News
Exhibit Columbus, biennial fest of modern architecture, returns this fall
The list of firms participating in placemaking projects shows a focus on community engagement.
Western Europe’s tallest building planned for tiny rural town
A 1,049-foot building will rise in a Danish town of 7,000 people.
Why high rents are a health care problem
A new survey joins a growing body of research showing that rent-burdened Americans pay for high housing costs with worse health outcomes.
Zillow can help you find a home, and now, a mortgage
It’s Zillow’s latest move toward becoming a one-stop shop for all things real estate.
Online furniture giant Wayfair to open its first physical store this fall
The company recently announced that it would be opening its first brick-and-mortar retail store in Natick, Massachusetts, this fall.
Catastrophic Midwest flooding highlights risks of new climate reality
No question the current floods were unexpected, but the infrastructure and insurance policies that protect us need an update.
HUD sues Facebook for discrimination in housing ads
The tech company settled similar cases with the ACLU just last week.
Venturi Scott Brown-designed Abrams House faces demolition
The postmodern house, recently denied historic status by the Pittsburgh City Council, is now threatened by new owners’ demolition plans.
The multi-user hologram table is here and it will cost you
The table’s powerful graphics system make it ideal for viewing high-detail city maps and architectural renders.
Muji hotel in Tokyo is now taking reservations
Guests can expect plenty of the pared-back aesthetic Muji is known for, including rooms decked out in Muji furniture and accessories.
Dine underwater at this new Snøhetta-designed restaurant
Located at the southernmost point of the Norwegian coastline, the restaurant will function both as a dining destination and a research center for marine life.
How Seiichi Miyake’s tactile blocks changed cities
Miyake invented tactile blocks that made cities more accessible and easier to navigate.
Teens are striking for climate action in 100 U.S. cities today—will mayors listen?
Students are walking out of school as part of a coordinated global strike.
Elaine Chao’s hands-off approach to transportation is endangering lives
By loosening future regulations while ignoring present-day problems, Chao’s inaction is making U.S. transportation more deadly.
Trump administration proposes dramatic cuts to public housing—again
It’s the fourth time the Trump administration has taken aim at housing subsidies.
America’s most-visited national parks, by the numbers
Over 318 million people visited a national park last year, and 28 parks set a new record for visitation.
Oregon just enacted statewide rent control—and it could be a model for the country
"It’s the most immediate and effective way to stop displacement and gentrification at scale."
Our best reads on trailblazing women designers
Here are the women shaping the built environment, their professions, and their industries.
Shipping container farms expanding to grocery stores around the country
The shipping container farming company partnered with a major distributor to bring locally grown food to cities nationwide.
Airbnb buys HotelTonight to build ‘end-to-end travel platform’
Analysts believe the company needs to expand and diversify before going public.
Disney’s new Star Wars theme park opening dates announced
Fans of the iconic Star Wars franchise have been waiting with bated breath for more news about their fantasy turned reality: a Star Wars-themed park.
Residents of super Instagrammable Paris street want influencers out
This week, the residents asked the city to close the street to visitors during the evenings and on weekends.
Ben Carson to leave HUD after 2020 election
Carson has been one of the few mainstays in the Trump administration.
2019 Pritzker Prize goes to Arata Isozaki
Credited as a connector between the East and the West, the Japanese architect has completed over 100 projects around the world.
What Lyft’s IPO means for cities
Today, Lyft bested Uber as the first ride-hailing app to go public. We break down what this means for U.S. cities.
FedEx to test its own delivery bot later this year
How many more bots can a sidewalk handle? FedEx is betting at least one more.
Idaho ski area closes because of too much snow
It might be hard to imagine for people who love skiing, but an Idaho ski resort has so much snow it’s been forced to close operations
Could a car-free, Dutch-style city work in Colorado?
The proposed city would house 50,000 people and boast rock walls, ponds, and ski parks.
Remembering Karl Lagerfeld and his Chanel pavilion collab with Zaha Hadid
In the late 2000s, the world’s best-known fashion designer collaborated with the late, great Zaha Hadid.
Why everyone is talking about towels
All of Twitter is asking: How many towels does a household need?
What the federal budget deal means for affordable housing
Rental-assistance programs and public housing see increased funding.
New York’s rejection of Amazon could be a turning point for corporate welfare
Amazon’s HQ2 debacle is the latest sign that the public has gotten wise to corporate subsidies.
Ikea’s jumping into furniture rentals. Here’s what that might look like
Using furniture rental startup Feather as a proxy shows the premium you pay for flexibility.
Will the Green New Deal usher in a new era of real infrastructure investment?
And can plans to rebuild, and turn to sustainable technologies, gain traction before the 2020 election?
Foxconn factory uncertainty puts spotlight on cities’ corporate incentives
Wisconsin promised more than $4 billion in tax breaks and investments for the project, which is now in flux.
Amazon reports growth for Alexa and Prime, plus more warehouse investments
The Alexa network is expanding, Prime members are getting faster service, and warehouse investment may ramp up.
The lowest-paid federal workers aren’t getting shutdown pay. How will they pay the rent?
Members of Congress, unions make push for equitable treatment and lost wages after shutdown.
$9.5M space hotel includes tiny sleeping pods for two
Houston-based technology start up Orion Span is currently working on Aurora Station, a fully modular space station that will function as an exclusive hotel.
Florence Knoll Bassett, an icon of modernism, dies at 101
The woman behind Knoll leaves a large legacy of brilliant design.