Summary

What does it take to get something done in a community? What does it take to get something built? What does it take to change a city?

Sean Webster is an social entrepreneur, organizer, and citizen developer. His story centers around how one can make change in a community despite immense headwinds. Sean discusses his journey as an entrepreneur and community developer in Boston, focusing on the importance of creating sustainable environments for growth. He shares insights on navigating the challenges of urban development, the need for trust and communication between developers and the community, and the role of creativity in shaping the future of neighborhoods. The discussion highlights the balance between community needs and development goals, emphasizing collaboration and collective action to foster positive change.

NOTE: The residential development project that is discussed in the episode awaiting city approval, received that approval shortly after the recording of this episode.

Keywords

entrepreneurship, community development, real estate, urban planning, trust, collaboration, housing, Boston, social impact, creativity, downtown, cities, urban design

Chapters

00:00 The Entrepreneurial Spirit in Boston 02:57 Revitalizing Downtown Boston 06:15 Navigating Real Estate Inequities 09:06 Collective Economics and Community Empowerment 11:55 Building a New Model for Community Development 15:13 The Challenges of Community Trust 17:56 The Role of Design in Community Spaces 21:04 Friction in Community Development 23:55 The Impact of Preservation on Development 27:15 The Future of One Elmwood Project 39:41 Community Development Challenges 42:48 Navigating Bureaucracy and Community Expectations 46:07 The Importance of Resilience in Development 49:30 Inter-Agency Communication Issues 53:04 Financial Risks and Community Impact 56:56 The Long Road to Realizing Dreams 01:01:08 The Role of Democracy in Development 01:05:10 Engaging the Younger Generation 01:09:07 Creativity as a Driving Force 01:12:07 The Future of Community Development

Links

Sean Webster This family wants to redevelop their Roxbury home into much-needed housing. It isn’t working - Boston Globe

Roxbury family will be allowed to replace their house with an apartment building after years-long neighborhood battle - Boston Globe

How can we build better housing and more of it? Sam Naylor is the co-author of “The State of Housing Design 2023” (Harvard University Press) and the research report “Legalizing Mid-rise Single-stair Housing in Massachusetts”. He is a licensed architect and researcher and joins MoPo to discuss the critical importance of housing design in addressing the current housing crisis. He emphasizes the need for innovative and quality housing solutions and the challenges posed by zoning laws and community resistance. Naylor advocates for design thinking as a means to unlock production and density while also highlighting the significance of community engagement and leadership in shaping housing policy. The discussion also touches on the potential of policy changes such as single-stair reform and the future of housing design, reflecting on personal ideals and the broader implications for urban development. Links [Sam Naylor](https://naylorsam.com/) [Sam on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-naylor/) [Sam on IG](https://www.instagram.com/sam__naylor/) [The State of Housing Design 2023](https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/media-files/2024-07/harvard_jchs_state_of_housing_design_2023.pdf) [Legalizing Mid-rise Single-stair Housing in Massachusetts](https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/media-files/2024-07/harvard_jchs_state_of_housing_design_2023.pdf) [The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University](https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/) Keywords housing design, architecture, housing crisis, Joint Center for Housing Studies, innovative design, community engagement, zoning laws, single stair reform, affordable housing, urban development Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Housing Design and Its Importance 02:59 The Role of the Joint Center for Housing Studies 05:50 Innovative Housing Design: Themes and Insights 09:08 The Importance of Quality Design in Housing 11:57 Challenges in Housing Development and Funding 14:53 Zoning Laws and Their Impact on Housing 18:17 Community Resistance to New Developments 21:11 The Need for Clear Zoning Regulations 24:08 Building Codes and Their Influence on Housing 26:55 Single Stair Reform and Its Potential Benefits 37:19 Revisiting Building Codes and Safety Innovations 40:43 The Case for Scissor Stairs and Efficient Design 43:09 Navigating Building Regulations and Renovations 46:58 The Need for Proactive Code Revisions 49:12 Designing for Functionality and Community Engagement 52:55 The Role of Political Engagement in Housing Architecture 56:16 Community Involvement in Housing Development 01:00:08 The Future of Housing: Leadership and Public Perception 01:04:54 Imagining Ideal Living Spaces 01:08:36 Reflecting on Modernism and Future Projections

