Overview

URBAN HUB is an interactive platform for people working on the future of cities and mobility.
We collect personal stories about urban landmarks and future ideas for the sustainable development of cities worldwide.

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Sustainability

Sustainability

Green vehicle fleets

03.07.2020

Companies with large vehicle fleets can make a substantial contribution to cleaner air – especially in cities – by investing in green vehicles, such as electric and hybrid cars. Maintenance, service, transport, and sales vehicles can all become cleaner and greener.

Sustainability

Repurposing historic landmarks

10.10.2018

In our rapidly developing cities, buildings and other structures often outlive their original purpose – but not their usefulness. Through adaptive reuse, old factory buildings can be converted into profitable residential, office or commercial property, and highway bridges can become public spaces.

Sustainability

University and industry collaboration

18.07.2018

Instead of industries and universities competing, increasingly they work together. Prof. Denkena, IWF at University of Hannover, and Dr. Meier, thyssenkrupp Elevator, discuss cooperation and what needs to change to create and transfer knowledge in an era of rapid developments and new technologies.

Sustainability

University and corporate collaborations

13.06.2018

The mission of a university may differ from that of a company. In recent years, however, mutual benefits have become apparent to both. Universities offer their knowledge, expertise, and access to students, while businesses offer funding as well as real-world business experience and contacts.

Sustainability

Monica Miller Brown talks sustainability

05.06.2018

Today we demand clean air, clean water, and clean buildings. And the building industry is making up for lost time – waking up to the need for greater transparency and sustainability in its practices. Monica Miller Brown, a leader in sustainable design, shares her insights and hopes.

Sustainability

Ensuring the future is green – Environmental sustainable development draws on concepts of little waste, lower consumption and switching to green, environmentally-sustainable resources like solar and wind or materials which can constantly be up-cycled.

Technology

Technology

5G for smart cities

05.03.2020

5G networks are already up and running in several cities. Soon, much of the world will be connected to this new standard in mobile telecommunications. 5G will provide a quantum leap in connectivity that radically expands and improves consumer choices, business opportunities, and city services.

Technology

Madrid transforms mobility maintenance

12.02.2020

The first Smart Data technological warehouse has opened in Madrid. It increases the efficiency and sustainability of maintenance for urban solutions like elevators, escalators, and moving walkways, and is part of an ongoing process that uses digital technology to improve customers’ mobility experiences.

Technology

Alison Powers talks Atlanta

30.01.2020

Alison Powers studied mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech and now works in Atlanta as the Head of Research and Innovation at thyssenkrupp Elevator. URBAN HUB talks with her about why Atlanta is such an innovative place to be, and the challenges women face in the field.

Technology

Ten amazing technological advances

28.11.2019

The world moves at a fast pace thanks to some incredible technological advances that enabled the development of a long line of innovations. From electricity to computers: URBAN HUB looks at ten technological advances transforming the way we live today and in the future.

Technology

VR and the future

20.11.2019

You find yourself walking around inside a building. It’s a pleasant space, but you don’t like the way the walls and ceiling curve inward in the hallway. You change the colors, then the shape, until you feel comfortable in the space. It’s easy to do because none of it is real: it’s all in VR.

Technology

Using fewer resources for bigger change – What makes the world go around? Innovative technology. And in mobility, building, energy and manufacturing, especially green innovations are changing how people interact with and shape their environment.

Buildings

Buildings

Seattle Building Elevator Modernization

23.04.2020

Fixing up the old doesn’t grab the headlines as much as bold, new architecture. Smith Tower in Seattle changes that. The historic details were preserved, and technology installed to give the tower a LEED Gold certification. URBAN HUB talks building modernization and sustainability with Steve Vining.

Buildings

Buildings inspired by reality

18.12.2019

Mimetic architecture is when a structure mimics something like a real object. These ten buildings all look like something else: from a fish building to a blooming lotus. There’s no need to squint or tilt your head to the side. These architects took their sources of inspiration very literally.

Buildings

Matching elevators to buildings

05.12.2019

How do architects and builders find the “perfect” elevator solution for a mid-rise office building vs. a supertall, mixed-use skyscraper? They get help from experts who know the options. Two specialists from thyssenkrupp Elevator, Andreas Schmidt and Sushanthan Somasundaram, offer their insight.

