Rob Cowan
@robcowan.bsky.social
Writer, editor, speaker, consultant, cartoonist, illustrator. Author, The Dictionary of Urbanism. Editor, Context. Plandemonium videos. http://robcowan.co.uk
Some of them almost line up, but not quite. They are certainly not exterior fireplaces.
Do they all line up with little chimneys and look like a little fireplace?
October 7, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Some of them almost line up, but not quite. They are certainly not exterior fireplaces.
Anyone know what this feature is (there are several of them) on the former Elizabeth Allen's School (1824) in Barnet? I don't. Something to do with heating or ventilation, no doubt.
October 7, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Anyone know what this feature is (there are several of them) on the former Elizabeth Allen's School (1824) in Barnet? I don't. Something to do with heating or ventilation, no doubt.
Reposted by Rob Cowan
I don’t hate cars. Like most North American males I was raised to think cars are cool, and as a design nerd, few objects are more eye-catching.
I hate surrendering our streets, our cities and our lives to them.
Car dependence isn’t freedom.
Great cartoon by @robcowan.bsky.social #CarDependency
I hate surrendering our streets, our cities and our lives to them.
Car dependence isn’t freedom.
Great cartoon by @robcowan.bsky.social #CarDependency
October 2, 2025 at 1:50 AM
I don’t hate cars. Like most North American males I was raised to think cars are cool, and as a design nerd, few objects are more eye-catching.
I hate surrendering our streets, our cities and our lives to them.
Car dependence isn’t freedom.
Great cartoon by @robcowan.bsky.social #CarDependency
I hate surrendering our streets, our cities and our lives to them.
Car dependence isn’t freedom.
Great cartoon by @robcowan.bsky.social #CarDependency
BADGE ENGINEERING
Giving a development a name that will make it seem something other than what it is, such as ‘URBAN VILLAGE’ or ‘GARDEN CITY’ for a place that has none of the qualities that might be expected. The term comes from the car industry.
[Dictionary of Urbanism]
Giving a development a name that will make it seem something other than what it is, such as ‘URBAN VILLAGE’ or ‘GARDEN CITY’ for a place that has none of the qualities that might be expected. The term comes from the car industry.
[Dictionary of Urbanism]
September 27, 2025 at 5:15 PM
BADGE ENGINEERING
Giving a development a name that will make it seem something other than what it is, such as ‘URBAN VILLAGE’ or ‘GARDEN CITY’ for a place that has none of the qualities that might be expected. The term comes from the car industry.
[Dictionary of Urbanism]
Giving a development a name that will make it seem something other than what it is, such as ‘URBAN VILLAGE’ or ‘GARDEN CITY’ for a place that has none of the qualities that might be expected. The term comes from the car industry.
[Dictionary of Urbanism]
BACK-NICKING (Sheffield)
Children getting into back gardens and yards through as many alleys and back passages as possible, and coming out in another street.
[Dictionary of Urbanism]
Children getting into back gardens and yards through as many alleys and back passages as possible, and coming out in another street.
[Dictionary of Urbanism]
September 27, 2025 at 4:54 PM
BACK-NICKING (Sheffield)
Children getting into back gardens and yards through as many alleys and back passages as possible, and coming out in another street.
[Dictionary of Urbanism]
Children getting into back gardens and yards through as many alleys and back passages as possible, and coming out in another street.
[Dictionary of Urbanism]
Reposted by Rob Cowan
Early start to get to the Gov annual planning conf in Leeds today. I’ve been asked to talk about ‘planning for large scale housing growth’ but I will be very consciously talking about large scale new communities. #planning #placemaking
September 11, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Early start to get to the Gov annual planning conf in Leeds today. I’ve been asked to talk about ‘planning for large scale housing growth’ but I will be very consciously talking about large scale new communities. #planning #placemaking
MOTORNORMATIVITY
A condition in which people are so used to owning and using cars that they are unable to conceive of other options.
The Dictionary of Urbanism
A condition in which people are so used to owning and using cars that they are unable to conceive of other options.
The Dictionary of Urbanism
September 4, 2025 at 5:54 PM
MOTORNORMATIVITY
A condition in which people are so used to owning and using cars that they are unable to conceive of other options.
The Dictionary of Urbanism
A condition in which people are so used to owning and using cars that they are unable to conceive of other options.
The Dictionary of Urbanism
THE ADVANTAGE OF DISADVANTAGE
A consequence of a place that is not prosperous having cheaper property and empty spaces, giving scope for innovative urban action.
The Dictionarry of Urbanism
A consequence of a place that is not prosperous having cheaper property and empty spaces, giving scope for innovative urban action.
The Dictionarry of Urbanism
September 4, 2025 at 5:33 PM
THE ADVANTAGE OF DISADVANTAGE
A consequence of a place that is not prosperous having cheaper property and empty spaces, giving scope for innovative urban action.
