Monocle

The Urbanist

Society EN ↓ 138 episodes

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.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: monocle.com

Author

Monocle

Episodes

Cape Town’s liveability secrets – highlights from Monocle’s Quality of Life Conference 11.09.2025 27:58

What are Cape Town’s secrets to liveability, how do you act like a local in Barcelona and why is the UAE the best place to bring people together? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tall Stories 475: Bethlem Royal Hospital and Bethlem Museum of the Mind, London 08.09.2025 7:47

Monocle’s Sophie Monaghan-Coombs tells us the story of the world’s oldest psychiatric hospital, founded in the 13th century in London. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to find utopia? Try Columbia, Maryland 04.09.2025 31:38

We visit one of the US’s more successful attempts at a utopian society, as well as a mass-timber tower in Portland and the winners of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tall Stories 474: Fuggerei, Augsburg – Germany’s 88-cent rent 01.09.2025 5:22

Valerie Hamilton takes us to the world’s oldest public-housing complex, which has a very unique payment system. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crowdfunding community projects, personalised airport terminals and a Swiss folk festival 28.08.2025 33:42

We explore a crowdfunding platform for community projects, learn how to personalise the airport-retail experience and head to the Olten Chilbi folk festival in Switzerland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tall Stories 473: The Hope for Peace Monument, Beirut 25.08.2025 5:31

Noor Amylia Hilda takes us to the outskirts of Beirut to visit a monument for peace constructed from instruments of war. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How good design affects a city beyond the aesthetic – from coastal resilience to safer transit 21.08.2025 27:31

We unpack two stories exemplifying the principle that thoughtful design can have a deeper impact than just being pleasant to look at. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tall Stories 472: Al-Nawfara Coffee Shop, Damascus 18.08.2025 4:49

Liam Syed takes us to a café in Damascus that serves up regional favourites blended with stories of the Syrian capital’s past. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can the arts and culture sectors boost a city’s economy? 14.08.2025 29:02

We assess how cultural spaces, music venues and arts festivals can bring a city economic success. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tall Stories 471: Aalto Siilo – the ugliest building in Oulu 11.08.2025 5:25

Wif Stenger describes how the so-called “ugliest building in Oulu” can be redesigned to serve as a community treasure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earning the commute – how do we get city centres humming again? 07.08.2025 28:21

We chair a roundtable conversation on the future of the office and how good design can bring people back to our city centres. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tall Stories 470: Szimpla Kert, Budapest 04.08.2025 5:47

Geetanjali Krishna takes us to Budapest’s pioneering “ruin bar” to see how urban environments persevere through destruction. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How citizens stay informed: why strong city journalism matters 31.07.2025 36:53

We review some strong city journalism to see how these publications and productions are helping city residents to stay informed about the environments that they live, work and play in. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.