Can swimmability be an indicator for good quality of life and a healthy city? We report from the inaugural Swimmable Cities Summit in Rotterdam to hear about those working to improve urban waterways.

Can swimmability be an indicator for good quality of life and a healthy city? We report from the inaugural Swimmable Cities Summit in Rotterdam to hear about those working to improve urban waterways.

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. 

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.

The Urbanist

Swimmable Cities Summit: Urban waterways as an indicator for quality of life

We meet Dr Gary Yohe, a Nobel Peace prize recipient for his work on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Then: we discover the stories behind Britain’s cooling towers, a brutalist structure that once dominated our skylines.

We meet Dr Gary Yohe, a Nobel Peace prize recipient for his work on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Then: we discover the stories behind Britain&rsquo;s cooling towers, a brutalist structure that once dominated our skylines.

What energy should we take into 2026 in order to face climate change head on?

Tomás Pinheiro explains how an act of urban erasure in the Thai capital stole the charm from one of the city’s iconic structures.

Tom&aacute;s Pinheiro explains how an act of urban erasure in the Thai capital stole the charm from one of the city&rsquo;s iconic structures.

Tall Stories 490: How renovations stripped Bangkok’s Robot Building of its personality

Monocle’s editor in chief, Andrew Tuck, rounds up his favourite episodes of ‘Tall Stories’ from 2025.

Monocle&rsquo;s editor in chief, Andrew Tuck, rounds up his favourite episodes of &lsquo;Tall Stories&rsquo; from 2025.

Swimmable Cities Summit: Urban waterways as an indicator for quality of life

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