Alexandra Lange

Michael Townsend, an artist known for living secretly in a hidden apartment inside the Providence Place Mall, shares his unconventional experience. He discusses the creativity that emerged from this unique living arrangement and the artists' protest against urban redevelopment. Alexandra Lange, an author and mall design expert, highlights the evolving cultural significance of malls, especially post-pandemic. They explore the nostalgia tied to these spaces and envision their potential transformation amidst changing consumer habits.

Join Alexandra Lange, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author focused on design for children, and Anna Koday, a journalist from The New York Times, as they explore how Sesame Street shaped urbanism. They discuss the show’s influence on children's understanding of community, Jane Jacobs' urbanism principles, and the importance of inclusive playground design. Alexandra reveals how thoughtful design fosters independence among children and addresses teenagers' exclusion from public spaces. Dive into the intersection of urban planning and childhood imagination!

Avery Trufelman is a reporter known for her insight into architectural narratives, particularly with Boston City Hall's controversial brutalist design. Alexandra Lange, a design critic at Curbed, discusses the groundbreaking work of Michael Sorkin, who revolutionized architectural criticism by intertwining the built environment with social issues. They explore the ongoing debate around brutalism, the evolving perceptions of concrete, and Sorkin's influential contributions that challenge how we think about architecture and its impact on urban life.

In this lively discussion, guest Alexandra Lang, author of "Meet Me by the Fountain" and "Inside History of the Mall," delves into the rising phenomenon of package theft and how it's nudging consumers back to nostalgic shopping malls. She highlights the emotional connections that malls foster, particularly among Gen Z, and examines the evolving retail landscape. Lang also paints a picture of successful mall reinventions, showing how these spaces can adapt to modern needs and serve as crucial hubs for social interaction.

Join design critic Alexandra Lange, author of "The Design of Childhood," as she dives into the fascinating world of playground design. She reveals how sandboxes trace back to 19th-century Germany's kindergartens and explores their decline in urban settings. Lange also connects the nostalgic joy of physical sandboxes to the rise of virtual sandbox games like Minecraft. Additionally, the conversation takes a lively turn discussing the theatrical origins of concert encores, tracing their evolution from opera to today's staged performances.