In this conversation, Betty Chen shares her multifaceted journey as a student, project manager, and content creator in the fields of architecture and art. She discusses her experiences in public speaking, the origins of her YouTube channel, and her passion for making art and architecture accessible to the public. Betty emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, community engagement, and the challenges of navigating criticism in her work. The conversation culminates in reflections on the future of architecture and the need for mutual understanding in society.

Episode Links:

https://www.youtube.com/articulations

https://www.instagram.com/articulationsv/

https://www.relay.fm/pictorial

Summary

Rob Meyerson and William McKee lead the architectural practice, Common Office, in Sydney, Australia. Their work has been featured in Archdaily, Vogue, and the Sydney Morning Herald. Common Office was founded on an interest in interiors, buildings, urbanism and territory. Emerging out of a body of work that ranges between the domestic and large scale urban design proposals, the office is committed to making buildings, design research and speculative work.

The conversation delves into the opportunities for architectural design in development in Australia and Europe, while also addressing the challenges facing the implementation project. As Rob puts it, the office is highly interesting in “making city”, and the discussion highlights ways in which young architectural practices can contribute to collective urbanism.

Keywords

architecture, development, design, project management, challenges, Australia, Europe, building process, consultants, cities, urbanism, Sydney

Chapters

00:00 Intro 00:45 The Landscape of Architecture in Australia 08:39 Challenges and Opportunities in Residential Architecture 14:21 Community Engagement and Planning Processes 20:30 Navigating Design Limitations 22:30 The Challenges of Project Management 30:38 Balancing Practice and Business 36:25 The Intersection of Design and Business 43:42 Speculative Work and Its Value 47:29 The Importance of Housing in Urban Development 49:37 Contextual Architecture: A Case Study 50:50 The Importance of Communication in Architecture 53:12 Reviving the Art of Physical Model Making 56:14 Future Directions for Common Office 01:00:12 Affordable Housing: Challenges and Opportunities 01:06:09 The Architect's Role in Housing Affordability 01:10:34 Ethics and Aesthetics in Modern Architecture 01:15:36 The Genesis of Common Office

Links for Common Office

https://common-office.com/

https://www.instagram.com/common_office_design/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/common-office/

In this conversation, Ryan Williams shares his journey from an unintentional start in architecture to becoming a co-founder of Arcqive, a platform designed for architects and designers. He discusses his educational background, the role of software in his development, and his experiences at WeWork, including the founding of We of Color. Ryan reflects on the challenges of transitioning from a structured environment to agency work and the importance of creating meaningful experiences in design. He emphasizes the need for curation in a world overflowing with options and the evolving nature of physical spaces in the digital age.

https://arqhive.world/

https://www.pickaverb.com/

How will AI change the world around us? Architect Daeho Lee has been working with AI visualization software to project a new path forward for architecture and design. He joins MoPo discusses his journey in architecture, the evolution of rendering, and the impact of AI on design. He reflects on the transition from traditional rendering methods to AI-generated visuals, emphasizing the importance of visualization as a communication tool in architecture. Daeho shares insights on how AI can enhance the design process, particularly for young architects, while also addressing the limitations and challenges of integrating AI into architectural practice. The discussion culminates in a vision for the future of architecture, where individual creativity and technology converge.

