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Le Corbusier’s social housing was meant to be the dream. In a summer of extreme heat, it is a nightmare | Anna Richards
In Firminy, France, Le Corbusier's listed social housing tower reaches 40C internally during heatwaves, yet heritage protection rules prevent tenants from installing shutters or making cooling modifications. Two-thirds of the building's apartments are social housing, leaving low-income residents trapped in sweltering conditions with no legal remedy, caught between historic preservation requirements and basic liveability.
Can Development Reverse Pollinator Decline? Lessons from the World’s First Pollinator District
A community planning model called the Pollinator District framework aims to reverse pollinator decline by embedding habitat creation, native landscaping, sustainable design, research, and public education directly into real estate development. Proponents argue the approach demonstrates that urban growth need not harm bees, butterflies, and other critical species, but can actively support their recovery.
Flood deaths in West African cities raise fraught issue of slum evictions
Matched: climate
Deadly floods in West African cities are highlighting tensions around informal settlements built on flood-prone land. Poor urban planning and rapid population growth have pushed low-income residents into vulnerable areas. Authorities face difficult choices between protecting lives through evictions and displacing already-marginalized communities, with no clear consensus on how to manage the growing crisis.