Open City

This week Phin spoke to Nabil Al-Kinani. Nabil is a built-environment professional, cultural producer, and guest curator for the Open House Festival 2023 // London faces a crisis of dullness as eccentrics and creatives driven out of the capital // ‘Loo deserts’ across swathes of the capital exclude people and cause surge in public urination // UK’s first anti-apartheid centre to open next year //...

This week Sahiba spoke to Jim Stephenson and Sofia Smith. Jim is an award-winning architectural photographer and filmmaker. Sofia is a writer and photographic artist, and together they run a small film studio called Stephenson& London's largest architecture event, Open House Festival launches 2023 program // More media culture wars break out over Low Traffic Neighborhoods // Extraordinary...

This week Merlin spoke to Sharon Ament, director of the Museum of London. Museum of London announces strategic objectives for the next five years // The banks of the river Thames experience a flurry of activity as thousands take up mudlarking // Recent poll results raise questions over the importance of cultural capital during the cost of living crisis // And the knitting renaissance among millenn...

This week we revisit some of our favorite climate related stories we've covered over the past year Episodes featured: Scientists deliver ‘final warning’ on climate crisis: act now or it’s too late with Merlin Fulcher UK insulation scheme set to take 300 years to meet government targets with Clare Bennie Micahel Gove rejects M&S Oxford Street demolition in ‘watershed’ moment for retrofit with M...

This is the second audio tour of a two-part series led by architect and Royal Academician Eric Parry visiting London’s two historic cities: Westminster and the City of London Eric Parry Architects (EPA) is responsible for the designing of some of the most significant projects in London today with many of its most important architectural works clustered in the City of London and Westminster. Open C...

This week Merlin takes to the hot-seat with producer Poppy Waring // Rishi Sunak vows Low Traffic Neighborhoods review // Micahel Gove rejects M&S Oxford Street demolition in ‘watershed’ moment for retrofit // HS2 rated unachievable by the government’s infrastructure watchdog // And new analysis shows how race and income affect the quality of air you breathe // Click   here  to...

In this episode Paul speaks to Abukokkar Siddiki and Patricia Brown. Abu is a British Bangladeshi architect who for the past 3 years has been guiding Birmingham City University students through a sustainable development co-lab project in the village of Kazir Gaon in Northeast Bangladesh. Pat is Director of Central – a consultancy centred on the dynamics of cities and the process of achieving...

This week Sahiba spoke to the writer and Design Museum curator, George Kafka. // Lives at risk as blistering heat scorches southern Europe // Government adviser calls for a major rethink on new road building // Labour group proposes nationalising 500,000 private homes // And the government promises a crack down on ‘rip-off’ university degrees // Click   here  to get e...

This week Phin spoke to Leo Pollak, who is Councillor for South Bermondsey Ward in the London Borough of Southwark. // An SUV crash at a primary school in Wimbledon kills two children // The Architect Sir David Adjaye steps away from major projects after sexual assault allegations published in the Financial Times // Local authorities call for new raft of policies to transform council housing deliv...

This is the first audio tour of a two-part series led by architect and Royal Academician Eric Parry visiting London’s two historic cities: Westminster and the City of London Eric Parry Architects (EPA) is responsible for the designing of some of the most significant projects in London today with many of its most important architectural works clustered in the City of London and Westminster. Open Ci...

This week Merlin speaks to Prudence Ivey, Editor of Homes and Property at the Evening Standard, and guest curator of the Open House Festival. // Thames Water sinking under more than £14 billion pounds of debt // HSBC to vacate iconic Canary Wharf skyscraper // Low income renters left with nowhere to live amid unaffordability crisis // And most UK rail ticket offices set to close within weeks // Cl...

In this episode Marsha speaks to Professor Debbie Bartlett from The Cool Towns Project, and Clare Penny who is course leader for Landscape Architecture at the University of East London.  Through conversations around two big 21st century issues: loneliness and heatwaves, they explore how landscape architecture can play a vital role in making cities more hospitable on every scale. To read their...

This week Merlin speaks to the architectural critic and the blogger behind McMansion Hell - Kate Wagner. // Prince William vows to build social housing and end homelessness // Acclaimed London housing activist Kwajo refuses an MBE // Backlash over the closure of communal barbecue pits in Burgess Park // And how UK homes are becoming ‘lethal furnaces’ in heatwaves // Click   here  to...

