Jason Thorne

The sort-of-weird but also sort-of-fascinating Centro Direzionale in Naples … a master planned modern office district designed in 1982 by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange.

New mass timber Central Metro Station in Naples, designed by EMBT studio.

There is still so much work to be done and I am excited about the future of #biketo and #walkto infrastructure, but also extremely proud to have championed and supported all the work highlighted in @jasonthorne.bsky.social’s thread.

New integrated bike/bus platforms on Wellesley Street. These platforms keep the bikeway clear for people cycling, while providing sidewalk-level access for people boarding and exiting TTC buses. /4

A small but important one. A new protected waiting area at the Yonge Street / Queens Quay intersection for cyclists heading northbound plus a bike box, chevrons and crosswalks. /3

Curb-protected two-way cycle track along the Esplanade. /2

Toronto’s Cycling and Pedestrian Projects Team continues to hit it out of the park. Out for a ride today and here’s just some of the new cycling facilities that I came across. New concrete planters and permanent curbs on Harbord Street. /1

“How Bike Share went from death’s door to one of Toronto’s fastest-growing ways to travel” in the Toronto Star www.thestar.com/news/gta/how...

I’ve seen pictures of that one, but have never visited it.

A world without traffic? Three urban experts rethink how cities move Gridlock is costing us billions, but bold solutions like bus-only lanes, congestion charges and flexible work hours could get cities moving again

NEW: “Toderian says it’s easy to be distracted by futuristic innovations like electric cars, drone delivery networks & hyperloops. ‘The real solutions are a lot less sexy and a lot more common sense… Tech won’t save us if we get the fundamentals wrong.”

I was 1 of 3 urban experts asked to weigh in.

I have visited that one in Copenhagen. But when it comes to incinerators, my all-time favourite has to be this one in Osaka!

This is one of my favourites in Edmonton by gh3. We gave it an award when I was on the City’s design and architecture awards jury a few years ago. (I think it’s some sort of access shaft for a stormwater retention tank).

Great design isn’t just for iconic buildings. This is a stormwater treatment facility, but it’s nicely designed by gh3* architects!

I loved the Bridge of Flowers!

BIXI named among top 25 inventions of the past 25 years by TIME magazine TIME magazine has released a list of the top 25 inventions of the past 25 years, and Montreal's bicycle-sharing system BIXI is on it.

The iPhone … YouTube … and bike share! Montreal's bicycle-sharing system BIXI has been named among the top 25 inventions of the past 25 years by TIME magazine. cultmtl.com/2025/10/bixi...

The world’s longest rainbow path. The 600 metre “Long Walk to Equality” by artist Travis Myers at Hanlan’s Point on Toronto Island … the location of Canada’s first Pride in 1971.

Congrats to the 1st cohort of participants in “Black By Design” ... a partnership between the Black Planners and Urbanists Association & the Nia Centre for the Arts to connect Black students in design/arts to urban planning and urbanism. And shoutout to course leaders Jamilla Mohamud & Aimee Powell!

The Venn diagram of urban density and average household GHG emissions is pretty much a circle. Interesting study on “Mapping household GHG emissions in the Greater Golden Horseshoe” from the University of Toronto School of Cities schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/mapping-hous...

Tokyo at night.

Riding the Urban Monorail in Chiba, Japan … the longest suspended monorail system in the world.

When Kengo Kuma designs the Starbucks (Tokyo).

Photos of a variety of shade canopies installed on the streets, plazas, and transit hubs of Seoul.

Photos of a variety of shade canopies installed on the streets, plazas, and transit hubs of Seoul.

Photos of a variety of shade canopies installed on the streets, plazas, and transit hubs of Seoul.

Photos of a variety of shade canopies installed on the streets, plazas, and transit hubs of Seoul.

In recent summers, Seoul has been rolling out shade canopies across major streets, plazas and transit hubs to help residents cope with extreme heat. These fabric structures—sometimes shaped like trees or wings—offer pedestrians relief in a city where heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense.

“Let’s create a world that is less boring” … the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism.

Seoullo 7017, or the “Seoul Skygarden.” One of the best examples I’ve seen of converting a former highway overpass into an elevated linear park and pedestrian walkway.

The Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain (Seoul)

will co-sign: the former site of the expressway is a really pleasant place to stroll.

A former expressway. Now a place for an evening stroll. Nighttime on the Cheonggyecheon River in Seoul.

Mullae-dong neighbourhood in Seoul … where steel and metal manufacturing mingle with fancy cafes and art galleries.

The Real Estate Diviners: Six experts wrestle with the future of Toronto’s housing crisis - Toronto Life We sat six prognosticators down and let them wrestle with Toronto’s hot-button housing issues: the affordability crisis, the multiplex conundrum, the condo...

I really enjoyed this frank and open discussion with some really smart people (about halfway through I actually forgot it was a media interview!).

torontolife.com/deep-dives/t...