Justin O’Connor: Community, culture and the city.

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

In this episode of A is for Architecture, architect, historian, and scholar Stylianos Giamarelos, speaks about his recent book, Resisting Postmodern Architecture: Critical Regionalism Before Globalisation, published by UCL press in 2022. Postmodernism reshaped architecture in the late 20th century. Stylianos discusses how in turn, critical regionalism emerged in resistance to postmodernity’s eclecticism, and modernism’s cultural bulldozer, offering as it did (and perhaps still does) a more culturally rooted approach to architecture. The origin story we are told of critical regionalism though, is squiffy. Stylianos argues instead that its emergence was in fact shaped by overlooked voices in architectural history, particularly from regions considered peripheral to modernist architectural narratives. We talk through Stylianos’ proposal for a renewed critical regionalism, one that supports the ongoing project of making place and space that sustains communities in a globalised and rhizomatic world.Stelios is Associate Professor at The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL and can be found there and on LinkedIn. 🎧 Listen now for some new-old school fusions!#Postmodernism #CriticalRegionalism #ArchitecturalTheory #StylianosGiamarelos #KennethFrampton #AlexanderTzonis #LianeLefaivre #AisforArchitecture+ Music credits: ⁠Bruno GillickImage credit: [Suzana and Dimitris Antonakakis, first-floor apartment, living room, apartment building at 118 Benaki Street, photographed by Dimitris Antonakakis, 1975 (courtesy: Suzana and Dimitris Antonakakis' private archive].

In this episode of A is for Architecture, urban sociologist Robert G. Hollands discusses some themes of his book, Beyond the Neoliberal Creative City: Critique and Alternatives in the Urban Cultural Economy, published by Bristol University Press (2023). We discuss the nature and problems of the "creative city" model, its impact on gentrification and inequality, and alternative urban strategies that promote grassroots initiatives and cultural sustainability.In the book, Robert exposes the contradictions and injustices of the neoliberal creative city. But per the title, he goes beyond critique and advocates for alternative urban models based on justice, sustainability and participatory governance, proposing new ways cities can foster creativity without fuelling displacement.A good episode for anyone involved in equitable city-making.Robert is Emeritus Professor of Sociology in the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology at Newcastle University, and can be found there and on LinkedIn. 📖 Learn more about the book: Bristol University Press🎧 Listen now and rethink the future of our cities!📢#UrbanPlanning #CreativeCity #ArchitecturePodcast #RobertGHollands #CityDevelopment #UrbanAlternatives #Gentrification #CulturalEconomy #SustainableCities #AisforArchitecture+ Music credits: ⁠Bruno Gillick

In the newest episode of A is for Architecture, Professor Chris Younès – philosopher, professor emerita at the National School of Architecture of Paris-La Villette and the École Spéciale d'Architecture, a Silver Medalist of the Academy of Architecture in 2005 and Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 2014 - discusses the 2024 edition of her book, Architectures of Existence: Ethics, Aesthetics, Politics (Routledge), translated by Cozette Griffin. Building around the notion of [an] ecosophy, Chris explores how the spaces we inhabit shape our identities, experiences, and relationships with both human and non-human worlds. In an era of intersecting crises and social fragmentation, driven by the systems we’ve built to sustain our way of life—can architecture help us reimagine how we live together? Genuinely, Chris is amazing to listen to, so please do.  Chris can be found professionally here. The book is linked above.🎧 Listen now (or quite soon) on only the greatest podcast platforms for more discussions on architecture, philosophy and ethics!📢 #Architecture #Philosophy #Ecosophy #Urbanism #Ethics #Sustainability #ChrisYounes #ArchitecturesOfExistence+ Music credits: ⁠Bruno Gillick

In the latest episode of A is for Architecture,Dr. Cameron McEwan, Associate Professor of Architecture at Northumbria University discusses some few of the ideas behind his book, Analogical City (Punctum Books, 2024), including the relationship between architecture, urban form, and the ways we think about and design cities. Drawing on Aldo Rossi’s concept of the analogical city, Cameron challenges us to rethink the role of history, memory and analogy in shaping the built environment. We discuss how cities transcend their functional role, particularly as it was conceptualised in postwar modernism, but are instead  dynamic entities shaped by layers of meaning, history and collective memory and tradition. Reflecting on the ethical and emancipatory imperatives driving Rossi’ vision, Cameron also reflects on how analogical thinking can help architects, urbanists, and scholars engage with contemporary urban challenges in new and creative ways.Cameron can be found at his workplacehere, and onX,LinkedIn andInstagram. The book is linked above.🎧 Listen now on only the best podcast platforms for more discussions on architecture and stuff!#Architecture #UrbanDesign #AnalogicalCity #UrbanTheory #AldoRossi #ArchitecturalTheory #Urbanism #CreativeCities + Music credits: ⁠Bruno Gillick