Open City

In this third and final episode, Selasi is joined by Akil Scafe-Smith, a member of the interdisciplinary design team Resolve. In this round table discussion, they explore how informal spaces such as pubs and coffee shops in our cities can be sites for establishing power, and become places of resistance. Through an in depth analysis of the Jamaica Wine House on St Michael's Alley, we question what we mean by informal spaces and examine the myths and rituals that mobilise power in these spaces. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Six finalists vying to upgrade the National Gallery’s Sainsbury Wing, two winners announced for this year’s Antepavilion, campaigners urge London’s mayor to block Ealing Council’s town hall redevelopment, and the future of nightclubs called into question – Merlin Fulcher and special guest Amanda Baillieu round up this week’s top London architecture news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we speak with academic Anita Rupprecht from the University of Brighton, specialising in interconnected histories and representations of British transatlantic slavery, and Dalia Gebrial, a Rhodes must fall campaigner and PhD student of race, work & digital economy.In the second episode of this series, through an analysis of London’s Guildhall in relation to the Zong massacre, we explore collective amnesia, how society processes guilt with regards to our colonial past, how we can move forward, and what role - if any - does our city's architecture play in this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London architect hit with online abuse for criticising Georgian new builds, Square Mile skyscraper set for record £1.8bn sale despite the Work from Home boom, architecture organisations left with slim pickings from the Government’s cultural recovery fund, the Barbican Centre announces a new exhibition on radical 1980s feminist architecture cooperative Matrix, and a new National Covid Memorial takes shape on the Southbank. Zoe Cave and special guest Phineas Harper round up this week’s top London architecture news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we speak to Kehinde Andrews, Professor of Black Studies at Birmingham City University and the author of ‘The new age of empire: how racism and colonialism still rule the world’, and Professor Ola Uduku, research professor at the Manchester school of architecture. Through an analysis of the Royal Exchange, we explore how architecture and the built environment can symbolise and embody the legacies of slavery, empire, and colonialism.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parliament launches a major inquiry into whole life carbon, the slavery links of City landmarks explored in a new Open City Podcast, Stirling Prize winner Haworth Tompkins designs an industrial estate, and reflecting on Zaha Hadid’s legacy five years since she died. Merlin Fulcher and special guest Ewa Effiom round up this week’s top London architecture news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Architectural assistants speak out over poor pay and conditions. Developer rebuilds Maida Vale pub six years after pulling it down'. A parliamentary inquiry launched into permitted development rights. Seven concepts shortlisted for Hackney’s embattled Antepavilion commission. Assemble named among 10 winners in the Festival of Brexit contest. Merlin Fulcher and special guest Ella Jessel round up this week’s top London architecture news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New restrictions on protests in public spaces, Sarah Everard’s murder and vigil shines a light on spatial inequality, and France’s anti-demolition architects Lacaton & Vassal win the Pritzker Prize – Merlin Fulcher and special guests Oonagh Ryder and Phineas Harper round up this week’s top London architecture news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London Plan finally published after watering down by government, a social housing architect wins the prestigious MJ Long Prize, RIBA unearths ‘lost’ lectures by women architects and London-based design blog Dezeen sold to new owners – Merlin Fulcher and special guest Hettie O’Brien round up this week’s top London architecture news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A budget for rising house prices, London air pollution narrowly misses a new peak, gender neutral toilets targeted in new building regs consultation, a housing historian picked to lead London School of Architecture and Camden vs Hackney: the final of the Borough Logos World Cup – Merlin Fulcher and special guest Jonn Elledge round up this week’s top London architecture news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barbican Centre heading for major renewal after Centre for Music scrapped, a row over ‘poor cores’ in Walthamstow, the Church of England promises ‘generous’ use of its land for new homes and Boris Johnson’s vision for a huge roundabout under the Isle of Man – Merlin Fulcher and special guest Lucy Watson round up this week’s top London architecture news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A competition to rethink National Gallery’s Sainsbury Wing, the team behind New York’s Highline chosen for the Camden Highline, a 25-metre tall mound proposed for Marble Arch, and the viral job advert to be Thomas Heatherwick’s new personal assistant – Merlin Fulcher and special guest Catherine Slessor round up and digest this week’s big architecture stories in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Demolition go-ahead for Brixton’s iconic Cressingham Gardens, a double blow for planning as trailblazer Finn Williams leaves for Sweden and