Stefan Novakovic
@novakovicto.bsky.social
Writer + Editor | Architecture + Cities | Toronto + Elsewhere
Pinned
Stefan Novakovic
@novakovicto.bsky.social
· Apr 25
In Indonesia, a Heritage Home Is Reborn as a Civic Stage
In the Javanese village of Mutihan, a 19th-century joglo house was adapted into a striking rehearsal space and performance venue.
www.azuremagazine.com
A weird and wonderful experience to write about my debut project as a *practitioner* in @azuremagazine.bsky.social. In Yogyakarta, Andi Subagio, Namjoo Kim and I relocated and adapted a vernacular "joglo" roof into a dance stage, embracing wood joinery for the 21st century.
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
I've received many messages about this over the last two weeks — people still read, reference, and link to these stories WRITTEN BY REAL REPORTERS who knew their cities better than anyone else. I figured a fix might have been delayed due to holiday breaks but this needs to be remedied immediately!
The archives for the old Curbed city sites have been offline for at least two weeks. If these sites are gone for good, it’s not just a loss for those who contributed to Curbed over the years, but a loss of ~15 years of reporting on new development, neighborhoods, and architecture criticism.
January 5, 2026 at 5:43 PM
I've received many messages about this over the last two weeks — people still read, reference, and link to these stories WRITTEN BY REAL REPORTERS who knew their cities better than anyone else. I figured a fix might have been delayed due to holiday breaks but this needs to be remedied immediately!
Late last year, I shared some of my thoughts on the best buildings of 2025 with the Toronto Star. Nice to see a few of my picks make the cut:
Toronto has a reputation for being ugly. Here are 7 beautiful new buildings that have bucked the trend — and are getting noticed
There’s room for hope in many of the new projects that came online in 2025. The Star consulted with experts to produce a list of the seven best.
www.thestar.com
January 4, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Late last year, I shared some of my thoughts on the best buildings of 2025 with the Toronto Star. Nice to see a few of my picks make the cut:
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
One thing I wrote about here is how technology has made buses *way* more convenient while techno-futurists were obsessed with flying taxis and self-driving cars.
January 2, 2026 at 2:17 PM
One thing I wrote about here is how technology has made buses *way* more convenient while techno-futurists were obsessed with flying taxis and self-driving cars.
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
also bored. here's the canadian cities (from apta)
vancouver = 0.507
calgary = 0.410
victoria = 0.278
edmonton = 0.264
winnipeg = 0.259
have to dig around for more ridership data for these two given all the agencies in the metro area, but they're at least this much:
toronto >0.539
montreal >0.424
vancouver = 0.507
calgary = 0.410
victoria = 0.278
edmonton = 0.264
winnipeg = 0.259
have to dig around for more ridership data for these two given all the agencies in the metro area, but they're at least this much:
toronto >0.539
montreal >0.424
December 31, 2025 at 5:57 AM
also bored. here's the canadian cities (from apta)
vancouver = 0.507
calgary = 0.410
victoria = 0.278
edmonton = 0.264
winnipeg = 0.259
have to dig around for more ridership data for these two given all the agencies in the metro area, but they're at least this much:
toronto >0.539
montreal >0.424
vancouver = 0.507
calgary = 0.410
victoria = 0.278
edmonton = 0.264
winnipeg = 0.259
have to dig around for more ridership data for these two given all the agencies in the metro area, but they're at least this much:
toronto >0.539
montreal >0.424
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
single stair isn't deregulation. neither is eliminating parking minimums.
hell the largest single stair building in the world is 97 single stair conditions at karl-marx-hof, built by red vienna
reason.com/2025/12/29/t...
hell the largest single stair building in the world is 97 single stair conditions at karl-marx-hof, built by red vienna
reason.com/2025/12/29/t...
Is Zohran Mamdani coming around to housing deregulation?
New York's new mayor has moved away from some of his far-left beliefs, acknowledging that private businesses play an important role in homebuilding.
reason.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:38 AM
single stair isn't deregulation. neither is eliminating parking minimums.
hell the largest single stair building in the world is 97 single stair conditions at karl-marx-hof, built by red vienna
reason.com/2025/12/29/t...
hell the largest single stair building in the world is 97 single stair conditions at karl-marx-hof, built by red vienna
reason.com/2025/12/29/t...
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
ICE raids appear to be 100% responsible for the current housing crunch in south Texas. Indeed, they have brought residential construction to an end.
South Texas homebuilders say ICE arrests have slowed work
More than 380 people attended an impromptu meeting that industry leaders in the Rio Grande Valley hosted to draw attention to the chilling effect ICE arrests have had on construction.
www.texastribune.org
December 27, 2025 at 9:11 PM
ICE raids appear to be 100% responsible for the current housing crunch in south Texas. Indeed, they have brought residential construction to an end.
