This month we are joined by two Buildings on Air favorites: architecture writer/critic Marianela D’Aprile and architecture historian/educator Douglas Spencer! We answer a listener question about giving notice at an architecture job, gloss the ideas of architecture theorist Manfredo Tafuri (Mamma Mia… here we go again!), and discuss some central ideas of the emergent architectural left.

This episode of Buildings on Air we chat with organizer, writer, and attorney Ramsin Canon to talk about zoning and land use. We cover the basics of zoning, hear the legal perspective on land use, and discuss why it matters to activists. If you found our conversation interesting check out Ramsin’s presentation on zoning to the 33rd Ward Working Families organization here.

This month on Buildings on Air we chat with structural engineer, former Chicago Building Commissioner, and all around good guy, Stan Kaderbek. Stan shares some stories from his time as commissioner that should not be missed! We also chat about public service and safety, and the ins and outs of what it’s like to be the cities chief building regulator.

We are still off our regular format, but in this episode we revisit the classic Buildings on Air “Mailbag” with Nicholas Cecchi and Emily Handley. We talk air changes, bidets, and more! Look out this summer/fall for the show to return to its usual two hour format, with interviews and hopefully a return to our regular, regular segments!

This episode of Buildings on Air we are joined by Jess Myers, an Assistant Professor at Rhode Island School of Design and co-steward of the NYC Architecture Lobby to talk about "Here There be Dragons,” a podcast that delves deep into how feelings of safety and belonging in cities are experienced by people and conditioned by the built environment. Stay tuned for a preview episode of HTBD and be sure to find it and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

This episode of Buildings on Air we chat architectural internships with New York based architectural worker Jesse McCormick, a co-author of a recent report on the subject (link here). We chat about precarious employment conditions and dive deep into the legalities of unpaid internships, as well as the misclassification of employees as independent contractors.

This episode of Buildings on Air we chat with friend of the show and returning guest Douglas Spencer about his new book Critique of Architecture which will be released later this month. We talk about the current state of architectural theory, neo-Tafurianism, what radical critique means, and what insights a critique of architecture can give us about capitalism.

What is the impact of a landmark district on gentrification? In this episode of Buildings on Air we answer that question and more with Chicago Democratic Socialists of America member and community organizer Diego Morales. We talk about the the debate surrounding the proposed Pilsen Landmark District here in Chicago, and why/how the community is pushing back.If you want to get involved with and stay up to date about the push back against the landmark district check out Pilsen Alliance on...

This episode of Buildings on Air we talk with Brian Campbell, a Portland based architectural worker and member of the Architecture Lobby about how the odd framing of urban policy debates can obscure power structures.

This episode of Buildings on Air marks our triumphant return after a hiatus. We talk with Will Orr and Ricardo Ruivo, teachers at the Architectural Association (AA) in London. The AA has recently been embroiled in controversy on the vote of no-confidence and subsequent dismissal of director Eva Franch I Gilabert. Will and Ric tell us about what went down at the AA, discuss how it is symptomatic of the architectural education industry in the age of neoliberalism, and talk through where we go...

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This episode of Buildings on Air we we chat with Sean Estelle and Sveta Stoytcheva of Democratic Socialists of America about the campaign to municipalize Chicago’s electric grid. We are still under stay-at-home orders in Illinois which means the Lumpen Radio studios are closed so we are departing from our usual format to bring you prerecorded interviews. We are collecting remembrances of Michael Sorkin for possible broadcast - please send in audio clips or writing to...

This episode of Buildings on Air comes straight from the home recording studio of Keefer. In the midst of the state wide stay-at-home order in Illinois due to COVID-19 the offices and studios of WLPN-LP Chicago are shut down, so this episode comes courtesy of Zoom teleconferencing. Our guest this month is BoA favorite Billy Fleming (@joobilly on twitter) who directs the McHarg Center at University of Pennsylvania. He talks to us about “A Green Stimulus to Rebuild Our Economy: An Open Letter...

This episode of Buildings on Air is not an episode of Buildings on Air at all! Rather it is an episode of the Failed Architecture podcast. Subscribe to their feed here and check out some of their amazing writing at https://failedarchitecture.com. Big thank you to Charlie Clemoes and the rest of the Failed Architecture team for letting us share this episode with you. Buildings on Air Announcements: We are switching our regular time slot in March. Tune into Chicago’s WLPN-LP Lumpen Radio...

