On Cities

In this next episode of ON CITIES, host Carie Penabad speaks with architect and educator, Mark Pasnik on his co-authored book: HEROIC: Concrete Architecture and the New Boston. The conversation explores the post war architectural movement (commonly referred to as Brutalism) and the groundbreaking concrete structures that re-imagined the City of Boston during the 1960s and 1970s. Beyond a mere architectural trend, this period reflects an urban transformation driven by public investment, resulting in a diverse array of civic, cultural and academic landmarks that epitomize concrete modernism. The discussion unveils some of the era's most iconic structures, like the Boston City Hall and Harvard's Carpenter Center, while tackling the period's troubled urban histories and the challenges of preserving these landmarks in the face of contemporary pressures for development and renovation. :Mark Pasnik is a professor of architecture at Wentworth Institute of Technology and a founding principal of the architecture and design firm OverUnder. He co-authored Heroic: Concrete Architecture and the New Boston with Michael Kubo and Chris Grimley and edited the books Henry N. Cobb: Words and Works 1948–2018 and Justice Is Beauty: MASS Design Group. Mark has received the AIA Young Architects Award and recognition for his scholarship from the Graham Foundation, Docomomo US, the Boston Preservation Alliance, Historic New England, and the Boston Society of Architects. He has taught previously at the California College of the Arts, Carnegie Mellon University, Harvard University, Northeastern University, and the Rhode Island School of Design. In addition to his scholarly work, Mark maintains an active professional practice with projects including a conservation management plan for Boston City Hall and adaptive re-use of athletic facilities at the University of Massachusetts.  Mark serves as chair of the Boston Art Commission and was selected in 2020 as an Out100 honoree, a designation which recognizes "culture-shifting impact" by members of the LGBTQ+ community.

In this next episode of ON CITIES, host Carie Penabad speaks with Gregg Pasquarelli, founding principal of the renowned architectural firm, SHoP Architects. We will explore how SHoP is challenging both the means and methods for how we design and produce buildings, as well as the archaic structures that guide the practice of architecture today. Pasquarelli will share insights into the firm's iconic buildings, highlighting the fusion of creativity, technology and technical precision that defines the work. Do not miss the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the transformative power of architecture in our ever- evolving world. Gregg received a Bachelor of Science from the School of Business at Villanova University and a Masters of Architecture from Columbia University. He co-founded the firm of SHoP Architects in 1997 and since that time, the firm has grown from a small design studio based in New York, to a leading architectural practice with a global footprint. I would like to highlight a few of the firm's notable projects including-------the Barclays Center at Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn, the two-mile esplanade and park along the East River Waterfront in New York, the Innovation Hub government complex in Botswana, the Supertall pencil tower at 111 W 57th Street and projects for Google and UBER headquarters.  In addition to his active professional practice, Gregg is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture at Columbia University. He has also taught at Yale, UVA and the University of Florida. He has lectured globally and has been featured in leading periodicals worldwide.  

In this next episode of ON CITIES, host Carie Penabad engages in a lively conversation with renowned educator and architecture Mohsen Mostafavi. Together, they delve into the rich tapestry of Japan's social and physical environments, exploring their historical underpinnings, current practices and future possibilities. Throughout its history, the Japanese city ahs served as a complex canvas for a multitude of influences and aspirations. Our discussion will explore how these forces have left their marks on the urban landscape, and what the future of the Japanese city may look like.  Mohsen Mostafavi is currently the Alexander and Victoria Wiley Professor of Design and Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor. He also served as Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Design from 2008-2019. His work focuses on modes and processes of urbanization and on the interface between technology and aesthetics. He was formerly the Gale and Ira Drukier Dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Planning at Cornell University where he was also the Arthur L. and Isabel B. Wiesenberger Professor in Architecture. Previously, he was the Chairman of the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London. He studied architecture at the AA, and undertook research on counter-reformation urban history at the Universities of Essex and Cambridge. Mostafavi is a Trustee of Smith College, an Honorary Trustee of the Norman Foster Foundation, and served on the Board of the Van Alen Institute as well as the Steering Committee and the Jury of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. His research and design projects have been published in numerous journals, and he has authored or co-authored more than a dozen books including Landscape Urbanism: A Manual for the Machinic Landscape (2004); Ecological Urbanism (co-edited with Gareth Doherty) and which was recently translated into Chinese, Portuguese, and Spanish); In the Life of Cities (2012); Ethics of the Urban: The City and the Spaces of the Political (2017); Sharing Tokyo: Artifice and the Social World and his forthcoming book: Reinventing Japan.  

