Listen into this conversation with architect Gabriela Carrillo discussing her team's ambitious "36 by 36" initiative—completing 36 architectural projects in 36 months in Mexico. Carrillo highlights the challenges and strategies of designing infrastructure in vulnerable communities, emphasizing flexibility, collaboration, and innovative use of local materials under tight budgets. The discussion explores the intersection of architectural design with social, cultural, and environmental contexts, reflecting on how these projects foster dignity and community empowerment through thoughtful spatial design. Carrillo also shares insights into balancing collaboration within a collective of architects, learning from mistakes, and adapting strategies for public spaces to meet evolving societal needs.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the benefits and challenges of working within a collective to design and execute community-focused architectural projects under constrained timelines and budgets.
2. Learn how to integrate local materials, community needs, and environmental conditions to create adaptable and dignified public spaces that reflect and respect their cultural and social contexts.
3. Explore methods for adapting architectural designs in response to logistical, financial, and environmental constraints, with an emphasis on achieving efficient and impactful outcomes.
4. Examine how architecture can address pressing societal issues such as access to resources, inclusion, and sustainability, fostering dignity and resilience in underserved communities.

Credits: 1.0 AIA LU/Elective

Speaker: Gabriella Carrillo

In this podcast, our host interviews architectural photographer Joe Fletcher. Learn about Fletcher’s journey from art school in London, where he transitioned from painting to photography, to his niche in architectural photography. Fletcher shares insights on the influence of his painting background, his aesthetic preferences, and the importance of light in capturing architectural essence. He also talks about the impact of technology and social media on the industry, noting both the democratization and the challenges it brings to the art form. The conversation highlights the collaborative relationship between architects and photographers, emphasizing how Fletcher’s work contributes significantly to architectural storytelling and firm branding.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the role of aesthetic principles in architectural photography
2. Examine the impact of light on architectural photography
3. Identify key elements of successful client relationships in creative fields
4. Evaluate the influence of technology and social media on photography and design marketing

Credits: 1.0 AIA LU/Elective

Speaker: Joe Fletcher

In this episode, Tatiana Bilbao discusses her firm's approach to community-centered design and affordable housing. Bilbao discusses her "outside-in" design philosophy that involves deeply engaging with the local community and understanding their needs. She talks about the challenges of avoiding gentrification with new architectural interventions, using examples like the Hunter's Point project in San Francisco.

Bilbao also shares insights on policies and regulations that can help make housing more affordable and accessible, as well as her work on the Olive West master plan in St. Louis. The discussion covers topics like the role of architecture in providing "primary care" for people, the problems with housing as a commodity, and the need for more collective and flexible living spaces. Overall, Bilbao provides a thoughtful perspective on how architecture can address critical social and economic issues around housing.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the principles and practices of designing spaces that prioritize community engagement, sustainability, and inclusivity.
2. Identify and examine effective policies and strategies to support affordable housing and reduce barriers to equitable urban development.
3. Learn to design adaptable architectural spaces that support diverse community needs and promote long-term habitation flexibility.
4. Investigate the impact of market forces on urban planning, with strategies to mitigate gentrification and protect affordable housing.

Credits: 1.0 AIA LU/Elective

Speaker: Tatiana Bilbao

In this episode we talk with Mark Rios and Andy Lance of Rios, a multidisciplinary design firm, discussing their approach to various large-scale architectural and urban planning projects. They explore the playfulness and joy in their work, exemplified by the Prague Market, and emphasize the importance of understanding a project’s context, culture, and community. The conversation also delves into the firm's innovative projects like the 1901 Campus in Chicago and collaborations in urban design, entertainment spaces, and soundstage environments. Rios and Lance highlight their focus on creating spaces that give back to the community, foster creativity, and challenge conventional typologies. Additionally, they discuss the importance of collaboration, the role of landscape in urban design, and their nonprofit initiative, Rios Plus, aimed at supporting local communities in Los Angeles.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the importance of integrating playfulness and cultural context in design.

