I met Philippe Block while studying historic masonry structures in Spain last summer. He presented his work and I was blown away. He is a pioneering structural engineer who, as part of his research group Block Research Group, is inventing the future of sustainable construction by blending old knowledge and precedent with new technology, materials and innovation. He's BUILDING off of thousands of years of architectural innovation and deepening our knowledge of how structures really work, with stunning results. And what makes it so impressive is he isn't just doing this in a research lab somewhere--though that is where the ideas are refined--he's implementing them in the real world. Not only is that very difficult to do, overcoming all the obstacles, it also takes a tremendous amount of courage. When I say "the building industry is broken," as I often do, what Phillipe is doing is part of the solution--he's part of pioneering and inventing the future that doesn't exist yet. Enjoy! Sign up for my bimonthly newsletter ⁠here⁠ to learn more! PHILLIPE'S BIO Philippe Block is a full professor of Architecture and Structures and head of the Institute of Technology in Architecture (ITA) at ETH Zurich, where he co-leads the Block Research Group (BRG) with Dr. Tom Van Mele. He studied architecture and structural engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Belgium and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, where he earned his PhD in 2009. The BRG develops sustainable and circular construction solutions through the advancement of computational structural design and innovation in digital fabrication and construction. Specific expertise includes computational form finding, discrete masonry, graphic statics, architectural and structural geometry, digital fabrication and construction, and open-source computation. Philippe and Tom translate their research into practice, with the consultancy Foreign Engineering and the ETH spin-off VAULTED. Most significant is the development of the Rippmann Floor System (RFS), a low-carbon-footprint, fully circular prefabricated concrete floor solution CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and Problem Statement 03:10 Three Tenets: Strength through Geometry, Material Effectiveness, and Circular Construction 09:02 Comparison of Concrete and Steel Floor Systems 17:36 The Rippman Floor System 27:29 Combining Architecture and Engineering 32:19 Thinness and Prefabrication of the Rippman Floor System 38:59 Rediscovering Structural Form and Graphic Statics 50:24 Opportunities to Learn Graphic Statics 51:28 Integration of Graphic Statics in Projects 52:21 Opportunities for Self-Education 52:48 New Master of Advanced Studies in Structural Computation 53:17 Focus on Outreach and Education 54:34 The Importance of Open Source and Collaboration 56:29 Graphic Statics as a Tool for Engineering 59:19 The Maturity of Tools for Arch Structures 01:01:16 Challenges in Accepting New Approaches 01:04:07 The Urgency of Innovation in Construction 01:06:35 The Excitement of Discovering and Learning 01:07:47 Following Philippe Block's Work RESOURCESBlock Research GroupVaulted Unreinforced Concrete Floor SystemBRG Githup Compass ResourcesBook on Graphic Statics: Form and Forces: Designing Efficient, Expressive Structures. Book on Guastavino Vaulting by John Ochsendorf MIT's Morningside Academy For Design w/ John Ochsendorf: Phillipe Block Lecture - ETH Zurich, Block Research Group Phillipe Block Lecture - Stone Skins: New Masonry Shells Armadillo Vault Phillipe Block on Linked InCONNECT WITH BUILDING CULTURE https://www.buildingculture.com/ https://www.instagram.com/buildingculture/ https://twitter.com/build_culture https://www.facebook.com/BuildCulture/ CONNECT WITH AUSTIN TUNNELL https://www.instagram.com/austintunnell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-tunnell-2a41894a/ https://twitter.com/AustinTunnell

