A successful city is a lot like a puzzle, but it shouldn’t feel that way for the people living in it. What if walking through a city felt more like an invitation, and less like a challenge? In this episode we explore how sensory design, social design, and inclusive design can transform urban environments into places that are easy to exist in.

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Special thanks to the following sources: 

American Psychological Association – Designing cities to improve mental health with Jenny Roe, PhD | Speaking of Psychology

Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health

Making cities mental health friendly for adolescents and young adults, Pamela Y. Collins. et al.

Project for Public Spaces

Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority – Designing our age-friendly city

Social Capital and the Built Environment: The Importance of Walkable Neighborhoods, Kevin M. Leyden

The Uses of Disorder – Richard Sennett        

UNICEF Child Friendly Cities

How do cities create stories that stick? In this episode, we explore the art of place branding and the power of iconic campaigns, like the legendary “I ❤️ NY” logo that transformed New York City’s image worldwide. We’ll consider the theory behind place branding and how cities use storytelling to shape their identities, attract visitors, and inspire local pride. From slogans to symbols, discover how branding shapes the way we see and experience places.

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Special thanks to the following sources:

Branding the City: The Democratic Legitimacy of a New Mode of Governance, Jasper Eshuis and Arthur Edwards

City Branding and the Link to Urban Planning: Theories, Practices, and Challenges, Ahmad Bonakdar and Ivonne Audirac

​​Crafting iconic city brands: Geerte Udo on shaping ‘I amsterdam’ - The Place Brand Observer

I Love NY Concept Sketch - Museum of Modern Art

Rescaling through city branding: The case of Amsterdam - The Conversation

The night New York saved itself from bankruptcy - Jeff Nussbaum for The New Yorker

5-Step approach to place branding: Guide for place developers and brand managers - The Place Brand Observer

Welcome back to the StreetsSmart podcast. In this episode, we dive into the complex world of safety in public spaces, exploring the application of the "eyes on the street" philosophy pioneered by urbanist Jane Jacobs. Public surveillance technology, and the ethics upholding these systems, increasingly raise questions about safety and privacy. Who is watching, and are they really keeping us safe? And can community-based vigilance be successful in a world dominated by social hierarchy? 

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Special thanks to the following sources:

The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Jane Jacobs

The Panopticon Writings, Jeremy Bentham

Beneath the Skyway - 99% Invisible

‘Wilding’ in the West Village: Queer Spaces, Racism and Jane Jacobs Hagiography, Johan Andersson

In the final episode of the StreetsSmart mini series, we explore the crucial role of urban systems in addressing climate change. From reimagining transportation systems and the possibilities of electrified fleets, to revolutionizing building practices with innovative design, cities are leading the charge towards a greener future. 

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Special thanks to the following sources:

Alternative Fuels Data Center: Emissions from Electric Vehicles - U.S. Department of Energy 

Cities and climate change - United Nations Environment Programme

CTA Facts at a Glance - Chicago Transit Authority 

How did Shenzhen, China Build World’s Largest Electric Bus Fleet? - Lu Lu, Lulu Xue and Weimin Zhou, World Resources Institute 

Inside A Sustainable Power Plant With A Ski Slope On Its Roof - Architectural Digest

Interview with Jaime Lerner- American Society of Landscape Architects

Net-Zero Emissions Operations by 2050, including a 65% reduction by 2030 - Office of the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer 

The Nexus of Energy Efficiency and Air Strategies for Buildings - Robert B. Weisenmiller PhD., Berkeley California-China Climate Institute 

Why Smart Urban Design May Save Us from Natural Disasters and Address Social Justice - American Society of Landscape Architects

Why The Built Environment? - Architecture 2030

80x50 Climate Action Plan - City and County of Denver

From optimizing traffic patterns to real-time energy management, global cities are using smart city technology to transform urban life. Yet as we embrace these innovations, questions of equity and privacy emerge. In this episode, StreetsSmart considers the emerging reality of smart cities, and the role of technology in shaping the urban experience.

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Special thanks to the following sources:

A City Is Not a Computer - Shannon Mattern, Places Journal 

Billionaire-planned smart cities in the US: What’s the latest? - Adina Solomon, Smart Cities Dive

Chattanooga Smart City Plan - City of Chattanooga

Smart Cities: Big Data, Civic Hackers, and the Quest for a New Utopia, by Anthony M. Townsend 

Smart Cities - National Geographic

Top 7 Smart Cities in the World in 2024 - Olivia Lai, Earth.Org

Uncovering the Early History of “Big Data” and the “Smart City” in Los Angeles - Mark Vallianatos, Boom California 

Urban Informatics and Big Data - Michael Batty, UCL Centre for Advanced Spatial Analytics

What is a Smart City? - Alice Gomstyn, Alexandra Jonker, IBM

Wired City, U.S.A. The Charms and Dangers of Two-Way TV - John Wicklein, The Atlantic

Urban planning concepts frequently find their way into the vernacular of the wider public. Some of these ideas, like the 15 minute city, have invited a host of criticism and celebration alike. Join StreetsSmart in exploring the potential of the 15-minute city, and some of the unique ways cities around the world have adopted it. 

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Special thanks to the following sources:

Complete Neighborhoods - Building a healthy and connected city - City of Portland 

Exploring the 15-Minute City Concept and its Potential for Communities of All Sizes - Kyle Funk and Julia Glickman, National League of Cities

It’s a global climate solution - if it can get past conspiracy theories and NIMBYs - Julia Simon, NPR

Superblock (Superilla) Barcelona - A city redefined - Ronika Postaria, Cities Forum

The 15-minute city - Carlos Moreno

Where the ‘15-Minute City’ Falls Short - Feargus O’Sullivan, Bloomberg

Why every city can benefit from a ‘15-minute city’ vision - C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group

Is the rising homogeneity of cities threatening our ability to develop place attachment? Explored through the lens of psychology and urban design, we unravel how our identities are intertwined with the places we inhabit, and how innovative projects have the potential to restore vibrant and meaningful cities.

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Special thanks to the following sources: 

Culdesac Tempe: A Car-Free Neighborhood

Finding Common Ground: The Importance of Place Attachment to Community Participation and Planning - Lynne C. Manzo and Douglas D. Perkins

Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design, by Charles Montgomery 

How we can design timeless cities for our collective future - Vishaan Chakrabarti 

Personality and geography: Introverts prefer mountains - Shigehiro Oishi, Thomas Talhelm, and Minha Lee. 

Place Attachment & Meaning - University of Washington Green Cities: Good Health

Why everyone thinks their city is the best - a look at place attachment - Kristin Wong, CNN

In the first episode of the StreetsSmart mini series, we navigate the intricate history of urban planning and uncover the hidden stories behind the cities we call home. Join StreetsSmart in an important conversation on the legibility of cities, exclusionary zoning practices, and the threat of urban sprawl.

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Special thanks to the following sources:

The Image of the City, by Kevin Lynch 

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America, by Richard Rothstein 

A Business Case for Dropping Planning Minimums - American Planning Association

A History of Zoning in Three Acts - Part 1 - Strong Towns 

Covenants - Innis Arden 

Plat of Zion - 99% Invisible

Redlining - Federal Reserve History

Suburban Sprawl: The Greatest Social Change of Post-World War II America - Anthony Gigantino, La Salle University

WA’s new ban on single-family zoning exempts some of Seattle’s wealthiest neighborhoods - The Seattle Times

What is Zoning Reform and Why Do We Need It? - American Planning Association