating a labyrinth into one of his housing projects — as you might know about us, we love labyrinths and believe that quiet, nature-filled spaces in urban…

"Thank you for this tool I can share with my 7-year-old daughter, for this labyrinth makes meditation easy for the young to understand."

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