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
Yeah, as I've been saying, we overcompensated because the media ran with the stupid 'GDP per capita' and 'immigrants hurt housing' framing. This is long-run damage to the economy by short-term thinking, feeding xenophobia, and helping to further destroy Canada's world class universities.
Canada’s population sees largest decline on record
Canada’s population sees largest decline on record
Statistics Canada attributes the drop to a fewer non-permanent residents. It's the largest decline since records began in 1946.
www.thestar.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Yeah, as I've been saying, we overcompensated because the media ran with the stupid 'GDP per capita' and 'immigrants hurt housing' framing. This is long-run damage to the economy by short-term thinking, feeding xenophobia, and helping to further destroy Canada's world class universities.
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
TORONTO! Save the date. We'll be coming to what is arguably the birthplace of the war on cars for a live show on February 5th, 2026. Patreoners will get first dibs on tickets. Stay tuned for more details! Doug Ford will not be our special guest.
www.patreon.com/c/thewaronca...
www.patreon.com/c/thewaronca...
The War on Cars | Patreon
Creating a podcast about the fight against car dominance
www.patreon.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:05 PM
TORONTO! Save the date. We'll be coming to what is arguably the birthplace of the war on cars for a live show on February 5th, 2026. Patreoners will get first dibs on tickets. Stay tuned for more details! Doug Ford will not be our special guest.
www.patreon.com/c/thewaronca...
www.patreon.com/c/thewaronca...
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
wow this is incredibly bleak
December 16, 2025 at 11:16 PM
wow this is incredibly bleak
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
I wrote a piece for @archpaper.com about 18F, the National Design Studio, and the insidiousness of “rebranding” government services instead of improving them. Thanks to my editors for letting me use the phrase “tread on me daddy” in an architecture publication 🫡
www.archpaper.com/2025/12/nati...
www.archpaper.com/2025/12/nati...
www.archpaper.com
December 15, 2025 at 12:51 AM
I wrote a piece for @archpaper.com about 18F, the National Design Studio, and the insidiousness of “rebranding” government services instead of improving them. Thanks to my editors for letting me use the phrase “tread on me daddy” in an architecture publication 🫡
www.archpaper.com/2025/12/nati...
www.archpaper.com/2025/12/nati...
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
Coming up at the @ccaconversations.bsky.social in Montreal: a closer look at Culture Lab, the symposium held in the back of a club in Toronto, from 1991 to 1994.
That club was: The Rivoli.
That club was: The Rivoli.
Brian Boigon’s Culture Lab
Culture Lab was a multidisciplinary symposium series initiated and directed by Brian Boigon that ran from 1991 to 1994. The exhibition provides new clues about the many forms and channels through whic...
www.cca.qc.ca
December 14, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Coming up at the @ccaconversations.bsky.social in Montreal: a closer look at Culture Lab, the symposium held in the back of a club in Toronto, from 1991 to 1994.
That club was: The Rivoli.
That club was: The Rivoli.
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
Registration is now open for my upcoming Heritage Ottawa lecture on #OttawaBrutalism. (link below)
Thu Dec 18 2025 @ 7:00pm
Beechwood National Memorial Centre, Sacred Space Room, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa
Thu Dec 18 2025 @ 7:00pm
Beechwood National Memorial Centre, Sacred Space Room, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa
December 5, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Registration is now open for my upcoming Heritage Ottawa lecture on #OttawaBrutalism. (link below)
Thu Dec 18 2025 @ 7:00pm
Beechwood National Memorial Centre, Sacred Space Room, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa
Thu Dec 18 2025 @ 7:00pm
Beechwood National Memorial Centre, Sacred Space Room, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
One of Canada’s great bldns (despite de-brutalizing reno) - exposed aggregate should be the symbol of Canada. This is my weird cause I will quietly push until I fade into obscurity.
National Arts Centre, Ottawa, 1965-9, Affleck, Desbarats, Dimakopoulos, Lebensold, Sise
December 13, 2025 at 2:39 PM
One of Canada’s great bldns (despite de-brutalizing reno) - exposed aggregate should be the symbol of Canada. This is my weird cause I will quietly push until I fade into obscurity.
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
“Like its counterparts in Toronto, Vancouver, London, Lisbon, Dubai and Dushanbe, Houston’s new Ismaili Center proudly conveys both cultural specificity and cosmopolitanism,” writes @novakovicto.bsky.social. www.azuremagazine.com/article/hous...
Houston's Ismaili Center Embodies the Beauty of Pluralism
Farshid Moussavi's Houston Ismaili Center celebrates the cultural heritage of Islamic life and Texan multiculturalism in equal measure.
www.azuremagazine.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:10 PM
“Like its counterparts in Toronto, Vancouver, London, Lisbon, Dubai and Dushanbe, Houston’s new Ismaili Center proudly conveys both cultural specificity and cosmopolitanism,” writes @novakovicto.bsky.social. www.azuremagazine.com/article/hous...
