Failed Architecture

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Failed Architecture is a podcast on architecture and the real world. By opening up new perspectives on the built environment, we seek to explore the meaning of architecture in contemporary society. FA challenges dominant spatial fashions and explores alternative realities, reaching far beyond the ar…

Failed Architecture


    • Oct 3, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 31m AVG DURATION
    • 50 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Failed Architecture

    On Discomfort: Episode 3 w/ Sasha Plotnikova, Juana, María Victoria and María

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2022 30:59


    Architectural Workers Organising in Europe w/Marisa Cortright, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2022 25:11


    Architectural Workers Organising in Europe w/Marisa Cortright, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 25:35


    FURIA/ w Felipe Arturo.

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2022 31:09


    On Discomfort: Episode 2 w/ René, Juana, María Victoria and María

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2022 26:33


    On Discomfort: Episode 1 w/ Juana, Maria Victoria and María

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2022 13:39


    Huellas de Desaparición w/ Manuel Correa (Forensic Architecture)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2022 15:43


    Para el BB # 27, la editora María Mazzanti habló con Manuel Correa sobre la exposición Huellas de Desaparición en Bogotá.

    Stories on Earth: Rhino: An Alternative Story w/ Anna Maria Fink & Mizt aan de Maas

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2021 23:00


    For Breezeblock 26, Eda talks to fellow editors Bassem Saad and Ameneh Solati about "Rhino: An Alternative Story" their contribution to the Stories on Earth project, Failed Architecture's contribution to the public parallel programme of the Dutch Pavilion during the 17th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.

    Stories on Earth w/ Bassem Saad & Ameneh Solati

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2021 17:50


    For Breezeblock 25, Christin talks to fellow editors Bassem Saad and Ameneh Solati about "The Great Reanimation" their contribution to the Stories on Earth project, Failed Architecture's contribution to the public parallel programme of the Dutch Pavilion during the 17th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.

    Stories on Earth: Sacred Planetary Garden w/ Karin Lachmising and Angelo Renna

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2021 19:38


    For Breezeblock 24, Christin talks to Karin Lachmising and Angelo Renna about "Sacred Planetary Garden" their contribution to the Stories on Earth project, Failed Architecture's contribution to the public parallel programme of the Dutch Pavilion during the 17th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.

    Stories on Earth w/ Chiara and Daphne

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2021 27:14


    For Breezeblock 23, Charlie talks to fellow editors Chiara Dorbolò and Daphne Bakker about Stories on Earth, Failed Architecture's contribution to the public parallel programme of the Dutch Pavilion during the 17th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.

    Protestas en Colombia y Legitimidad Narrativa w/ Juan Corcione

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2021 20:04


    Para este Breezeblock (el primero en español) la editora María Mazzanti habló con Juan Corcione, publicista y académico colombiano que trabaja sobre cultura visual, teorías de la imagen y políticas del placer y el ocio. Juan ha venido reflexionando sobre las protestas masivas en Colombia que empezaron el 28 de Abril de 2021. En el podcast, Juan y María discuten sobre las dinámicas de la protesta y su influencia en la conquista narrativa de un país en conflicto, donde a través de imágenes digitales y la resignificación del espacio público los ciudadanos batallan por la legitimidad de un nuevo relato político.

    Breezeblock #22 Design Justice w/ Quilian Riano

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2021 35:00


    A conversation on design justice with Quilian Riano, the first in a series of conversations, where we'll be talking to organizers engaged in ending systemic racism in architecture and design, and re-imagining a just and liberated future. 

    #14 La Ciudad es Nuestra, La Noche es Nuestra

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2021 61:18


    In the midst of the unprecedented and massive protests that erupted in Colombia on April 28th, the Failed Architecture team talked to Temblores. This NGO has led the call for police reform and has strongly advocated for historically marginalized communities whose right to access and inhabit public spaces have been persistently denied, criminalized, and subjected to police violence.

    Swarming the Red Light District w/ Floor, Tools For Action, Juli Salamanca & Papaya Kuir

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2021 19:30


    This spring, FA initiated ‘Situations', an event series aiming to take critical reflections on architecture and space from the digital realm to the real world. Breezeblock #21 was recorded shortly after the second Situation ‘Swarming the Red Light District With Sound', when our editor René Boer hosted a conversation with some of the organisers and participants, at a moment when everybody was pretty excited and also somewhat exhausted after having been swarming around the neighborhood for the past hour.

    Private Views w/ Andi Schmied

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2021 18:40


    For Breezeblock #20, FA NYC editor Michael Nicholas spoke to Andi Schmied, whose book Private Views documents her experiences being shown around high-rise luxury apartments in New York disguised as a Hungarian billionaire. Through transcripts of conversations with brokers, photos of views not intended to be seen by the public, and a number of essays from contributors on the subject, the book illuminates how inequality is built into New York City's real estate market.

    #13 Heroin is Everywhere Now, And It’s Everyone’s Problem

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2021


    Popular culture has seriously obscured our idea of where heroin is produced, who uses it, how it gets to the places where it’s used, and why it ends up in these places… this episode of the Failed Architecture Podcast sets the record straight by tracing the drug's hidden historical geography.

    Paint Your Town Red w/ Rhian E. Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2021 25:46


    For Breezeblock #19, FA's Charlie Clemoes talked to Rhian E. Jones about Preston, community wealth building, and its capacity to radically transform our approach to development.

    Radio Alhara, Sonic Space, Beyond Palestine w/ Elias & Yousef Anastas

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2021 16:23


    For Breezeblock #18, FA organiser René Boer talks to the founders of Radio Alhara, architects Elias and Yousef Anastas, on the one year anniversary of their radio project. It was launched in Bethlehem at the start of the global lockdown and by now has become a sonic public space reaching well beyond the confines of Palestine.