In this next episode of ON CITIES, host Carie Penabad speaks with Neuroscientist Colin Ellard, whose work is at the intersection of psychology, architecture and urban design. Through his research, Ellard reveals how our surroundings directly impact our psychological well-being, offering a unique perspective on how we can create more harmonious and engaging environments for our communities. Tune in Friday, October 6th at 11:00 AM EST on the Voice America network for an enlightening conversation that promises to reveal the profound connections between our brains and the spaces we inhabit https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/4119/on-cities.  Colin Ellard is a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Waterloo in Canada and director of its Urban Realities Laboratory, where he works at the intersection of urban design and experimental psychology. He also partners with architects, museums and other NGOs on projects to enrich public debate about the built environment. Beyond his research and teachings, Ellard is the author of Places of the Heart: The Psychogeography of Everyday Life (2015) and Where am I? Why We Can Find Our Way to the Moon but Get Lost in the Mall (2014).

In this episode of ON CITIES, host Carie Penabad will be speaking with Hèléne Chartier, Director of Urban Planning and Design at C40 Cities, a leading global organization dedicated to sustainable urban development. At the forefront of urban sustainability, C40 works tirelessly to forge a path towards Low Carbon Cities, our episode's central theme. We will delve into the organization's mission and explore best practice from around the world aimed at creating greener, more sustainable and environmentally conscious cities. Tune in Friday, September 8th at 11:00 AM EST, 8:00 AM PST on the Voice America Variety Channel https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/4119/on-cities ; and find all previous episodes on Spotify, Apple iTunes or your favorite podcast platform. Hélène Chartier is the Director of Urban Planning and Design at C40. The team she leads develops programs and activities that support cities to accelerate sustainable and resilient urban planning policies and design practices. Her team leads the C40 Land Use Planning Network, which supports cities to institutionalize climate action through urban planning regulations; the Reinventing Cities competition, which delivers decarbonised and resilient urban regeneration projects; as well as the Green and Thriving Neighbourhoods programme and C40's workstream on 15-minute cities. Hélène previously served as an advisor to the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo. She also worked for the Paris Urbanism Agency and the global consulting firm Arup. Hélène holds a Master's degree in science and engineering from the École Centrale with a specialization in building and civil engineering. In the past 15 years, Hélène has lived and worked in Paris, London and New York.