Buildings

Most anticipated buildings 2019

24.10.2019

The race is on, not only to build the tallest building in the world or in a particular hemisphere but to capture attention. Cutting-edge design, the best technology, and new concepts compete to turn a project into the next “star” building. URBAN HUB picks ten buildings turning heads in 2019.

Buildings

Videos show the way

15.08.2019

The huge number of videos and films now available confirms their place as a key medium of knowledge transmission. Videos can often explain something faster and more clearly than mere words, and architects and planners are using them creatively to illustrate the future of buildings and cities.

Buildings

Beacons of urban sustainability – Today’s urban city planning creates future beacons for cities which convey the new messages of sustainability, green choices and living responsibly.

Cities

Cities

Construction in Moscow

28.05.2020

Moscow has seen a lot of construction since the turn of the 21st century – and much of that construction has been tall. Urban Hub reviews some of the most interesting construction projects and offers some insight from a local expert who has watched the construction boom since the beginning.

Cities

Urban projects in Chicago

18.03.2020

From the Burnham Plan to the reversal of the Chicago River, Chicago projects have always been impressive. Today, the Windy City’s legacy of innovation continues with projects like the expansion of O’Hare International Airport, the Lincoln Yards, and “The 78”.

Cities

Lunar New Year celebrations

21.01.2020

The Lunar New Year follows an ancient calendar that combines lunar and solar elements and uses a repeating 60-year cycle based on elements of Asian astrology and philosophy. It is a time to celebrate and to travel. URBAN HUB looks at some spectacular celebrations around the world.

Cities

London builds its future

15.01.2020

London has been on a course of transformation for at least a decade and shows no signs of slowing. Never before in its history has London seen such record-breaking levels of construction. URBAN HUB looks at some of the buildings and projects set to change the look and feel of London.

Cities

Future-ready urban resilience

03.01.2020

The future is urban but is it safe in the long-term? As cities look to bolster their infrastructure against a rising tide of natural disasters, the concept of urban resilience is growing in popularity. URBAN HUB looks at what builds effective urban resilience, protecting lives and quality of life.

Cities

Smart inside and out – In many ways, the smart city concept is simply good urban planning that incorporates both advances in digital technology and new thinking in the age-old city concepts of relationships, community, environmental sustainability, participatory democracy, good governance and transparency.

Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency

Urban microclimates inspire change

04.01.2019

Microclimates are commonly found in nature. In cities, though, they are often seen as an unintended and undesirable consequence of urbanization – heat islands are the best known of these. But a new push in planning is changing how we think about urban microclimates, and what we do with them.

Energy Efficiency

Climate-proofing coastal cities

01.03.2018

Most of the world’s megacities are located on coasts. Powerful storms put them all at risk of flooding, and extreme weather is only expected to become more common and severe. Meanwhile, sea levels are rising. So what kinds of coastal protection solutions are being tested? URBAN HUB takes a look.

Energy Efficiency

Heating things up sustainably

11.01.2018

Many colder countries consume more energy for heating than for electrical power, so it should come as no surprise that the ongoing global concern with energy efficiency and environmental sustainability should be driving new trends in keeping people warm. URBAN HUB is hot on the trail…

Energy Efficiency

Mega projects and the environment

25.10.2017

The mega project sometimes brings to mind construction that leaves behind damage along with the gains. Recent massive infrastructures have learned from past mistakes and now focus on an environmentally-friendly impact through better planning and technology and putting the planet first.

Energy Efficiency

Policy change saves energy

14.09.2017

How can NGOs effectively lobby for energy efficiency? Through education and outreach or activism? The Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) focuses on policy change and partners with industry thought leaders who provide them with know-how and real-life examples of the benefits of energy efficiency.

Energy Efficiency

Keeping the energy in and waste out – Energy efficiency combines educating people about consumption with new, improved, and green building construction that reduces an urban center’s environmental footprint.

Energy Efficiency

Smart Mobility

Smart Mobility

Barcelona chooses smart mobility

26.03.2020

Barcelona is famous as a smart city and a technology hub. That’s no accident. When Barcelona was in deep economic trouble not so long ago, it took a bold vision, inspired planning, and solid execution to transform the city. New smart mobility solutions are helping to solidify that success.

Smart Mobility

Moving walkways in cities

09.03.2020

Moving walkways once graced World Fairs as futuristic solutions for cities, but focus shifted to moving up and down as skyscrapers got taller. Now as urban populations boom, planners need to address moving people through the city. Could the moving walkway be part of the solution? URBAN HUB finds out.

