Cities

MIT Media Lab spinout Ori is developing smart robotic furniture that transforms into a bedroom, working or storage area, or large closet — or slides back against the wall — to optimize space in small apartments.

Robotic interiors

Smart furniture transforms spaces in tiny apartments into bedrooms, work spaces, or closets.

January 31, 2018

Brent D. Ryan, an associate professor of urban design and public policy in MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning, has detailed his perspective on urban design in a new book, “The Largest Art: A Measured Manifesto for a Plural Urbanism,” recently published by the MIT Press.

A manifesto for designing cities

MIT professor’s new book calls for a more pluralistic, democratic vision of the city.

January 4, 2018

A new digital tool developed by an MIT team lets people design alterations to transit networks and estimate the resulting improvements, based on existing data from urban transit systems.

3 Questions: Chris Zegras on designing your city’s transit system

MIT-designed tool lets people test realistic changes to local transit networks.

December 8, 2017

J-PAL North America is inviting governments and health care organizations across the United States to apply for support evaluating innovative approaches to address critical social challenges.

J-PAL North America calls for proposals from governments and health care organizations

MIT research center aims to support state and local governments and health care organizations in testing innovative approaches to address pressing policy challenges.

December 6, 2017

Adèle Naudé Santos and Débora Mesa's plan for low-income housing in Colombia includes a market square within the proposed live-work neighborhood.

MIT architects, planners honored for sustainable design

MIT faculty and alumni projects are recognized for excellence in the international LafargeHolcim Awards competition.

December 1, 2017

MIT Associate Provost Richard Lester, left, during the launch of the China Future City Lab, Friday, November 17, 2017. Lester welcomed executives from the lab's group of founding partners at a formal signing ceremony.

MIT launches China Future City Lab

New urban studies program to spur research and innovation in China.

November 20, 2017

Researchers looked at 11 metro areas — including Atlanta, Georgia, pictured — to examine how much local emissions-reductions programs can help combat climate change. They found that there is likely to be greater impact in the area of residential energy rather than transportation, especially given local hurdles against more compact development.

How cities can fight climate change most effectively

Energy-efficient construction is key to lowering urban emissions, study finds.

October 26, 2017

"Strange Weather," appearing at the 2018 Seoul Biennale, focuses on artificial distinctions between interior and exterior.

Innovative MIT projects at the Seoul Biennale

Projects by School of Architecture and Planning faculty, researchers, and alumni explore the exhibition's theme of “Imminent Commons.”

October 26, 2017

CityScope Andorra is a 3-D augmented-reality platform that visualizes complex urban data on a small-scale model of the country. Users can interactively test scenarios on the model, such as how many parks to include in a city, adjust heights of buildings, calculate the optimal mix of residential and commercial real estate, and whether to allow private vehicles or only car-share services. The impact...

Small European nation becomes a “living lab” for urban innovation researchers

Andorra funds MIT Media Lab technologies that, in turn, help improve the nation’s cities.

October 13, 2017

Pictured from left: Siqi Zheng, Samuel Tak Lee Associate Professor and faculty director of China Future City Lab; Bin Yang, vice president and provost of Tsinghua University; Martin Schmidt, MIT provost; Richard Lester, MIT associate provost for international activities; Zhengzhen Tan, executive director of China Future City Lab

MIT and Tsinghua University sign urban innovation agreement

Future City Innovation Connector to support projects addressing rapid growth of Chinese cities.

September 19, 2017

Texas Army National Guardsmen help Houston residents affected by flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey board a military vehicle. "With an event like this," says MIT associate professor of urban planning Brent Ryan, "it becomes viscerally evident which residential areas are absolutely not safe from even moderate flooding."

3 Questions: Brent Ryan on Hurricane Harvey’s implications for U.S. cities

Stranded in Houston by hurricane floodwaters, an MIT associate professor sees firsthand how design and policy decisions affected the storm’s impact.

September 1, 2017

A new study finds that industrial parks in China have led to the growth of nearby “edge cities” that are hubs of diverse economic activity and residential life. The researchers looked at 110 industrial parks near eight cities in China, including the city of Wuhan, pictured here.

Industrial “edge cities” have helped China grow

Study: Commercial parks have boosted growth, created new urban centers.

August 17, 2017

“We are overusing natural resources. Why not be efficient with the climate?” Alpha Yacob Arsano says. “It is a misconception that building energy-efficient structures is more expensive. In the long-term it is much cheaper.”

Lessons from pre-industrial climate control

Graduate student Alpha Yacob Arsano wants to bring natural ventilation to the forefront of modern architecture.

July 24, 2017

MIT’s Solve initiative seeks solutions to its 2017 global challenges

Applications for problem-solvers interested in four new areas are due August 1.

July 19, 2017

Jessica Myers MCP ’17 completed a graduate thesis in the form of a podcast series entitled “Here There Be Dragons.”

Jessica Myers: Liberté, Égalité, Sécurité

A novel thesis in the form of a podcast gives voice to issues of security and identity in New York and Paris.

July 10, 2017

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