"I have a confession to make: I have no idea what placemaking is"
Discussions about planning and urbanism are awash with talk of "placemaking" but the term remains strangely and troublingly opaque, writes Reinier de Graaf. More
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Dezeen Debate features Silicon Valley investors' "nostalgic" city concept
The latest edition of our Dezeen Debate newsletter features a concept for a new city in California unveiled by a group of Silicon Valley investors. Subscribe to Dezeen Debate now. More
Silicon Valley investors unveil controversial concept for new city in California
Controversial plans to transform over 50,000 acres of farmland into a city in Solano county, northern California, have been unveiled by a group of investors named Flannery Associates. More
Studio Gang and SCAPE add timber canopy to "inclusive" park on Memphis waterfront
US firms Studio Gang and SCAPE have created a public park alongside the Mississippi River in Memphis that features a mass-timber shade structure and an installation by artist Theaster Gates. More
Dezeen Agenda
Dezeen Agenda
Dezeen Agenda features a playground by NBBJ and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
The latest edition of our weekly Dezeen Agenda newsletter features a playground in LA designed by architecture studio NBBJ in collaboration with Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Subscribe to Dezeen Agenda now. More
Montalba Architects adds Japanese garden to California Nobu
Local studio Montalba Architects has created a lush Japanese-inspired garden patio for diners at a Nobu hotel and restaurant in Silicon Valley. More
NBBJ and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers create LA playground
American architecture studio NBBJ has collaborated with American musician Flea to design a playground on a public housing complex in Los Angeles. More
Seven cities set in dystopian futures by architecture students
Dezeen School Shows: we've rounded up seven student projects featured in Dezeen School Shows that explore urbanism and architecture in speculative futures. More
Agency—Agency and SHEEEP design stormwater gardens underneath Toronto expressway
New York-based studio Agency—Agency has collaborated with local studio SHEEEP to design stormwater gardens underneath an expressway in Toronto. More
James Corner landscapes "magical lookout" at Battersea Power Station
Landscape studio James Corner Field Operations has created a roof garden with 23,000 plants and 55 trees on top of a Foster + Partners-designed residential building alongside Battersea Power Station in London. More
It is architect's role "to point out health and safety risks" says commenter
In this week's comments update, readers are discussing an opinion piece by Matt Shaw that reflects on what went wrong with Thomas Heatherwick's Vessel, two years after it was closed following a series of suicides. More
Mix Architecture refreshes Nanjing Combat Machinery Factory with red brick extensions
Chinese studio Mix Architecture has turned a disused 1950s factory into an updated office and public park in Nanjing, China. More
"The Vessel shows us how bad the vampiric ultra-wealthy are at making public space"
It's now two years since Thomas Heatherwick's Vessel was closed following a spate of suicides. As the ill-fated project gathers dust, Matt Shaw reflects on what went wrong. More
Eight projects with integrated cooling techniques that beat the heat
Passive cooling techniques in architecture, reflective paint and water-filled windows are featured among the methods that designers and architects are using to mitigate heat in energy-efficient ways. More
"Cities are branding themselves into predictably unique products"
Market forces are pushing cities towards a shallow and Instagram-friendly impression of authenticity that makes everywhere feel the same, writes David A Banks. More
Saudi Arabia seeking loan of $2.7 billion to fund Neom
Saudi Arabia is reportedly looking to raise a loan of 10 billion riyals to develop its controversial Neom region that includes the 170-mile-long city, The Line. More
Red Dunes Playtopia features "cave-like" play spaces and undulating hills
Sloping red dunes and cavernous spaces feature in this playground, which local studio XISUI Design has created in a residential area in Guangzhou, China. More
GAF applies solar-reflective coating to mitigate Los Angeles heat islands
American roofing firm GAF has completed the first phase of a public-private initiative that seeks to mitigate urban heat in Los Angeles through solar-reflective coating. More
Paris reinstates skyscraper ban following Tour Triangle backlash
Paris has reimposed a height limit for new buildings in the city, following the controversial construction of Tour Triangle tower designed by Swiss studio Herzog & de Meuron. More
Asif Khan and Theaster Gates unveil Liverpool Docks transformation plans
A pyramidal pavilion for contemplation is set to be introduced to the Liverpool waterfront as part of a transformation project led by architect Asif Khan and artist Theaster Gates. More