2. Learn how multidisciplinary approaches shape urban planning and architecture.

3. Explore strategies for community-focused design and addressing gentrification.

4. Discover the evolving role of design in entertainment and content creation spaces.

Credits: 1.0 AIA LU/Elective

Speaker: Mark Rios & Andy Lantz

In this episode, Brian Korte discusses the design philosophy of his firm, Clayton Korte, emphasizing a focus on celebrating the human experience and connecting people to their environments. Brian reminds us of the importance of patience and adaptability in architecture, as projects often involve long timelines and unexpected challenges. Korte also shares insights into the firm's approach to sustainability, material reuse, and small-scale projects, showcasing the Saxon Vineyard Equipment Barn as an example of their innovative use of salvaged materials and passive design principles. Throughout the conversation, Korte emphasizes the significance of relationships, mentorship, and continuous learning in his career, reflecting on his proudest moments and the importance of staying nimble and resourceful in the face of setbacks. As Clayton Korte evolves, they remain committed to a design-first mindset, embracing new technologies and expanding their capabilities to meet the changing demands of the industry.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the design philosophy of Clayton Korte.
2. Recognize the importance of patience and adaptability in architecture.
3. Learn how Clayton Korte approaches small-scale projects and material reuse.
4. Appreciate the value of relationships, mentorship, and continuous learning in a successful architectural career.

Credits: 1.0 AIA LU/Elective

Speaker: Brian Korte

Ben Dozier, father of 4 and entrepreneur joins the podcast to share their non-traditional path to growing Roots Design into a stable and successful small firm. Starting with a degree in recreational business, then opening a coffee shop, Dozier took an adventurous path to design and discovered the importance of connection, storytelling, and one-page contracts. A television show with HGTV and 20,000,000+ viewers helped bring Root Design into the mainstream, and Dozier shares how having firm boundaries between business and family, trends and integrity helped keep the firm healthy and fun.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the path Dozier followed to express their passion for design.

2. Discuss how signing a contract with HGTV impacted the practical work of Root Design.

3. List the important features and building materials Dozier incorporates into their more rural and rustic design.

4. Explain how Dozier maintains core values related to family and community to keep a health balance between business and family.,

Credits: 0.5 AIA LU/HSW

Speaker: Aaron Prinz

Jess Field, half of the father-and-son team that lead FIELD Architecture joins the podcast to talk about their unique approach to design. Along with their father Stan Field, the firm has a strong passion for designing in natural terrain and letting the topography of the site generate the flow of the house. Field discusses their approach to some of their more unique projects like the madrone Ridge house and The Big Sur House that incorporates a bridge over a ravine to connect two buildings. The Field family brings a very specific, nature-based perspective to architecture, born out of multi-generations of designers and a love of surfing.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the relationship Field searches for between landscape and residential architecture by identifying key site-specific factors that influence design choices, such as topography and climate.

2. Discuss the pavilion-style residential layout Field employs and explain how breaking up spaces into smaller, functional units impacts both aesthetics and user experience compared to open floor plans.

3. Evaluate the impact of natural elements, such as sunlight, wind, and water, on architectural design by assessing how these factors inform building placement and material choices in the Madrone Ridge and Big Sur projects.

4. List the principles of environmentally responsive design supported by Field and how these impact the occupants and surrounding community.

Credits: 0.5 AIA LU/HSW

Speaker: Aaron Prinz

This time on the Design ED podcast Aaron sits down with Emily Abruzzo and Geral Bodziak from Abruzzo Bodziak Architecture (ABA). ABA is an award-winning New York-based architectural practice founded known for its thoughtful and innovative approach to design, often characterized by a focus on simplicity, form, and the engaging use of materials. Their work spans a wide range of scales and typologies, including residential, commercial, cultural, and public projects. The firm has received several accolades, including being named to Architectural Record’s Design Vanguard. They are also recognized for their contributions to architectural education, with Emily Abruzzo teaching at Yale University.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss the importance of shifting the focus modern architecture to encourage firms to engage their local community and serve them.
2. Explain how the 'Stick House Brick Gardens' project grew from a very small project to an expansive design piece.
3. Describe the importance of creating a shared vision between the architect and the client.
4. List how the nature of architectural education is changing to better support student needs.

Credits: 0.5 AIA LU/HSW

Speaker: Aaron Prinz