Today I interview Ruben Hassan, a Dutch podcaster and founder of the Aesthetic City podcast. Ruben shares his journey from being an engineer to becoming a full-time podcaster and filmmaker. We discuss the state of construction and development in the Netherlands and the importance of creating beautiful and sustainable built environments. We also explore the day-to-day life in the Netherlands, including transportation, education, and the value of beauty in society. The conversation covers various themes related to the built environment, society, and culture. Some of the key takeaways include the importance of prioritizing people and their well-being in urban planning and design, the need to address environmental and health issues alongside climate change, the tension between tradition and modernity, the role of institutions in shaping the world, and the emergence of countercultures as a response to societal challenges. We also touch on the Dutch farming protests and the value of different perspectives in shaping the built environment. TAKEAWAYS - Ruben Hassan transitioned from being an engineer to a full-time podcaster and filmmaker, focusing on improving the built environment. - The Aesthetic City podcast aims to foster the creation of beauty and true sustainability in architecture and urbanism. - Dutch cities prioritize local, timeless, traditional, and human-centered design principles and traditions. - The Netherlands has a more gentle density approach to urban planning, with cities consisting of mostly five-story buildings. - The Dutch value the ordinary and find beauty in the simple, everyday things. - Day-to-day life in the Netherlands includes a strong emphasis on cycling, integrated neighborhoods, and a sense of community. - Beauty is not just a nice-to-have, but an essential aspect of creating livable and sustainable cities. - The Dutch approach to architecture and urbanism is influenced by their history of religious tolerance, distributed wealth, and residential neighborhoods. Prioritize people and their well-being in urban planning and design. - Address environmental and health issues alongside climate change. - Recognize the tension between tradition and modernity. - Consider the role of institutions in shaping the world. - Acknowledge the emergence of countercultures as a response to societal challenges. CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 03:02 - Transitioning to a New Chapter in Life 05:21 - The Issues with Construction and Development 08:24 - Dutch Cities and the Built Environment 09:47 - Urban Planning in the Netherlands vs. the United States 14:28 - The Importance of Building Places People Want to Go 16:08 - Day-to-Day Life in the Netherlands 21:36 - The Height and Density of Dutch Cities 24:09 - The Cultural Heritage of Dutch Cities 30:40 - The Value and Importance of Beauty 38:36 - Perspectives of Older and Younger Generations 44:48 - The Dutch Farmers' Protests 47:27 - The Nitrogen Issue and Farming Practices 48:31 - Government Actions and Public Opinion 50:16 - Tyranny and Populism 51:45 - Disconnect Between Elites and Regular People 53:32 - The Dark Side of Modernity 55:10 - Tradition and Innovation 55:49 - Hope for Change and Paradigm Shift 59:45 - Upcoming Plans and Trip to the US 01:03:31 - Recommended Cities in the Netherlands 01:07:03 - Dutch Perception of Americans RESOURCES 1. Recommended Book: North Atlantic Cities by Charles Duff 2. Recommend Video: Why Beauty Matters by Roger Scruton 3. Painting: The Little Streets by Vermeer 4. Examples of some wonderful NEW humanist cities: Cayala, Guatemala and Le Plessis-Robinson outside of Paris. 5. Recommended Dutch Cities: Utrecht, Leiden, Amersfoort, Harlem CONNECT WITH RUBEN - Website - Cayala Video - Le Plessis Video - Summer School CONNECT WITH AUSTIN https://linktr.ee/austintunnell https://twitter.com/AustinTunnell https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-tunnell-2a41894a/ https://www.instagram.com/buildingculture/

