A is for Architecture Podcast

In this episode of the A is for Architecture Podcast, author, curator and currently director of the Farrell Centre at Newcastle University, Owen Hopkins discuss his recent book, The Manifesto House: Buildings that Changed the Future of Architecture, published by Yale University Press two days ago. The Manifesto House explores the history of architecture through the lens of individual houses that have acted as manifestos for new ideas, movements and ways of living. Looking at twenty-one houses from the 16th through to the 21st century, the book presents a compelling narrative of how individual homes can influence architecture's evolution, and perhaps even answer some of the challenges we're faced with in the built environment today.Owen is also currently one fifth of the team who have curated this year's British Pavilion exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia 2025, which can be read about here. Owen can be found on Instagram and LinkedIn and the book is linked above. Listen, think, click, buy, read. Wow!#ArchitecturePodcast #ManifestoHouse #OwenHopkins #FarrellCentre #BuildingsThatMatter #ArchitecturalHistory #RadicalHomes #BiennaleArchitettura2025 #ArchitectureAndSociety #DesigningTheFuture #AisforArchitecturePodcast+Music credits: ⁠Bruno Gillick Image credit: Mies van der Rohe, Farnsworth House, exterior view towards entrance platform. Library of Congress, USA.

In this episode of the A is for Architecture Podcast, Professor of Architectural History and Urban Studies at the University of Basel and urban theorist Kenny Cupers discusses his new book, The Earth That Modernism Built: Empire and the Rise of Planetary Design (University of Texas Press, 2024). Kenny talks about the imperial legacies of modern architecture and infrastructure, examining how colonial and postcolonial systems of planning, construction and environmental control shaped a global vision of design in the 20th century, tracing how modernism’s ambitions extended far beyond buildings to encompass a planetary project—one grounded in power, governance and the management of land and life across continents. In this episode, we touch on some of the key themes from the book, including the reciprocal relationship between empire and modernist design, the circulation of architectural knowledge between colony and colonizer, and the entangled histories of development, technology and spatial control.In a way, unsettling stuff, almost scary. But now we know, what do we do?Book, Kenny, all linked above. Kenny is nowhere on my social media, but you can see a bit on koozarch. #KennyCupers #TheEarthThatModernismBuilt #PlanetaryDesign #ModernArchitecture #ArchitecturalHistory #EmpireAndArchitecture #ColonialInfrastructure #UrbanStudies #GlobalModernism #AisforArchitecturePodcast+Music credits: ⁠Bruno Gillick 

In this episode of the A is for Architecture Podcast, architect, scholar and author Tom Spector discusses his book, Architecture and the Public Good, first published by Anthem Press in 2021, and now out in paperback.Tom’s critical and philosophical exploration of the ethical foundation of the architecture profession and its role in serving the public, confronts the persistent tension within architecture between artistry and public service, arguing that this dual identity often undermines the profession’s ability to clearly articulate and fulfil its moral obligations. Arguing that the discipline holds on to an inaccurate concept of the public, arguing that the term is too often treated as a monolithic, abstract concept, Tom urges a deeper understanding of publicness, one that accounts for pluralism, participation, and the political nature of public space and infrastructure.It is a proper decent book, and whilst fundamentally a critique, Tom’s presentation is one of hope and possibility. This is what we need, believe. Linked above is the book. Tom’s back catalogue can be found on PhilPapers here.#ArchitectureAndEthics  #TomSpector #ArchitectureAndThePublicGood #DesignPhilosophy  #ArchitecturalEthics  #EthicalDesign  #ArchitecturePodcast #TheEthicalArchitect+Music credits: ⁠Bruno Gillick 