sensational YouTube video exposes committee shambles, and the looming fire sale of Croydon’s Brick by Brick housebuilding arm – Merlin Fulcher and special guest Will Ing round up and decode this week’s big architecture stories in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Protestors tunnelling under Euston Square, enormous British Library extension plans, and warning sounds over jobs in the centre of the capital – Merlin Fulcher and Phineas Harper round up and decode this week’s big architecture stories in London Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do we agree to pay extortionate prices for poor quality housing, and will this ever change?In this episode we are joined by Alastair Parvin, founder of Open Systems Lab, to discuss the role land plays in making our urban landscape so political. The latest podcast follows on from our previous episode with Emma Dent Coad, former Labour MP for Kensington, where we discussed housing, the crisis we are in and how competing visions of the city make architecture so political. In this episode we dig deeper into the history of land, it’s increasing value and where this has left us today…We also talk with Anurag Verma, chairman of the community land trust, Russ, in Lewisham who sheds light on how things can be done differently.Listen to Why is Architecture so Political: https://bit.ly/39uXkWl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this second part of our two-part episode we continue exploring all the amazing work local people are doing to create spaces and opportunities to thrive in the shadow of ambitious regeneration agendas.Part one is available here: https://open-city.org.uk/podcast-episodes/the-city-and-the-sandwich-22mr6-5m78r Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this two part episode we will be learning about one of London's most important roads, Old Kent Road, and the work that local people are doing to make sure that the future of the area is one that belongs to them and their communities. Hosts Arman Nouri and Selasi Setufe are joined by Nicholas Okwulu, social entrepreneur, community organiser and founder of Livesey Exchange - a grassroots cultural and educational space and a vital part of the people's plan to make the multi-billion regeneration of Old Kent Road something that works for them. Over two episodes, we will drive rich industrial history of Old Kent Road, tracing its story through the wreckage of WW2 and exploring the amazing work that local people are doing to create spaces and opportunities to thrive in the shadow of ambitious regeneration agendas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we will be discussing how our modes of transport have changed - what works, what doesn’t and what is still needed to make our journeys accessible, enjoyable and effective. Hosts Lara Kinneir and Arman Nouri are joined by Joe Kerr, architectural historian and bus driver of the No.19 route that journeys from Finsbury Park to Battersea Bridge and Jon Little, transport engineer behind the Mini Holland project in Walthamstow, East London. Specifically, this episode looks at how London can provide a greater diversity of transport modes for public need, and what the challenges are for those that provide some of these transport offers, and those that negotiate their design and delivery.https://open-city.org.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can a cheddar and pickle baguette shape our city? Why does a £3 flat white make a difference to how open a city is? This episode looks at the work and lifestyle habits of the fast consumer city and how our cities start to look and run when they cater to the well heeled urban professional. Hosts Lara Kinneir and Zoe Cave look to the big issues of a global economy on our cities and high streets, alongside the everyday experiences of the humble cafe and its visitors. They are joined by James Meadway, economist and Associate Fellow at the Centre for Economic Justice who discusses how the economy has shaped the city and how we live and consume within it. Alongside this, a visit to the 120 year old E’PElliccis cafe in East London gives an insight into how independent offers in the city survive and strive to serve the communities they are in despite the turbulence of economic social change. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"In this Open House special episode we will be talking about how young people are currently shut out of the conversation about planning and regeneration and how they could help design the happy, healthy, sustainable London we all want. Specifically we will be discussing a new Youth Engagement Toolkit which has been developed by Grosvenor Britain & Ireland with ZCD Architects, Sport England and the TCPA as part of a drive to transform our approach to city making.In this episode we are joined by Matt Bell, Director of Corporate Affairs for Grosvenor, Dinah Bornat, Director at ZCD Architects, Hamza Taouzzale, Labour Councillor for Queens Park Ward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosts Merlin Fulcher and Lara Kinneir will be talking about the architecture of London’s bridges. Specifically this episode will be focussing on Illuminated River, an ongoing £20 million project to create a slowly colour-changing lighting scheme synchronised across all 15 of central London’s crossings. It’s designed by US artist Leo Villareal with London architects Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands and you can see the first phase in place on London Bridge, Canon Street Railway Bridge, Southwark Bridge and Millenium Bridge any evening. With the second phase stretching up to Lambeth Bridge now under way for a spring 2021 completion, it’s an ideal moment to reflect on the bridges themselves and the role light can play in enhancing our experience of their extraordinary architecture.We are joined by Sarah Gaventa, director of Illuminated River Foundation and Benedict O’Looney, director, Benedict O’Looney architects. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Merlin Fulcher and Arman Nouri are joined by Emma Dent Coad, former Labour MP for Kensington to discuss why architecture and housing is so political. Dent Coad -- who remains a councillor at Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea -- will discuss how the stories of the Trellick and Grenfell towers reflect the failure of politics to safeguard the notion of public housing as a public good.The debate will cover topical issues stemming from the present housing crisis such as micro-apartments, help to buy and estate regeneration while also revealing the limited lived experiences of MPs who seek to address our present challenges. It will ask whether a new generation of visionaries could be the solution, and how the story of Barcelona shows one way forward... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Open House special episode we will be talking about how imagination -- such as myths which celebrate our real or fictional past -- can transform how we see the city around us, and in turn create better places for everyone. Specifically we will be focussing on Seething Wells in Surbiton, a large former waterworks which played a pioneering role in the delivery of clean drinking water to central London, and was a focus of Jon Snow’s groundbreaking cholera study which created modern epidemiology.https://open-city.org.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Open House special episode hosts Merlin Fulcher and Zoe Cave are joined by Ed Green from Grosvenor and Catherine Greig of make:good to discuss green spaces and their future during a time of climate crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically this episode will be focussing on Grosvenor Square in Mayfair which is poised to undergo an ambitious renewal to unlock its full potential as an urban oasis meeting the needs and expectations of our twenty-first century capital. Could the new Grosvenor Square and the deep ongoing discussions around its transformation offer a new template for other public spaces in these challenging times?To learn more about Grosvenor Square click here: https://www.grosvenorsquare.org/To find out more about The Open City Podcast: https://open-city.org.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode of the Open City podcast, we speak to the guest-editor of the book, critic and author, Owen Hatherley, who talks about why this guide and its focus on the extraordinariness of the more ordinary parts of London, is a rare find when talking about the capital’s architecture. We discuss pertinent topics such as London before, during and after lockdown; the disparity between how London is imagined and viewed, compared to how it is lived and experienced across the boroughs; and the unique spatial configurations of this city that shapes the lives of Londoners.The episode is a refreshing and optimistic take on London and Londoners, why so many people build a life here and the architecture that supports and enriches this.To find out more: https://open-city.org.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We know active travel is good for health and limiting infection, improves air quality and the quality of our public spaces -- yet even now some of London’s busiest streets remain choked with traffic and are often perilous. So what is holding us back? In this Open House special episode we will be talking to Bruce McVean, Clarisse Tavin, and Laurie Miller-Zutshi from the City of London Corporation which has taken the opportunity to move swiftly in delivering a series of walkability and cyclist friendly upgrades that are in line with its long-term Transport Strategy.Find out more: https://bit.ly/3hK56wj Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No industry contributes more to global warming than construction. To fight climate change we must radically reform how our cities are designed. In this episode of the Open City podcast, we dive into the cutting edge of ecological architecture with Maria Smith and Clara Bagenal George.To find out more: https://bit.ly/3myifMx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London's historic monuments and statues are in the spotlight following the Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. As we re-interpret Britain's imperial and slave trading past, big questions are being asked about the creation, maintenance, removal and renewal of public artworks. In this episode of the Open City Podcast we talk to Paul Butler, one of the artists behind the Cable Street Mural which commemorates the moment where Jewish and Irish working class communities rallied together against an intolerant march through their neighbourhood.To find out more: https://bit.ly/3hFKW6t Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The new Open City Podcast will be hosted by a roster of rising stars in architectural criticism, planning and public engagement, and will feature interviews and discussions with leading experts from across architecture and design, as well as artists, academics, economists, policy makers and citizens. This introductory episode features each host reflecting on their work and ambitions for discussions taking place in the podcast. To find out more: https://open-city.org.uk/podcast-episodes/introducing-our-hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.