In this episode of ON CITIES, host Carie Penabad speaks with notable lawyer Jeff Bass on the relationship between urban design and its pivotal tool, zoning regulations. The conversation will explore the historical evolution of zoning in America, unveiling its hidden influence on the physical and social fabric of our communities. Bass will delve into the ways that regulatory frameworks wield the power to shape cities and landscapes, foster community cohesion and dictate the interplay between public and private space. Do not miss this conversation, as we navigate the ongoing debate between creativity and control in the design of the built environment. Tune in on Friday, September 1, 2023 at 11:00 AM EST, 8:00 AM PST on the Voice America Variety Channel https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/4119/on-cities ; and find all previous episodes on Spotify, Apple iTunes or your favorite podcast platform. Jeffrey S. Bass is a founding member of Shubin Bass law firm, based in Miami. He represents municipal and county government, universities, businesses, and individuals in all manner of conflicts involving the use and development of real property, property rights, entitlements, constitutional law, zoning disputes, historic preservation, local government law, business disputes, regulatory conflicts, environmental disputes, and trust and estate litigation. Beyond the foregoing, Jeff frequently serves as a counselor to large institutions and national law firms seeking to navigate Florida's complex regulatory regimes with respect to zoning, land use, and development. In 2021, Best Lawyers named Jeff Lawyer of the Year in litigation, land use, and zoning. In addition to his practice, Jeff pioneered a course on the regulation of design at the University of Miami School of Architecture and within the University of Miami's Masters in Real Estate Development program. He also lectures throughout the State of Florida on land use and litigation issues. On September 29, 2008, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission awarded the Carnegie Medal for Outstanding Act of Heroism to Jeff for risking his own life to successfully rescue an unconscious and badly injured near-drowning victim in the waters off of Key Largo, Florida. For this life-saving rescue, Jeff was also recognized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and by the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners.  

In this episode of ON CITIES, host Carie Penabad speaks with acclaimed architect and educator Nader Tehrani. In this illuminating conversation, Tehrani delves into the intricate relationship between material culture and tectonic innovation. He elaborates on the ways that his work seeks to disrupt the construction industry by bridging the gap between the world of ideas and the world of making. Tune in Friday, August 18, 2023 at 11:00 AM EST, 8:00 AM PST on the Voice America Variety Channel https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/4119/on-cities and uncover the artistry and ingenuity behind the creation of spaces that shape our physical environment and impact the quality of our lives. You can find all previous episodes on Spotify, Apple iTunes or your favorite podcast platform. Nader Tehrani is the Principal of NADAAA, an architectural and urban design practice dedicated to the advancement of design innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and an intensive dialogue with the construction industry. He is also the former Dean of The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture of The Cooper Union in New York and was previously a professor of architecture at MIT, where he served as the Head of the Department from 2010-2014. He received a B.F.A. and a B. Arch from The Rhode Island School of Design and continued his studies at The Architectural Association in London, where he attended the Post-Graduate program in History and Theory. Upon his return to The United States, Tehrani received his M.A.U.D from The Harvard Graduate School of Design. Tehrani has taught at numerous institutions throughout the globe and his work has been recognized with notable awards, including eighteen Progressive Architecture Awards, a finalist for the 2017 Moriyama RAIC International Prize, and a nominee for the 2017 Marcus Prize; and over the past seven years, NADAAA has ranked as a top design firm in Architect Magazine's Top 50 U.S. Firms List. For his contributions to architecture as an art, Nader Tehrani is the recipient of the 2020 Arnold W. Brunner Memorial Prize from The American Academy of Arts and Letters, to which he was also elected as a member in 2021, the highest form of recognition of artistic merit in The United States.

Architect and urbanist, John Massengale knows how to fix America's neighborhoods, cities and towns by making them walkable again. In this next episode of ON CITIES, Massengale will share his insights on how good street design can increase happiness, unlock economic value, improve our health and lower our carbon footprint. Tune in Friday, August 4, 2023 at 11:00 AM EST, 8:00 PST on the Voice America Variety Channel https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/4119/on-cities; and find all previous episodes on Spotify, Apple iTunes or your favorite podcast platform. John Massengale, AIA, is a thought leader on the connections between urban design, architecture, walkability, and placemaking. As principal at Massengale & Co. and the author of three books, he has more than 25 years' experience designing projects in Europe and across America. His planning work spans a range of situations from suburban retrofits and designing new towns to urban infill and urban regeneration. At every scale--from arranging rooms to arranging buildings to organizing street plans--Massengale emphasizes context and the importance of making places where people want to be. Massengale is co-author with Victor Dover, FAICP, of Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns (Wiley, 2014) with foreword by HRH The Prince of Wales. He is also the co-author, with Robert A.M. Stern and Gregory Gilmartin, of New York 1900: Metropolitan Architecture and Urbanism 1890-1915 (Rizzoli, 1983) and The Anglo-American Suburb (St. Martin's Press, 1981). A Board member of the Congress for the New Urbanism, Massengale was previously the founding Chair of CNU New York. He also served as a Director of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art. As the founder of Massengale & Co., John leads a design team that is known for creative and beautiful work in regional and Classical traditions from New York to New Mexico. Massengale has taught design studios at various institutions; and he holds an A.B. from Harvard College and an MARCH from the University of Pennsylvania.

