Michael Mehaffy

Submitted abstract topics to date include climate adaptation, ecology, regenerative planning and design, walkability and transportation choice, local identity, neuroscience, pattern languages, and the value of public markets; submissions have come from across the globe ABOVE: The Call for Abstracts is still open for the 63rd International Making Cities Livable, and the Call will close at the end of February. For more information or to submit, please visit: https://www.imcl.online/cfa26...

The methodology pioneered by Christopher Alexander has transformed software, wiki and other fields; with key reforms, could it finally fulfill its promise for architecture and urbanism? EDITOR'S NOTE: This blog post is part of a series of discussion topics leading to the 63rd International Making Cities Livable (IMCL) conference in Riga and Jelgava, Latvia. July 6-10, 2026. Key colleagues of Christopher Alexander will be present to continue work on the pattern language methodology and...

Unpacking Fallacies and Realities in the Housing Affordability Debates NOTE: This article is part of a series of discussion posts leading to the 63 rd  International Making Cities Livable (IMCL) conference , July 6-10 in Riga and Jelgava, Latvia. The housing debate in the USA, and to some extent in other countries, has a dominant refrain: build more homes, and prices will fall. That basic supply-and-demand logic animates the so-called Yes In My Back Yard  or YIMBY movement, which has captured...