Laura Puttkamer

From November 4 to 8, the 12th World Urban Forum by UN Habitat took place in Cairo, Egypt. This important biannual conference brings ...

Discover insights from WUF12 in Cairo, where urban experts gathered to discuss sustainable cities, housing solutions, and the impact of local actions on community resilience.

Discover how recycled cement could help reduce carbon emissions in the construction industry. Learn about Cambridge University's groundbre...

Discover the winners of the European Prize for Urban Public Space 2024, celebrating innovative projects like Warsaw Uprising Hill Park and...

Cities worldwide are taking charge in implementing sustainable solutions. Laura Puttkamer reports from the Cities and Regions Summit UNEA-6.

Most urban construction over the next decades is going to take place in the Global South, often in the form of incremental upgrading or makeshift homes.

The title for the biggest city in the world is highly contested - is it Chongqing, Delhi, or maybe Jakarta? Find a top 10 list and more here.

New York City is sinking under weighting skyscrapers. Combinated with rising sea levels, a dangerous situation unfolds. How can it be fixed?

Mexico City is building a large solar park on top of its central supply centre. But where is the world's largest solar park?

Improving investments in net zero building through policy and financing. Insights from the 2022 climate conference, COP27. By Laura Puttkamer

Host of this year’s World Urban Forum, the Polish city has successfully transitioned from coal and steel industries to a modern city based on tech and culture.

Laura Puttkamer concludes URBANET’s spotlight on the eleventh session of the World Urban Forum in Katowice, Poland.

Green roofs are an undertapped tool in combatting urban heat islands, but all too often, the low-income communities who could benefit the most are left out. Here are lessons from one Dutch city on building rooftop spaces that benefit all.

At the COP26 event “Cities built4climate – Shaping the global transformation in construction" experts discussed climate-friendly built environments.

Can design drive positive change? This was the question at the core of London’s Design Biennale 2021. Laura Puttkamer was there and gives you the latest on the future of the urban designs that are here to change the world.

I wrote and edited this report for the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) in English, based on case study materials and interviews I conducted with project members in different countries.

This article was originally published on URBANET By Laura Puttkamer, Urban Journalist

Minecraft is one of the most popular computer games in the world. Like a virtual version of Lego, it invites players to create their own world of buildings, villages, and other spatial elements. Every month, more than 110 million people play Minecraft – but did you know that it can also be used for urban planning?

In February 2020, one of the most important events for urban planners took place: The 10th World Urban Forum. This year, it was Abu Dhabi’s turn to host the conference with an attendance of about 13,000 international guests and the theme “Cities of Opportunity: Connecting Culture and Innovation”. While one might argue that cities have more pressing issues to tackle these days, such as climate change, inequality, or immigration, there were some interesting lessons to be learned, Laura von Puttkamer reports from Abu Dhabi.

In neglected parts of Mexico City, the work of the NGO ENSAMBLE shows how investing into community and togetherness can change poor urban areas for the better, including all residents in a highly participative process.