"All our knowledge has its origin in our perceptions" stated the great Renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci. Thus, perception and place are integral in the making of art. In this episode of ON CITIES, host Carie Penabad will speak with acclaimed artist Gonzalo Fuenmayor, whose intricate charcoal drawings and mesmerizing large-scale installations skillfully explore the complexities of place, identity and the interconnectedness of cultures. His mastery of chiaroscuro creates an ethereal atmosphere that draws the viewer into a surreal and dreamlike world while providing a powerful commentary on history, heritage and societal constructs. Tune in Friday, August 4, 2023 at 11:00 AM EST, 8:00 PST on the Voice America Variety Channel https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/4119/on-cities; and find all previous episodes on Spotify, Apple iTunes or your favorite podcast platform. Gonzalo Fuenmayor is a Miami-based artist. He has been concerned about the effects of modernization and progress not only on natural environments, but mostly on Latin American culture and its ways of being displayed internationally through stereotypes and common places. His aim is not only to denounce banalization but also to understand its aesthetic mechanisms and cultural power. Fuenmayor received an MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA in 2004, and a BFA in Fine Arts and Art Education from the School of Visual Arts in 2000. Fuenmayor has been awarded numerous prizes including a Pollock Krasner Foundation Grant in 2022, the 2020 EFG Bank Latin American Award, a 2018 Ellies Creator Award, a 2015 South Florida Cultural Consortium Fellowship for Visual and Media Artists, a Traveling Fellowship by the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 2014, among others. He has exhibited in numerous solo and group shows in USA, Latin America and Europe; his work was recently showcased in The Florida Prize 2020, at the Baker Museum in Naples, FL, a solo exhibition "Tropical Mythologies" at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 2015, "Caribbean Crossroads" Exhibition at the Queens Museum, NY. His work is part of numerous private and public collections; and he is represented by Dot Fiftyone Gallery, Miami, Dolby Chadwick Gallery, San Francisco, Fernando Pradilla Gallery, Madrid and El Museo Gallery in Bogotá.

In this episode of ON CITIES, host Carie Penabad speaks with Shin-pei Tsay, Director of Global Policy for Cities and Sustainability at Uber. Shin -pei shares her perspectives on transportation design, advocacy and policy. She argues that technology will not change the fundamentals of place, people and experience must be at the center of the discussion if we are to make long lasting and meaningful changes to our transportation networks. Learn about her latest initiatives at Uber and how these ideas could change the way we move through cities.   Shin-pei Tsay's experience converges at the intersection of design, policy, and governance to transform the built environment with a focus on sustainable and inclusive transportation. She is currently Director of Global Policy for Cities and Sustainability at Uber where she leads a team focused on creating a sustainable, inclusive, and multi-modal urban future. Prior to joining Uber, she founded Make Public, a social impact analysis firm that specializes in the public realm and was executive director of Gehl Institute, a non-profit that advocated for public life and public spaces. Shin-pei has also served as deputy executive director of TransitCenter, a national foundation focused on improving urban transportation, and director of the Cities and Transportation Program, part of the Energy and Climate Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Shin-pei was a commissioner for the NYC Public Design Commission and taught urban design at Columbia University and Parsons School of Design. She is currently Vice-Chair of the San Francisco board for SPUR and a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Futures Council for Cities. She holds a BA from Cornell University and a MSc from London School of Economics.