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
Line 6 late evening maintenance replacement bus is scheduled for a 34 min runtime, about 26% faster than the train (46 mins). Kinda bad.
In reality, the replacement bus can make the trip in ~24 mins, about 54% faster than the on-street runtime I experienced on the train (~53 mins). Really bad.
In reality, the replacement bus can make the trip in ~24 mins, about 54% faster than the on-street runtime I experienced on the train (~53 mins). Really bad.
December 8, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Line 6 late evening maintenance replacement bus is scheduled for a 34 min runtime, about 26% faster than the train (46 mins). Kinda bad.
In reality, the replacement bus can make the trip in ~24 mins, about 54% faster than the on-street runtime I experienced on the train (~53 mins). Really bad.
In reality, the replacement bus can make the trip in ~24 mins, about 54% faster than the on-street runtime I experienced on the train (~53 mins). Really bad.
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
Legendary architect Frank Gehry has passed away at the age of 96. In tribute, we revisit a 2003 profile by Adele Freedman.
The Virtuoso: When Gehry Completed the Walt Disney Concert Hall
Legendary architect Frank Gehry has passed away at the age of 96. In tribute, we revisit a 2003 profile by Adele Freedman.
www.azuremagazine.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Legendary architect Frank Gehry has passed away at the age of 96. In tribute, we revisit a 2003 profile by Adele Freedman.
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
Isabella St. A perfectly good apt bldn empty, people displaced & being demolished all because so much of Toronto is off limits & forced here. Aka house neighbourhoods. Such a shame. Such waste. And the shame of every elected official here. Shame of Ford for not pushing reforms. All the same.
November 27, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Isabella St. A perfectly good apt bldn empty, people displaced & being demolished all because so much of Toronto is off limits & forced here. Aka house neighbourhoods. Such a shame. Such waste. And the shame of every elected official here. Shame of Ford for not pushing reforms. All the same.
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
A few months ago @thelocal.to got a promising pitch from a writer with bylines in whole bunch of reputable publications—The Cut, The Guardian, Dwell, Architectural Digest, etc. Then I started investigating. Here's a story about fabulists in journalism's AI slop era. thelocal.to/investigatin...
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to
November 19, 2025 at 2:10 PM
A few months ago @thelocal.to got a promising pitch from a writer with bylines in whole bunch of reputable publications—The Cut, The Guardian, Dwell, Architectural Digest, etc. Then I started investigating. Here's a story about fabulists in journalism's AI slop era. thelocal.to/investigatin...
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
Almost everywhere in the City of Toronto has fewer people that it did 50 years ago
November 15, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Almost everywhere in the City of Toronto has fewer people that it did 50 years ago
My curatorial debut! Building Value(s) was staged at @azuremagazine.bsky.social's Human/Nature conference in late October. A meditation on demolition, preservation and the value of our buildings — whether expressed in carbon and collective memory.
Building Value(s): Inside AZURE's Human/Nature Exhibition
Focusing on questions of value in the building environment, four thought-provoking exhibitions animated the Evergreen Brick Works.
www.azuremagazine.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:34 PM
My curatorial debut! Building Value(s) was staged at @azuremagazine.bsky.social's Human/Nature conference in late October. A meditation on demolition, preservation and the value of our buildings — whether expressed in carbon and collective memory.
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
Brilliant representation by Giaimo of the embodied carbon wasted in the demolition of perfectly good buildings in Toronto to build bigger buildings. A thousand houses worth of carbon. @azuremagazine.bsky.social #human/nature
October 29, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Brilliant representation by Giaimo of the embodied carbon wasted in the demolition of perfectly good buildings in Toronto to build bigger buildings. A thousand houses worth of carbon. @azuremagazine.bsky.social #human/nature
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
I love architecture exhibition text. It really helps the general public understand things.
November 8, 2025 at 11:59 AM
I love architecture exhibition text. It really helps the general public understand things.
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
And at @thelocal.to, here in Toronto, we have one, too! A new, part-time, flexible fellowship for Black and/or Indigenous journalists thelocal.to/early-career...
November 7, 2025 at 4:30 PM
And at @thelocal.to, here in Toronto, we have one, too! A new, part-time, flexible fellowship for Black and/or Indigenous journalists thelocal.to/early-career...
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
Reposted by Stefan Novakovic
I'm not sayin' that Jays game ran too long or anything, I'm just sayin', the fans at the Toronto watch party got to ride home on the newly opened Eglinton Crosstown LRT
October 28, 2025 at 7:10 AM
I'm not sayin' that Jays game ran too long or anything, I'm just sayin', the fans at the Toronto watch party got to ride home on the newly opened Eglinton Crosstown LRT