The Building Culture Podcast

#34 Coby Lefkowitz: Building Optimism - Rethinking Cities, Architecture, and the Future of Urban Design

Feb 6, 2025

Coby Lefkowitz, an urban planner and author of 'Building Optimism', shares his vision for transforming cities into vibrant spaces. He discusses the importance of integrating affordability and beauty in urban design, highlighting projects that emphasize human-centric design. Coby critiques the conventional view of architecture, advocating for a broader understanding that prioritizes community engagement. He also explores the evolving nature of cities, emphasizing that great urban spaces emerge from thoughtful planning rather than mere aesthetics.

01:27:58

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Coby Lefkowitz

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Quick takeaways

Successful urban design prioritizes the human experience shaped by streets and public spaces rather than just architectural styles.

Collaborative efforts between developers and urban planners are essential for creating cohesive communities that cater to diverse demographic needs.

The 'Building Optimism' philosophy advocates for a hopeful perspective on urban development, highlighting successful projects that inspire positive change.

Deep dives

Importance of Traditional Urbanism

Focusing on the significance of traditional urbanism over mere architectural styles is crucial for creating vibrant cityscapes. Successful city design prioritizes the relationship between streets and buildings rather than simply adhering to historical architectural aesthetics. Cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht exemplify this approach, where the urban fabric enhances pedestrian experiences through thoughtfully arranged spaces. Ensuring that streets foster interaction and accessibility ultimately leads to communities that thrive both socially and economically.

Intro

2min

Building Optimism in Urban Planning

21min

Rethinking Urbanism and Traditional Architecture

2min

Rethinking Urban Design: Balancing Preservation and Progress

23min

Innovative Design Solutions for Egress Windows and Urban Living

2min

Innovative Urban Design for Inclusive Communities

18min

Networking and Urban Development

17min

Engagement and Future Connections in Urban Design

2min

What if our cities weren’t just places we lived, but places that made us feel alive? In this episode, we welcome back Coby, an urban planner, developer, and author of Building Optimism, to talk about how we can move beyond pessimism and reclaim the built environment. We dive into the philosophy of traditional urbanism versus traditional architecture, how to balance art and economics in development, and why optimism in city building isn’t just wishful thinking—it’s already happening.

Coby shares how his latest project integrates affordability, beauty, and human-scale design, and why zoning reform is beginning to shift the landscape of American cities. We discuss why preservation alone isn't enough, how small developers can create lasting impact, and why the best cities aren’t built overnight—they evolve, adapt, and improve over time. If you’ve ever wondered why some places feel right and others don’t, or how we can design spaces that actually serve human beings, this episode is for you.

TAKEAWAYS

Great places aren’t about height or style but about how spaces are formed. Streets, plazas, and courtyards dictate how we experience a city more than the aesthetics of individual buildings.

Traditional architecture isn’t about copying the past; it’s about principles that create beauty, durability, and livability across cultures and time periods.

Keeping historic buildings is important, but we should also be building new ones that are worthy of being preserved in the future. Fear of losing the past shouldn’t stop us from creating great new places.

The best cities have a mix of housing that allows people of different income levels to live side by side. Segregating wealth or poverty harms economic mobility and community vitality.

The hardest part of building great places isn’t the architecture—it’s getting the financing. Small-scale, human-centered development struggles to compete with big box projects, but that can change with the right approach.

Building better cities isn’t a fantasy—it’s already happening in pockets across North America. The real challenge is scaling those successes and proving that beautiful, walkable, thriving communities can be the norm, not the exception.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Exploring Urban Beauty: A Vision for Cities

01:32 The Intersection of Urban Planning and Development

03:58 The Journey to Writing 'Building Optimism'

10:02 The Current State of Urbanism: A Turning Point

18:41 Traditional Urbanism vs. Architecture: Finding Balance

22:59 The Role of Preservation in Modern Urbanism

38:20 Creating a Living Tradition in Architecture

44:06 Exploring Kingston's Urban Fabric

51:04 Innovative Infill Housing Solutions

58:13 The Importance of Diverse Housing Options

01:06:56 Creating Integrated Communities