    Trad Day, Part II w/ Michael, Kevin + Joshua

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2021 14:49


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 21:10


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2021 16:01


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2021 13:00


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2020 17:57


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2020 13:00


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2020 14:10


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2020 15:45


    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?

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2020 19:18


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2020 16:12


    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.

    India, Migrant Workers, COVID-19, Pune w/ Shruti Hussain

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2020 14:57


    In the seventh Breezeblock episode, FA editor Charlie Clemoes speaks to Pune-based architect, journalist and researcher Shruti Hussain about the current situation for migrant workers in India amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Moving an Entire City, Kiruna w/ Carlos Mínguez Carrasco

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2020 14:52


    For Breezeblock #6, FA's founding editor Michiel van Iersel and architect Anne Dessing discuss the Swedish city of Kiruna with Carlos Mínguez Carrasco, curator of the exhibition Kiruna Forever at ArkDes Sweden's National Centre for Architecture and Design.

    Informality, Lockdown, Bogotá w/ Juana + María

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2020 11:34


    For Breezeblock #5, FA editors Juana Salcedo and María Mazzanti discuss the situation in Bogotá since the COVID-19 lockdown, especially as it affects the large informal sector of the Colombian economy.

    Tenants’ Crisis, Rent Abolition, LA w/ Sasha Plotnikova

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2020 14:55


    In Breezeblock #4, FA editor Charlie Clemoes talks to Los Angeles Tenants' Union (LATU) organiser Sasha Plotnikova about the situation for tenants in LA amid the current Covid-19 pandemic crisis, as well as discussing the organising efforts of LATU in recent years, the prospects for a permanent rent strike, and how to get involved in tenant organising.

    Sirens, Sonic Warfare, NYC w/ Leijia Hanrahan

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2020 14:34


    In the third Breezeblock episode, FA editor Christin Hu talks to Leijia Hanrahan about sirens, their role in enforcing control and their heightened presence in the New York City soundscape since it became a coronavirus hotspot.

    #12 How Beyoncé Seized the Louvre

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2020 67:26


    The Louvre and its surroundings have served for centuries as a dramatic expression of French imperial might, this symbolism was dramatically challenged in 2018 when Beyoncé and Jay-Z used the site to film the video for their single Apeshit.

    Myth of Community, Luxury Isolation, NYC w/ Kevin + Charlie

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2020 13:55


    In the second Breeblock episode,FA editors Kevin Rogan and Charlie Clemoes talk about Kevin's recent article for Failed Architecture The City and the City and Coronavirus.

    Covid-19, Ongoing Construction, Istanbul w/ Eda + Charlie

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2020 14:00


    In the first Breezeblock episode, FA editors Eda Hisarlıoğlu and Charlie Clemoes talk about the spatial effects of both Covid-19 and ongoing construction in Istanbul.

    #11 Architects Unionise!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2019 70:50


    Architects have up until recently remained rather reluctant to organise and act collectively, but in light of the erosion of their working conditions, is it time they began to think seriously about unionising?

    #10 Mecca to the Max: The Holy City Transformed

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2019 62:26


    With Islam’s most holy city undergoing rapid development, this episode delves into the complex city that lies beyond the mosque.

    #09 Listen to the City, It’s Trying to Tell You Something

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2019 50:00


    Recording and discussing the city through sound offers a vital means through which to challenge the dominant ways in which architecture and cities are represented. In this episode, we begin to explore the possibilities of audio-only urban representation.

    #08 Speer in Qatar or: How Architects Stopped Caring and Learned to Love the Client

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2018 64:59


    From Hitler's favourite architect Albert Speer to the present-day controversies surrounding the Qatar World Cup, this episode considers what responsibility architects have for the wider societal structures within which they work.

    #07 Incompiuto: Italy’s Most Prominent Architectural Style

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2018 49:40


    What to do with the abundance of unfinished structures currently dominating the Italian landscape?

    #06 Architects in Calais: On Border Systems and Self-built Cities

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2018 58:39


    Calais, a town in northern France, functions as a hard border where migrants end up building their own cities. How do architects relate to this complex geopolitical situation?

    #05 London Undone: Gaika and Ash Sarkar Discuss the City’s Past, Present and Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2018 67:42


    Gaika and Ash Sarkar discuss London's near future and its recent past, particularly as it relates to the legacy of the London Riots.

    #04 Alexandra Lange: Judging Architecture and How We Design for Kids

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2018 73:21


    Alexandra Lange is the architecture critic at Curbed and writes for media outlets such as New Yorker. Her latest book is The Design of Childhood.

    #03 Modernism Distorted: Selling Utopia From Kleiburg to Keeling House

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2018 58:00


    While modernist housing estates are still being despised and demolished, a renewed interest is nowadays making their commodified preservation possible.

    #02 City Gameplay: the Influence of Video Games on Our Urban Experience

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2018 62:00


    Video games have changed the way we interact with cities and space. If we neglect this fact then we leave an increasingly vital cultural medium open to reactionary representations of the world around us.

    #01 Data Space: The Architecture and Impact of Data Centres

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2018 58:52


    In this podcast episode, we go inside Amsterdam's designer data tower and talk to several experts about the architecture, environmental impact and cultural significance of data centres.

    #01 Data Space: the Architecture and Impact of Data Centres

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2018 58:52


    In this podcast episode, we go inside Amsterdam's designer data tower and talk to several experts about the architecture, environmental impact and cultural significance of data centres.

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