Today, I have friend and colleague Thomas Dougherty on the podcast. Last year Tom joined the Building Culture team as our lead Urban Designer. He studied architecture and urban design at Notre Dame and focused on inner block development and has become known as the "alley-guy" for his expertise in creating spaces in these areas. It's a great conversation focused on the centralization of capital in real estate and how that affects decision making, how we prioritize profits over people and most importantly what we can do differently to try and solve these issues. We chat about smaller scale development and the creation of smaller grained places that are essential for vibrant communities, as well as how our current infrastructure is unsustainable financially and how we will see the effects in the next few decades. We discuss infill development, local investment and rethinking the way we raise capital, and finally we dive into the potential for infill development like creating streets as spaces that can really create beautiful, wonderful places. People really can be enriching forces on our built environment and are capable of immense good and immense beauty- hope you enjoy the conversation! TAKEAWAYS - The centralization of capital in real estate development leads to decisions that prioritize maximum returns over human flourishing. - Smaller-scale development and the creation of smaller grained places are essential for building vibrant communities. - Current infrastructure is unsustainable and requires financial innovation to address its high costs. - Financing new urbanist projects is challenging due to the changing landscape of real estate finance. - Infill development offers opportunities for incremental growth and the revitalization of existing communities. - Local investment empowers individuals and strengthens communities. - Capital plays a significant role in shaping development and should be aligned with the values of creating human-scaled places. - Recognizing the potential of infill development and building streets as public spaces can create inviting and reflective environments. REFERENCES https://ioncommunity.com/ CONNECT WITH THOMAS DOUGHERTY https://www.innerblock.org/about CONNECT WITH BUILDING CULTURE https://www.buildingculture.com/ https://www.instagram.com/buildingculture/ https://twitter.com/build_culture https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-tunnell-2a41894a/ https://www.facebook.com/BuildCulture/ https://www.tiktok.com/@buildingculture CONNECT WITH AUSTIN TUNNELL https://www.instagram.com/austintunnell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-tunnell-2a41894a/ https://twitter.com/AustinTunnell https://linktr.ee/austintunnell https://playbook.buildingculture.com/p/ready-fire-aim CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:04 Becoming Known as the Alley Guy 05:01 The Concept of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) 07:08 The Potential of Alleys for ADUs 09:05 The American Alley Hidden Resource 12:26 The Impact of Experiencing Human Scale 19:34 Reimagining Suburbs as Villages and Market Towns 30:04 The Limitations of Subdivisions 33:37 The Importance of Language and Advocacy 38:32 Empowering Individuals in Shaping the Built Environment 39:31 The Centralization of Capital 41:25 The Importance of Small-Scale Development 43:20 The Unsustainability of Current Infrastructure 45:52 The Need for Financial Innovation 47:23 The Difficulty of Financing New Urbanist Projects 50:15 The Potential of Infill Development 52:20 The Power of Local Investment 55:51 The Role of Capital in Development 57:19 Recognizing the Opportunities in Infill Development 59:52 Building Streets as Public Spaces