On this week's show Phin speaks to the architecture critic, incoming chair of heritage campaign group Twentieth Century Society, and author of the new book ‘About Architecture: An Essential Guide in 55 Buildings’ - Hugh Pearman. // Architects issue an open letter to design journalists over the climate crisis // Conservationists' listing bid for Peckham Library rebuffed // Residents with communal h...

This week Merlin speaks to the journalist and author of the powerful account of the Grenfell disaster ‘Show Me the Bodies’, Peter Apps. // Six years on from Grenfell – we ask why housing is still in crisis // Labour pledges discount land sales for local authority housebuilders // RIBA calls for urgent government action on crumbling hospitals // And how climate crisis could force a billion fro...

In this episode the Landscape Institute's Neelam Sheemar speaks to Glen Macfarlane and Pierre Chin-Dickey from Macfarlane + Associates, and the writer and landscape architect Jill White. They discuss the power of design in making spaces feel welcoming, safe, and ultimately inclusive to all. Through conversations around signs and a new piece of child-friendly public realm on the site of the former...

This week Fran speaks to the architect, writer and producer Ewa Effiom. // Close to five million adults living with parents amid the housing crisis // A row over nightime closures of London’s finest skyline viewing point – Primrose Hill // Road safety campaigners call out politicians for normalising dangerous driving // And the world’s largest architecture festival opens in Venice // Click&nb...

This week Merlin travels to Venice to catch up with Jayden Ali, one of the curators for the British Pavilion at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale. // The British Pavilion shines a light on everyday urban customs at this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale // Resident accuses a south London estate regeneration of ‘social cleansing’ in high court battle // BikeStormz under threat due to moral pa...

This week Sahiba speaks to Open House Festival assistant curator Hafsa Adan. // With four months to go Open House Festival announces its guest curators // A row erupts over the mass arrests of anti-Coronation protesters // The Museum of London is on target for a delayed 2026 opening // And should people who keep their gardens green receive a tax cut? // Click  here  to get early, ad-free...

In this episode Jaideep Warya, landscape architect at Allies and Morrison and Andrew Grant from Grant Associates, discuss how to steer projects and clients towards long-lasting, sustainable outcomes especially in their choice of materials. Through conversations about SuperBloom (Grant Associate's spectacular landscape in the moat of the Tower of London), and the not-so-green credentials of urban t...

This week we revisit some of our favorite London transport stories we've covered over the past year/ Episodes featured: The 15-minute city culture war debate with Denean Rowe Paris bans rental e-scooters with Neal Shasore The opening of Crossrail (the Elizabeth Line) with Deborah Saunt The plight of rail workers with Alpa Depani The argument for dismantling road infrastructure with Phin Harper Alt...

This week new host Fran Williams speaks to Melissa York, assistant property editor at The Times and The Sunday Times. || Poor housing costing NHS £1.4 billion pounds each year || Rishi Sunak scraps housing targets amid pressure from Conservative members || Developers failing to deliver the play spaces London needs || And new data reveals enduring inequalities in the UK’s architecture ind...

This week Phin Harper speaks to the founder and director of the consultancy Municipal, Claire Bennie. | Gove admits Coalition policies added to social housing failures || Landlords roll out draconian new vetting procedures || UK insulation scheme set to take 300 years to meet targets || And the architecturally acclaimed London college facing demolition |  Click  here  to get early,...

This week Merlin speaks to the writer, architecture historian, and head of the London School of Architecture - Neal Shasore. Paris bans rental e-scooters | A new ‘Superloop’ bus network for suburban London | A memorial to the victims of the Transatlantic slave trade | And a reprieve for Richard Rogers’ iconic Channel 4 Headquarters Click  here  to get early, ad-free access to the Londown...

Marsha Ramroop speaks to two contributors of the Material Matters edition of Landscape: Claire Thirlwall and Sandeep Balagangadharan Menon. Together they discuss landscape architecture's reliance on petrochemicals, the value found in indigenous knowledge, the industry's response to the climate crisis and thoughts on the types of questions practitioners and educators should be asking. To read their...