In this episode of the A is for Architecture Podcast, I spoke with Chris L. Smith, Professor of Architectural Theory at the University of Sydney, to discuss his book, Architecture After Deleuze and Guattari (Bloomsbury 2023). We explore how the philosophies of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari have influenced architectural thought and practice, and the possibilities that we’re all Deleuzo-Guattarian architects now…Deleuze and Guattari’s significance for architectural theory and design practice lies in their radical rethinking of concepts like form, process and relationality, which have profoundly influenced how architects conceptualize and create space in the late 20th and 21st centuries. Their collaborative works offer a philosophical framework that rejects fixed hierarchies, linear causality and static structures, instead emphasizing multiplicity, fluidity, and dynamic systems, shifting architectural discourse away from traditional modernist principles of order and function towards experimental, process-oriented, and politically engaged practices. 🔗 Learn more about the book via the link above. Chris can be found at work, on Instagram and LinkedIn. # ArchitectureTheory #DeleuzeAndGuattari #PhilosophyOfArchitecture #ArchitecturalBooks #CriticalTheory #DesignPhilosophy #ChrisLSmith #ModernArchitecture #ArchitecturalDiscourse #ArchitectureAndPhilosophy #Podcast #AisforArchitecture+Music credits: ⁠Bruno Gillick

In this episode of the A is for Architecture Podcast, I spoke with Associate Professor of Urban Planning at Hunter College, Stefan Al, and Professor at New York Institute of Technology, Tom Verebes, about their recent co-edited book, The Urbanism Reader: Design, Technology, Culture and the Future of Cities, published by Bloomsbury (2025). Orientated towards design in the contemporary city, The Urbanism Reader gathers together key texts that explore urban theory, planning and development pertinent to the city as we find it now – a messy, networked and highly technological state which inflects, if not forms, the modern citizen and their social world . Bringing together influential writings from scholars and practitioners, including greats like Venturi and Scott Brown, Tschumi, Frampton, Kwinter, Eisenman, Koolhaas and  Maas, but also introducing new voices and accents, including Anne Whiston Spirn, Anaya Roy, Walter Hood and Andrea Moneta among many others, the book presents a good overview of key themes, like virtuality, computationality, informality, equity, ecology, density and connectivity. To stand back from all this thinking and just look is thrilling really. Have a listen and find out why you should. Tom and Stefan are great to hear.Stefan also leads his own practice, Stefan Al Architects and Tom is founder and Creative Director of OCEAN CN. Both gentlemen can be found on LinkedIn and Instagram.  The book is linked above.#Urbanism #CityPlanning #UrbanDesign #TheUrbanismReader #SustainableCities #UrbanTheory #SmartCities #StefanAlAndTomVerebes #ArchitetcurePodcast #AisforArchitecturePodcast+Music credits: ⁠Bruno Gillick 

In this – the 150th! - episode of the A is for Architecture Podcast, I was joined by cultural theorist Justin O'Connor, Professor of Cultural Economy at the University of South Australia to discuss his 2024 book, Culture is not an Industry: Reclaiming Art and Culture for the Common Good, published by Manchester University Press.Unpacking and critiquing the concept of creative industries, Justin describes the historical transformation of urban space through local cultural initiatives and grassroots movements of makers, doers and thinkers, and contrasts this with the current dominance of large development companies and platform capitalism, re-packaged by governmental sleight of hand. The effects of this is another form of gentrification through which makers of actual culture are sidelined (again). Justin goes beyond this critique, however, advocating for an alternative economy based on an holistic approach to culture viewed as a social good, which might allow us to foster flourishing societies beyond the death-grip of economic metrics.It's a good, sharp episode, and Justin’s argument is well worth your time. Have a sticky, find out.Justin can be found on his personal website, on LinkedIn and at his place of work. The book is linked above.#CulturalIndistries #CreativeIndustries #JustinOConnor #CulturalPolicy #UrbanDevelopment #UrbanPolicy #CreativeCommons #ReclaimCulture #PublicGood #CreativityEconomy +Music credits: ⁠Bruno Gillick 