I'm thrilled to have Coby Lefkowitz on the show today. Coby is an urbanist, real estate developer, writer, and consultant based in New York, and I would add, all around optimist. I've been following him on X for several years, and while it was our first conversation it felt like we had known each other much longer. We are saving the technical conversation on building and development for a time down the road, and today we really focused on the culture around building well and the obstacles that come with it. We both share this idea, in a lot of ways, that the best is just ahead if we can align our beliefs as a culture. TAKEAWAYS: - Urbanism and planning play a crucial role in creating beautiful and sustainable cities. - It is important to dream and not settle for utilitarian outcomes in city building. - A cultural shift towards more thoughtful and human-centered city building is needed. - Dopamine plays a significant role in motivation and addiction, and understanding its effects can help us make better choices. - Finding beauty in the ordinary and embracing everyday simplicity can enhance our appreciation of our surroundings. - Background buildings, when designed with quality and simplicity, can provide a strong foundation for vibrant communities. - Tradition and innovation are not mutually exclusive; tradition represents proven innovation that has stood the test of time. - Architecture has the power to shape our experiences and create intrigue and stimulation in our surroundings. - Small actions, such as adding potted plants or personal touches, can transform and benefit streets and communities. - Overcoming fatalism and embracing choice can empower individuals to shape their communities and create meaningful change. - Despite the challenges we face, history shows that humanity has the ability to rise to the occasion and find solutions. - Optimism and a proactive mindset are essential for creating a better future. CONNECT WITH COBY: Twitter https://cobylefkowitz.com COBY'S FAVORITES: * Habits: Daily gym & reading * Top Podcasts: - Basketball theme - Nick's NBA podcast * Books: - Welcome to Your World: Sarah Williams Goldhagen - The School of Llife: An Emotional Education CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and Background 04:30 The Importance of Urbanism and Planning 08:08 The Need to Dream and Overcoming Barriers 17:33 The Cost of Development and the Value of Design 25:00 The Culture of Consumption and the Importance of Good 29:35 The Challenges of Financing and the Need for Coherent Vision 35:24 The Importance of Conversations and Understanding Perspectives 41:11 The Cultural Shift Needed for Sustainable Development 42:04 The Dopamine Effect and Addiction 43:26 The Value of Everyday Beauty 47:12 The Role of Background Buildings 50:12 The Balance Between Tradition and Innovation 53:07 The Impact of Architecture on Experience 56:20 The Importance of Restraint and Punctuation in Design 57:49 The Power of Small Actions in Shaping Communities 01:03:06 Overcoming Fatalism and Embracing Choice 01:05:32 The Value of Tradition and the Potential for Change 01:10:01 The Impact of Individual Actions on Shaping Places 01:14:01 The Journey of Making a Difference 01:18:36 The Progress and Hope in Urban Planning 01:22:19 Introduction and Background 01:23:04 Interest in Architecture and Urban Planning 01:24:27 Books That Have Changed the Way Coby Thinks 01:25:36 Inspiring Trips and Observations on the Built Environment 01:31:25 Philadelphia as an Example of Urban Planning 01:33:40 Optimism for the Future 01:36:25 Closing Remarks CONNECT WITH BUILDING CULTURE https://www.buildingculture.com/https://www.instagram.com/buildingculture/ https://twitter.com/build_culture https://www.facebook.com/BuildCulture/ https://www.tiktok.com/@buildingculture CONNECT WITH AUSTIN TUNNELL Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Building Culture Playbook Building Culture Instagram

Today I'm dropping the second half of my conversation with Sam Day. In case you missed Part 1, head back to Episode 8 in our Podcast series to check it out. Sam is an architect, urbanist, and infill developer based in Oklahoma City--a rare combination of someone designing buildings (architect), creating spaces with those buildings (urbanist), and actually facilitating them coming out of the ground, including buying land, figuring out financing, leasing up, etc (development). At the beginning of this episode, we continue our conversation on the importance of centers, the challenge of creating centers in suburbia, and the possibility of improving suburbia with possibilities like e-bikes, delivery and more. We have a lot of fun getting into the rapid-fire questions and question that our viewers asked via Instagram, topics like habits and routines, the challenges of architecture school and the importance of learning construction details, and even personal topics like the meaning of fatherhood for the both us. If you enjoyed today's show, make sure to like, comment and share! RESOURCES Podcast Recommendations: - Henry George Podcast - http://seethecat.org/ - Ezra Klein - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ezra-klein-show/id1548604447 - Adam Tooze - https://adamtooze.com/category/on-record/podcast/ Book Recommendations: - Regenesis: https://www.amazon.com.au/Regenesis-World-Without-Devouring-Planet/dp/0141992999 - Micheal Pollen - A Place of My Own (Architecture-theme) - https://a.co/d/aVs5a6U How to Change Your Mind - https://a.co/d/9CJJkDI Omnivores Dilemma - https://a.co/d/0bxxumn - Rise of the Community Builders - https://a.co/d/9hKNKpw - Developing Expertise - https://a.co/d/7h06dT7 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in /samuel-day https://www.instagram.com /_sam_day https://www.wheelerdistrict.com/ Takeaways: - Innovative solutions are needed to address the challenges of housing affordability, community building, and sustainable development. - Learning construction details and practical knowledge is challenging in architecture school, and gaining experience on job sites is crucial. - Being a new father is a rewarding experience, and observing a child's growth and development is fascinating. - Working with clients as an architect can be challenging, as there may be a disconnect between the architect's values and the client's priorities. - Investing in high-quality lighting, landscaping, and tactile elements like hardware can greatly enhance the overall design and experience of a space. 00:00 Creating Centers 04:52 The Challenge of Suburban Development 08:00 Distributed Shopping Centers and E-Bikes to Improve Suburbia 22:20 Habits and Routines 25:20 Podcasts Books That Have Changed Our Thinking 35:00 Getting Started as a Developer 38:00 Pivoting into Construction 43:17 The Joys of Fatherhood 47:30 Challenges of Working with Clients 50:00 Splurging on High-End Items CONNECT WITH BUILDING CULTURE Website: https://www.buildingculture.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingculture/ X: https://twitter.com/build_culture TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buildingculture CONNECT WITH AUSTIN TUNNELL Instagram: https://instagram.com/austintunnell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-tunnell-2a41894a/ X: https://twitter.com/AustinTunnell Join the Movement to Build a Better World: The Building Culture Playbook - https://playbook.buildingculture.com/p/blueprint-1-life-is-boring-yet-profound