Keywords

architecture, AI, rendering, design process, visualization, communication, Daeho Lee, Adjaye Associates, OMA, technology, Midjourney, instagram, archviz

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

03:32 The Role of Rendering in Architecture

04:27 Using AI to Generate Design Options

09:49 Shift towards Hyper-Realistic Renderings

12:56 Outsourcing Rendering and New Software

15:05 Exploring AI-Generated Renderings

15:33 The Power of Visualization

17:15 Engaging Clients through 3D Renderings

18:13 The Evolution of Visuals in the Design Process

19:56 Communicating Design Ideas with AI

31:55 Limitations and Potentials of AI in Architecture

41:02 Clients' Preferences and Design Inspiration

42:25 The Role of AI and the Designer

55:04 Limitations of Integrating AI in Architecture

59:16 The Future of Architecture and the Role of Architects

Links

https://www.instagram.com/daeho_lee_0104

https://www.lmtlsarchitecture.com/

This week, Caroline Sorge joins us to discuss the multifaceted role of architecture in addressing resilience, climate change, and community needs. She the unique challenges faced by different communities in the context of climate justice. Through her experiences in humanitarian initiatives and local projects, she highlights the need for architects to engage with communities, listen to their needs, and collaborate with policymakers to create sustainable solutions. The conversation also touches on the unequal impacts of climate change and the necessity of balancing immediate community needs with long-term sustainability goals.

Takeaways

- Architecture is a multidisciplinary field that requires collaboration.

- Resilience in design is crucial for addressing climate challenges.

- Understanding community needs is essential for effective architecture.

- Humanitarian initiatives can benefit from architectural expertise.

- Designing for displaced individuals requires empathy and understanding.

- Climate change exacerbates existing social injustices.

- Policy and architecture must work together for effective change.

- Access to safe housing is a fundamental human right.

Chapters

00:00 Studying Sustainable Emergency Architecture

01:47 Architecture as Service and Multidisciplinary Collaboration

03:37 Focus on Resiliency in Architecture

06:17 Engagement in Humanitarian Projects

08:54 Constraints and Considerations in Shelter Design

12:15 Addressing Climate Change Inequality

14:05 Local Initiatives and Impact

17:16 Impact of Climate Change on Vulnerable Communities

19:05 Strategies for Dealing with Extreme Heat

20:59 Community Engagement and Holistic Approaches

21:08 Greening Up Cities and Adapting to Community Needs

22:04 Collaboration for Positive Change

24:05 The Power of Policy in Addressing Climate Justice

25:26 Listening to Community Voices and Passing the Pen

31:08 Balancing Sustainability and Community Needs

44:06 A Dream of Safe Homes for Everyone

How can we make our habitats more sustainable?

Architectural and energy designer, Liz Hauver dives into the world of energy-efficient design. She shares her journey into the field, breaks down the fundamentals of Passive House architecture, and highlights why energy modeling should be a core part of architectural education. Liz explores the cost and challenges of Passive House certification, the complexities of retrofitting, and what’s next for sustainable design in Massachusetts.

Liz on LinkedIn

Keywords

Passive House, Energy Design, Sustainable Architecture, Building Science, Massachusetts Energy Code, Architectural Education, Energy Modeling, Climate Adaptation, Retrofit Challenges, Funding for Sustainability

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:15 Personal Journey into Sustainable Design

05:07 Designing with Energy in Mind as a Student

07:21 Using Energy Modeling Software in Design

09:35 Certification and Cost Considerations

11:24 Choosing Passive House as a Specialization

14:24 Feasibility Studies and Design Recommendations

16:08 Key Features of Passive House Construction

19:03 Lessons Learned and New Building Practices

20:59 Adapting Passive House Principles to Different Climate Zones

22:53 Introduction to Passive House Design

25:14 The Role of New Technologies

27:32 Applying Passive House Principles to Buildings of Any Scale

29:07 The Cost and Benefits of Passive House Construction

30:50 Predicting Building Performance and Accounting for Occupant Behavior

32:29 Promoting Passive House Design through Education and Outreach

35:50 Challenges and Opportunities in Retrofitting Buildings to Passive House Standards

38:06 Fee Structuring and Educating Developers in Passive House Design

41:18 The Future of Passive House: Accessibility, Affordability, and Beyond Energy Efficiency