Podcast

The Urbanist

From Monocle Arts, Design, Places & Travel, Society & Culture

With an influential audience of city mayors, urban planners and architects, this is Monocle’s guide to making better cities, be it new technology, state-of-the-art subways or compact apartments. Nominee in the Smartest Podcast category of the 2019 British Podcast awards.

Places & Travel chart
#144
Episodes
105
Releases
Twice a week
Typical length
26 min
On air since
2025
Latest episode
1 day ago

Episodes

105 episodes, newest first

  1. Tall Stories 533: How Tokyo transitioned from the Tower to the Skytree

    Show notes

    Gendel Gento discusses the history of iconic broadcasting towers in the Japanese capital and how the Tokyo Skytree came to be.

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    6 min
  2. Bringing urban accessibility and enjoyment to the deaf community

    Show notes

    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.

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min
  3. Tall Stories 532: New York's revived coastal focus at the restored Rockaway Ocean Club

    Show notes

    Ed Stocker takes us to a restored beach club on the Queens coastline which brings a refreshed focus to New York’s oceanside assets.

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    7 min
  4. Nadim Karam on the healing power of public art

    Show notes

    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.

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    35 min
  5. Tall Stories 531: How Ascensor Concepción helps Valparaiso reach new heights

    Show notes

    Jane Chambers visits Valparaiso’s oldest funicular to experience how this feat of engineering is still an important part of daily life.

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    5 min
  6. If cities can’t take the heat, they need to rethink their design

    Show notes

    We discuss how design can make urban centres more liveable amid rising temperatures, looking at the best examples from Rome to Dubai.

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    33 min
  7. Tall Stories 530: The unique Soviet design behind Estonia’s Saare KEK building

    Show notes

    Petri Burtsoff takes us to a rare piece of experimental, woman-led 1980’s Soviet design off the coast of Estonia.

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    5 min
  8. Livex Abu Dhabi: Meet the former mayors

    Show notes

    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.

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    27 min
  9. Tall Stories 529: Montreal’s Golden Square Mile

    Show notes

    Paul Logothetis tells us the history of a section of central Montreal that manages to straddle the line between high class and hip.

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    8 min
  10. Livex Abu Dhabi: Liveable and loveable cities

    Show notes

    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.

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min
  11. Tall Stories 528: The world’s largest heat storage facility in Vantaa

    Show notes

    Wif Stenger takes us underground in the Finnish city of Vantaa to explore a district heating plan of world-beating proportions.

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    6 min
  12. Studio by IPUT special: How food and beverage can help a neighbourhood thrive

    Show notes

    In the second of two special episodes in partnership with Studio by IPUT, Carlota Rebelo heads to Ireland to explore how well-run cafes, artisanal bakeries and a chef’s studio are shaping the Dublin of tomorrow.

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 min
  13. How Kuwait City’s overlooked objects contribute to its urban character

    Show notes

    We visit an exhibition in Dubai from Kuwaiti designer Hamad Almuzaini that explores how overlooked items can characterise a city. Plus: The Roofless Truth about homelessness. And: plant adoption at the Barbican Conservatory.

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min
  14. Tall Stories 527: Thrills and chills in Munich’s Eisbach

    Show notes

    Valerie Hamilton takes us on a wild ride through one of the world’s largest urban parks for a Munich rite of passage.

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    5 min
  15. Studio by IPUT Real Estate special: Instilling emotion into workplaces through good hospitality

    Show notes

    In the first of two special episodes in partnership with Studio by IPUT Real Estate, we convene a discussion with its chief executive, Niall Gaffney, and the founder of design firm Gorgeous Group, Robbie Bargh.

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min
  16. Designing One London, a new skyscraper for the UK’s capital

    Show notes

    We speak to the architect and developer behind a new skyscraper planned for the City of London. Then we hear what Lisbon and Maputo – two cities with a shared language and culture – can learn from each other.

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min
  17. Tall Stories 526: Mother Nature on display at Apple Park

    Show notes

    Ivan Carvalho takes us for a tour inside a tech-focused campus where greenery is also given its fair share of attention.

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    5 min
  18. Toponymic planning: Manchesterism and the Toronto Model

    Show notes

    From Manchester championing the decentralisation of design expertise to Toronto’s technique for getting more out of transit-oriented developments, we explore two planning concepts named after their home cities.

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    28 min
  19. Tall Stories 525: Toronto’s eye-catching ‘Global Convenience’

    Show notes

    Tomos Lewis takes us to a seemingly out-of-place public art installation currently floating on Lake Ontario.

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    9 min
  20. How the City Rail Link can rewrite Auckland’s future

    Show notes

    We convene a roundtable discussion with Gosha Haley, Ludo Campbell-Reid and Gyles Bendall on the future of Auckland, as the metropolis prepares for a new era of mobility with the City Rail Link.

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    27 min