This episode we take a look at Edward Bellamy’s socialist utopian novel Looking Backward with Garrett Dash Nelson. Check out Garrett’s excellent article on the subject in Places Journal here: https://placesjournal.org/article/edward-bellamy-urban-planning/. Then in a special edition of our regular mailbag segment we have guests from way out of town! Architecture students from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam come into the studio to ask us questions about Chicago.

This episode of Buildings on Air we sit down with members of Extinction Rebellion for a discussion about the strategies and tactics that will win us climate justice. Then we open up the mailbag with Ann Lui and Craig Reschke and answer your listener questions about buildings. Lastly, in our regular segment about the architecture discourse, Fun and Angry with Anjulie Rao, we read Patrick Sisson's recent article in Curbed that asks: who exactly is buying all these downtown luxury condos...

This episode its classic Buildings on Air as we visit our two regular segments. First up! In our segment on the architectural discourse, Fun and Angry, Keefer and Anjulie Rao talk about hostile architecture! Then we visit the mailbag with Craig Reschke and Ann Lui of Future Firm and answer your listener questions about building! Articles discussed in this episode include: “‘Hostile Architecture’ How Public Spaces Keep the Public Out” by Winnie Hu, appearing in the New York Times “At...

In this special episode of Buildings on Air we turn to the Chicago River, asking our guests about the past, present, and future of our cities waterways. This episode was recorded from the Michigan Avenue Bridgehouse in the heart of downtown, and produced in collaboration with the Tender House Project. Guests on today's program include Patrick McBriarty of Chicago Maritime Arts, Ward Miller of Preservation Chicago, Mejay Gula of Tender House Project, Joanne So Young Dill and John Quail of...

This episode of Buildings on Air marks our triumphant return to the Lumpen Radio airwaves after a summer break. First up! We will chat with Tom Jacobs of Architects Advocate about getting architects involved in the September 20th Climate Strike. Find out more at http://www.architects-advocate.com.  Then in our regular segment “Fun and Angry” we will discuss Alexandra Lange’s reflections on S,M,L,XL (https://www.curbed.com/platform/amp/2019/8/22/20755386/rem-koolhaas-smlxl-review-oma). Regular...

This episode of Buildings on Air! First, we invite writer and activist Keith Rosenthal on the show to discuss capitalism, disability, and the ADA. Check out Keith’s website here: https://joanofmark.blogspot.com/. Second, Anjulie and Keefer offer up some cool takes on the discourse in our regular segment “Fun and Angry.” First, we will do our best to unpack a truly baffling article on parametric architecture from Forbes. And last! We open up our mailbag with Ann and Craig of Future Firm! Send...

This episode! First we chat with Billy Fleming about his absolutely must read article in Place Journal entitled “Design and the Green New Deal.” After, we check in with Architecture Lobby member Caitlin Watson to talk about the Lobby’s efforts to organize around the GND. Next! In our regular review segment Fun and Angry, Keefer and Anjulie Rao take a look at Olly Wainwright’s piece in The Guardian highlighting reemergent interest in public architecture practice in the UK. Could it be a...

On this episode of Buildings on Air we talk about buildings codes & public access, why the libertarian solution to the housing crisis is not the right one, and then answer your listener questions about buildings in our mailbag segment! Full line-up below: First up! We chat with Scott Reynolds of @upcodes about why public access to the law is important, how it impacts the built environment, and why the standards developing organizations are pushing back. Then! We head to Critics Corner (is...

This episode of Buildings on Air: internship exploitation, rent control, housing activism, special economic zones, and more! First up! Writer Katherine Allen takes over the host chair and talk with Adam Nathaniel Furman (@Furmadamadam) and @KeeferDunn about the recent (and welcome) wave of scrutiny aimed at exploitative labor practices in architecture, and where we go from here. Next! We chat with Melinda Bunnage and Peter Hughes, @ChicagoCityDSA activists who are working in the...

On this episode we introduce a new segment featuring the inimitable Anjulie Rao. Anjulie and Keefer discuss the piece “Refusal After Refusal” by Adjustments Agency, which appeared in Harvard Design Magazine as well as the article “The “B” Word: How a More Universal Concept of Beauty Can Reshape Architecture” by Mark Alan Hewitt in Common Edge. Next Keefer opens up the mailbag with Ann Lui and Craig Reschke of Future Firm. Send in your listener questions to [email protected] for us to...