Failed Architecture

*/ ?>

Latest Episodes:

Trad Day, Part II w/ Michael, Kevin + Joshua Mar 16, 2021

Show notes

In this follow-up of Breezeblock #15, FA editors Michael Nicholas, Kevin Rogan, and Joshua McWhirter dive into the weird world of traditional architecture revivalism, or ‘trad arch’ for short. Where the first part of this discussion focused on a critique of the intellectual undercurrents of the trad arch movement, here, the editors explore how the trad impulse folds back onto the real world, from historic preservation projects, to former president Donald Trump’s infamous, and recently revoked, executive order mandating a ‘classical’ style for government buildings in the United States.

On Political T̷e̷m̷p̷e̷r̷a̷m̷e̷n̷t̷ Action w/ Marianela D’Aprile Feb 22, 2021

Show notes

A few weeks ago, Yale Architecture professor Keller Easterling penned an article titled ‘On Political Temperament’, which became the subject of heated conversation about the role of architecture theory in discussions of politics. In response, Marianela D’Aprile wrote ‘Not Everything is Architecture’ for Common Edge. For Breezeblock #16, FA editor Michael Nicholas spoke to Marianela and fellow editor Kevin Rogan about Easterling’s new book Medium Design, the role of architects as workers in the class struggle, and the politics of the architecture profession at large.

Trad Day, Part I w/ Michael, Kevin + Joshua Feb 04, 2021

Show notes

In this first installment of a two-part episode, FA editors Michael Nicholas, Kevin Rogan and Joshua McWhirter discuss the weird world of traditional architecture revivalism, or ‘trad architecture’ for short. Starting with a critique of pop philosopher Alain de Botton’s recent article ‘Why is the Modern World so Ugly?’, the three editors examine the surface-level aesthetic fixations and flattened historical perceptions of the trad architecture movement — so often a cipher for the exaltation of ‘Western’ culture, even as it makes claims to an apolitical stance.

UVW SAW, Union Organising, COVID Safety w/ Keri Monaghan Jan 12, 2021

Show notes

Last week members of trade union United Voices of the World — Section Architectural Workers (UVW SAW), walked out of two architectural offices over COVID-19 safety concerns. For Breezeblock #14, FA’s Charlie Clemoes interviewed UVW SAW elected organiser Keri Monaghan to discuss the strike, the recent work of UVW SAW in its first year as a union, and what the future holds for workplace organisation in the architecture profession.

Design, Mass Protests, Political Dissent w/ Jilly Traganou Dec 10, 2020

Show notes

FA editor Joshua McWhirter speaks to Jilly Traganou, editor of the recently published book ‘Design and Political Dissent: Spaces, Visuals, Materialities’. Near the end of a year filled with mass protests on streets across the United States and the world, Jilly talks about some of the book’s themes and their significance during a moment when many architects are thinking about how to leverage their skills in the service of social justice movements.

The Future of Amsterdam’s Red Light District w/ René + Charlie Nov 17, 2020

Show notes

In the 12th Breezeblock episode, FA editors Charlie Clemoes and René Boer discuss the future of De Wallen (aka Amsterdam’s Red Light District), which is under increasing threat from the so-called “smooth city”: the safe, clean, well-functioning and homogenous urban environment that has been taking over cities around the world in the past few decades.

In the episode, they talk about the ways in which the municipality, developers and various old white dudes are conspiring to frame the neighbourhood as an “urban jungle” and pushing to replace it with a “monumental garden”. Against these moves, René has written a counter-manifesto, “Wallen 2020”, which is intended to galvanise resistance to the neighbourhood’s creeping sanitisation.

A City of Our Own w/ Chiara + María Oct 10, 2020

Show notes

For #Breezeblock 11, FA editors Chiara Dorbolò and María Mazzanti discuss Failed Architecture special series A City of Our Own: Urbanism for the 99%.

Land Reparations w/ kuwa jasiri indomela Jul 29, 2020

Show notes

Breezeblock #10 acknowledges that land reparations have remained largely unaddressed by the architecture profession, despite the glaring adjacency of building, landscape, and planning to land and the colonial concept of property. What do land reparations really mean for the many communities who have been harmed in different ways by white supremacy?

Having connected through recent movements on work seed distribution and community gardens in the midst of the BLM protests, kuwa jasiri and FA’s Christin HU share recent personal experiences and current work, as well as thoughts on the unanimous city council vote in Asheville, North Carolina (US).

Buildings Don’t Matter, Too w/ Bassem + Kevin Jul 27, 2020

Show notes

Breezeblock #9 departs from the fact that in the early days of the protests following the death of George Floyd the Philadelphia Inquirer published a cover story written by Inga Saffron whose headline made the infamous claim that “Buildings Matter, Too”. Responding to the article, our editors Bassem Saad and Kevin Rogan discuss the value of looting and destruction of private property, with special reference to recent uprisings in the US and Lebanon.

Digital Activism, Women Architects, Pritzker Prize w/ Arielle Assouline-Lichten Jul 15, 2020

Show notes

For Breezeblock #8, FA editor María Mazzanti spoke with Arielle Assouline-Lichten about the invisibility of women architects, Denise Scott Brown and the Pritzker Prize, and Wikipedia editing activism.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Failed Architecture

Related Podcasts

1

2

3

4

5

6