The Dictionarry of Urbanism
A consequence of a place that is not prosperous having cheaper property and empty spaces, giving scope for innovative urban action.
The Dictionarry of Urbanism
HAUNTOLOGY (a combination of haunting and ontology [the study of being and existence, which it also sounds like, especially in French])
The legacies of the past influencing design in the environment. The term was coined by the philosopher Jacques Derrida.
(The Dictionary of Urbanism)
The legacies of the past influencing design in the environment. The term was coined by the philosopher Jacques Derrida.
(The Dictionary of Urbanism)
September 3, 2025 at 6:00 PM
HAUNTOLOGY (a combination of haunting and ontology [the study of being and existence, which it also sounds like, especially in French])
The legacies of the past influencing design in the environment. The term was coined by the philosopher Jacques Derrida.
(The Dictionary of Urbanism)
The legacies of the past influencing design in the environment. The term was coined by the philosopher Jacques Derrida.
(The Dictionary of Urbanism)
FRILLY MASSING
Buildings laid out with a variety of heights and bulk (The Dictionary of Urbanism)
Buildings laid out with a variety of heights and bulk (The Dictionary of Urbanism)
September 3, 2025 at 5:52 PM
FRILLY MASSING
Buildings laid out with a variety of heights and bulk (The Dictionary of Urbanism)
Buildings laid out with a variety of heights and bulk (The Dictionary of Urbanism)
Reposted by Rob Cowan
📢 We're hiring! Osborn Research Assistant (New Towns & Garden Cities) This role works on a range of projects, with an emphasis on large-scale new communities inc. New Towns & Garden Cities.
Salary: £26 -28k p.a. Deadline: 1 Sep 2pm. www.tcpa.org.uk/osborn-resea...
#CharityJob #ResearchJob
Salary: £26 -28k p.a. Deadline: 1 Sep 2pm. www.tcpa.org.uk/osborn-resea...
#CharityJob #ResearchJob
Osborn Research Assistant (New Towns and Garden Cities) - Town and Country Planning Association
We have an exciting opportunity to join the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) as the Osborn Research Assistant.
www.tcpa.org.uk
August 7, 2025 at 1:09 PM
📢 We're hiring! Osborn Research Assistant (New Towns & Garden Cities) This role works on a range of projects, with an emphasis on large-scale new communities inc. New Towns & Garden Cities.
Salary: £26 -28k p.a. Deadline: 1 Sep 2pm. www.tcpa.org.uk/osborn-resea...
#CharityJob #ResearchJob
Salary: £26 -28k p.a. Deadline: 1 Sep 2pm. www.tcpa.org.uk/osborn-resea...
#CharityJob #ResearchJob
Reposted by Rob Cowan
The Lewis Reading Group meets this evening at 7pm (BST). We'll be discussing Thomas Keller's 'Wyndham Lewis and British Art Rock'. Should be a good one!
July 15, 2025 at 9:21 AM
The Lewis Reading Group meets this evening at 7pm (BST). We'll be discussing Thomas Keller's 'Wyndham Lewis and British Art Rock'. Should be a good one!
Reposted by Rob Cowan
Tomorrow, I’ll be doing my annual, long #WalkToWork, this time along the A1 in London from Highgate to St Paul’s. It’s to celebrate National Walking Month and highlight @livingstreets.bsky.social’s emergency appeal. Should you be interested, I’ll be posting here about what catches my eye as I go.
Emergency appeal
I have donated to @livingstreets to support their vital campaign work for safe and welcoming streets for all. Will you join me? https://act.livingstreets.org.uk/page/157094/donate/1
act.livingstreets.org.uk
May 26, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Tomorrow, I’ll be doing my annual, long #WalkToWork, this time along the A1 in London from Highgate to St Paul’s. It’s to celebrate National Walking Month and highlight @livingstreets.bsky.social’s emergency appeal. Should you be interested, I’ll be posting here about what catches my eye as I go.
Reposted by Rob Cowan
This is hilarious 👍
April 28, 2025 at 12:46 PM
This is hilarious 👍
Reposted by Rob Cowan
Superb. So glad no green belt in Leicester!
February 8, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Superb. So glad no green belt in Leicester!
Reposted by Rob Cowan
Great to discuss Lewis's Futurist Figure (1912) at this month's meeting of the Lewis Reading Group.
February's session takes place on the 22nd and we'll be focusing on Lewis and aesthetics.
February's session takes place on the 22nd and we'll be focusing on Lewis and aesthetics.
January 27, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Great to discuss Lewis's Futurist Figure (1912) at this month's meeting of the Lewis Reading Group.
February's session takes place on the 22nd and we'll be focusing on Lewis and aesthetics.
February's session takes place on the 22nd and we'll be focusing on Lewis and aesthetics.