Smart Mobility

Rediscovering train stations

08.01.2020

Because of growing environmental concerns – and clogged roads, poor parking, and airport queues – train travel is back on track as a leading mobility solution. As a result, many central train stations are being radically modernized to better perform their natural roles as essential urban hubs.

Smart Mobility

Heavy-duty escalator beauties

09.08.2019

In an age that raises the bar on mobility solutions for urban residents with solutions ranging from self-driving taxis to e-scooters, one stalwart continues to keep people moving: the escalator. URBAN HUB looks at ten high-traffic escalators that urbanites rely on to rise to the occasion.

Smart Mobility

Next level urban mobility

23.07.2019

As the world’s population increasingly settles in metropolises, urban public transportation needs a plan. Many mobility innovators are disrupting how we think about commuting in cities. Successful solutions will thrive on offering choices, many of them networked, electric, and shared.

Smart Mobility

Keeps people moving to better solutions – People fed up with congested cities, are innovating smart mobility with new mobile technologies and intuitive apps which integrate public transportation, better infrastructure, and car sharing.

Urban Lifestyle

Urban Lifestyle

Subways that safeguard history

18.02.2020

Many cities have a lot of history, and much of that is buried in the ground beneath them. An ancient city that continues to be a modern urban center must balance the need to preserve its archaeological heritage with the needs of today – including mobility. But how? Some cities in Italy offer answers.

Urban Lifestyle

Innovative art in cities

07.02.2020

Art in the city has been experiencing a boost from technology and new innovations in recent years. The result? A new generation of exciting exhibition spaces and art lovers. Visitors are flocking to digital, interactive spaces around the world to see, be inspired, and create.

Urban Lifestyle

U.S. and urban construction

28.10.2019

Dozens of cities across the U.S. seem to be in a race to build the next headline-grabbing building. Not just taller, but more innovative, striking, and sustainable. As U.S. urban populations boom, so does construction and new urban mobility solutions. URBAN HUB takes a closer look.

Urban Lifestyle

Pop-ups go mainstream

04.10.2019

What started as a simple idea in the Middle Ages has mutated into everything from neighborhood empowerment, disaster relief, a guerrilla tactic for repurposing urban space, and corporate brand activation. Are pop-ups the panacea for what ails cities, or simply a symptom of shorter attention spans?

Urban Lifestyle

Reinventing urban libraries

23.05.2019

Public libraries contribute significantly to urban life, offering everything from educational and vocational resources to free recreational and social space for everyone. As times change, urban libraries are reinventing themselves to better meet both the traditional and new needs of urban citizens.

Urban Lifestyle

An urban lifestyle for the future – By first recognizing the impact of our city lifestyles, we can pave the path for sustainable economic development and a brighter, greener future.

Urban Lifestyle

Urbanization

Urbanization

Epic projects, short videos

31.03.2020

Short videos, especially timelapse videos, offer a great way to get an impression of the vast scope of large construction projects. Urban Hub presents some incredible, yet short videos of tall towers and large-scale construction projects.

Urbanization

Mega city real estate

29.05.2019

Rising real estate prices benefit the economy, yet an unchecked boom also leads to unwanted side effects. For some, rising prices simply translate into profits, others see the pitfalls of an unchecked housing market boom. URBAN HUB takes a look at how cities can find a healthy balance.

Urbanization

Jess Zimbabwe: urban leadership

29.11.2018

Cities are made up of buildings and the people who use or encounter these buildings. Naturally, private developers want profits, residents want quality of life, and everybody wants a good economy. Government leaders try to balance these needs. Jess Zimbabwe and the Rose Center help them.

Urbanization

Ben Hammersley: surviving megatrends

20.04.2018

What challenges does the future hold for us, and how can we overcome them? In the second part of the URBAN HUB interview with noted futurist Ben Hammersley, he discusses the testing times awaiting us because of current megatrends, and some strategies for coping and thriving in the world of tomorrow.

Urbanization

Urban planning from above

05.04.2018

The point of urban planning depends on the era, the decision-makers, geography, technology and many other factors. Just as drawings and maps help us to navigate places or understand things, so too do photographs. Particularly aerial photos help us to see the bigger picture of city planning.

Urbanization

Our cities, our future – Urbanization, a trend which shows no signs of abating, will remarkably change the way we live, work, and interact in our communities.