Architect, urbanist, and infill developer Sam Day discusses his career trajectory, including his first self-financed infill project. They explore missing middle housing, challenges for small developers, vibrant community centers, pros/cons of a land value tax, and the benefits of human-scale buildings. Part 2 delves into controlling land, financialization of real estate, and transforming suburbia through e-bikes and distributed shopping centers for a more connected community.

In this podcast, R. John Anderson, a tradesman turned developer and influential figure in urban planning, shares his unique journey. He discusses his early challenges, the impact of the 2008 financial crisis, his transition to a successful developer, insights on small-scale development and building sustainable communities, and his perspective on 'form follows finance' in urban planning.

Today I get to chat with my business partner and mentor Matthew Myers, a successful entrepreneur, syndicator and real estate developer of unique, infill projects. As a local developer renowned for his work on infill pocket neighborhoods, Matthew shares a wealth of knowledge and personal insights. This episode is a blend of technical expertise, cultural commentary, and personal anecdotes, providing a unique perspective on urban development and its impact on community life. Key Highlights: Matthew Myers' Journey: From leadership training with Giant to real estate development, Discover Matthew's transition and his venture into developing neighborhoods like the Prairie at Post. Innovative Urban Developments: Learn about the Lark, the Ember, and other projects that redefine the concept of community living. Cultural Insights: Explore Matthew's views on the importance of design, the role of relationships in community building, and his personal experiences in overcoming challenges. Pocket Neighborhoods Explained: Understand the concept of pocket neighborhoods and how they foster a sense of identity and place. T he Future of Housing: Matthew discusses the diversity in housing options and how the built environment shapes social wellbeing. Personal Reflections: Gain insights into Matthew's personal growth, his approach to business, and his vision for mentorship in urban development.

In this conversation, Austin Tunnell shares a personal story of surviving a bus accident and the life changes and challenges he has faced since then. He discusses the importance of identity and acceptance in adapting to new circumstances. Austin also talks about the evolution of Building Culture's identity. He emphasizes the mission of cultivating a better human habitat and the need for advocacy and cultural change in the industry. Finally, he reflects on the importance of finding meaning and purpose in life and the journey towards happiness. Takeaways:Life can change dramatically in an instant, and it is important to adapt and find acceptance in new circumstances.Identity is not fixed and can evolve over time, and it is important to embrace new aspects of oneself. Building Culture has evolved its identity and approach to address challenges in the industry. Advocacy and cultural change are necessary to create a better human habitat and overcome barriers in the construction industry. Finding meaning and purpose in life is more important than pursuing happiness, and limitations can lead to personal growth and contentment.

Trevor Acorn, a structural engineer with a background in structural masonry and restoration work, discusses the strength and durability of masonry, the role of aesthetics in building longevity, and the use of graphic statics in engineering. The conversation also covers load distribution in masonry walls, challenges with brick veneer, lintel design, different types of mortars, forces in masonry walls, and limitations of steel in masonry. It provides insights into the behavior of masonry structures and the importance of selecting appropriate materials and design techniques.