In this episode of the A is for Architecture Podcast, architectural historian at the Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, Dr Alistair Fair discusses his latest book, Building Modern Scotland: A Social and Architectural History of the New Towns, 1947–1997, which he co-authored with Lynn Abrams, Kat Breen, Miles Glendinning, Diane Watters and Valerie Wright, and published with Bloomsbury in February this year.Scotland’s new towns—Glenrothes, Cumbernauld, Livingston, Irvine, and East Kilbride—were bold experiments in urban planning, designed to provide modern, thriving communities in the wake of the Second World War. We discuss the why and how of New Townism, and beyond the concrete and masterplans, reflect on what these places meant and how they shaped the daily life of the people who lived in them. In the end, as always, did they work? And what do they suggest about the contemporary and future of urban growth?Alistair & Co’s extensive research and storytelling uncovers the vision, politics, and lived experiences behind these remarkable developments. Have a good listen – Alistair is a wonderful communicator – and find out.Alistair is on Instagram, and above at work. The book is linked above. #ArchitecturePodcast #BuildingModernScotland #newtowns #ScottishNewTowns #UrbanPlanning #ArchitectureHistory #ModernistArchitecture #ScottishHistory #PostWarDesign #AlistairFair+Music credits: ⁠Bruno Gillick

In this episode of the A is for Architecture Podcast, I spoke with John Boughton, social historian, writer and blogger. John has written the hugely insightful and important blog, Municipal Dreams since 2013, on which he explores the history, impact, and legacy of social and council housing in Britain, highlighting its architectural, political, and social significance. In 2018, his first major book, Municipal Dreams: The Rise and Fall of Council Housing, was published by Verso, followed in 2022 by A History of Council Housing in 100 Estates, published with RIBA Publishing.John’s work traces the history of council housing and council estate architecture in Britain, from its origins in the c19 and early 20th century as a response to poor living conditions, to its peak in the post-war era, when UK social housing policy provided millions with high-quality, state-funded homes. We discuss this and how shifting political and economic priorities, concretized in the Right to Buy policy UK under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, led to the widespread privatization of council housing, reducing public housing stock and contributing to today’s housing crisis. Well-planned social housing remains crucial in addressing the global housing permacrisis. John’s work is a perfect resource for showing us how it has been, and could be done again. So, listen to John then read his blog and books, Start here. John can be found on his blogs, linked above, as are his books.# ArchitecturePodcast #MunicipalDreams #JohnBoughton #CouncilHousing #SocialHousing #AisforArchitecture+Music credits: ⁠Bruno Gillick

In this episode of the A is for Architecture Podcast, architect, urban designer and founder-director of ZCD Architects, Dinah Bornat, discusses her new book, All to Play For: How to Design Child-Friendly Housing (RIBA Books 2025). Drawing on research and real-world case studies, we discuss the crucial role of design in shaping inclusive, playful cities, and sustainable communities.Dinah describes why child-friendly housing that makes spaces for imaginative, creative play – essentially urban design for children - benefits everyone, the impact of car-free communities, and how policymakers, architects, and residents can work together to prioritize children’s – and therefore everyone’s - needs in housing and public spaces. How can we create cities where children can truly thrive? By making family-friendly architecture, of course. What other option is there?🎧 Listen to Dinah, find out. Dinah/ ZCD can be found on Instagram, LinkedIn and on her ZCD Architect’s website, above. The book is linked above too.# ArchitecturePodcast #ChildFriendlyCities #UrbanDesign #Placemaking #CityPlanning #SustainableLiving #PlayfulArchitecture #AisforArchitecture+Music credits: ⁠Bruno Gillick

In this episode of the A is for Architecture Podcast, Shayan Adham - architect, scholar and founder of Layers Studio, a design practice based in Iran, discusses his work and thinking. This is a detour from the podcast’s normal mode, but a happy one. Shayan presents work which I read as both deeply cultural and cosmopolitan, rooted in a critical engagement with the space he operates from, and the global context of architectural knowledge and practice. From the shores of the Caspian Sea, Shayan's reflections on architectural theory and education, perspectives on the evolution of architectural forms and thoughts on the intersection of memory and space, seems to me to be a distinct thing, an alternative reading of what it means to be a contemporary architect.It’s kinda rare and lovely, and a bit different. Shayan can be found on Instagram.🎧 Listen now. Get inspired. ArchitecturePodcast #ShayanAdham #iranianarchitecture #ArchitecturalTheory #serlio #renaissancetreatise #FutureOfArchitecture #AisforArchitecture+ Music credits: ⁠Bruno Gillick