New York is often held up as the poster city of sustainable urbanism. The geography of the area has created a densely built space, resulting in it being one of the most environmentally efficient cities in the world. However, as with every city, New York is a permanent work in progress, likely to be dotted with construction sites throughout its lifespan.

Part 33 of the New York Times Series ‘Reasons to Love New York’ explores this idea, with a specific focus on Times Square. After significant redevelopment earlier this year that closed off much of the space to cars and opened it up to pedestrians, the New York Times invited three design firms to reimagine this newly pedestrianised Times Square, resulting in some ambitious ideas that are really worth checking out.

GOOD Design NYC, a recent event hosted by GOOD and Nau, also explored the ever-changing nature of urban spaces, focusing on design solutions for New York’s future challenges. The ideas explored varied from an iPhone app that encourages bicycle use, to a waste management scheme selling sewage to tourists. Check out the article here for a more in-depth exploration of the ideas covered at GOOD Design NYC.

Image courtesy of dcdead on flickr