Open City
Open City
Open City is a charity dedicated to making architecture and built heritage more open, accessible and equitable.Providing you with essential listening, inspiring voices and built environment insights – the Open City Podcast covers news and current events as well as in depth studies of landmark buildings, and cities around the UK and world.At the centre of our line-up is our flagship show The Brief – an award-winning review of the big stories in architecture, planning and housing news – hosted by Sahiba Chadha and Fran Williams on a fortnightly basis.Alongside this is Deconstructed – a monthly podcast hosted by Matthew Lloyd Roberts taking apart the architecture of individual buildings and InterCities – a monthly podcast hosted by Owen Hatherley exploring municipal transformation around the world. All three shows profile new, expert and diverse voices from across industry, journalism, academia and beyond. The Open City Podcast is produced by Hunter Charlton and Paige Reynolds. The commissioning editor is Merlin Fulcher. The Open City Podcast is supported by Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture platform and produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, London Society, C20 Society and Save Britain's Heritage. The Open City Podcast is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. To help support excellent and accessible, independent journalism about the buildings and the urban environment, please become an Open City Friend.Photo credit: Owen Hatherley portrait © Antonio Olmos Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 2, 2024 • 36min
Affordable homes being run for profit, the nimby-yimby debate and the trouble with Euston Station
This week Merlin Fulcher is joined by writer and housing activist Adam Peggs to discuss: Run for profit affordable homes spark rent rise fears // Questions over the government’s 1.5 million homes pledge amid troubling housing market data // London’s mayor approves controversial Wimbledon tennis redevelopment plans // And the government is set to back HS2 to Euston amid a growing outcry over the current station’s performanceTo help support excellent and accessible, independent journalism about the buildings and the urban environment, please become an Open City friend by clicking here.The Brief is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Brief is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.The Brief is also supported by Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 26, 2024 • 38min
Sycamore gap one year on, 'brownfield passports' and the wood burner wars
This week Sahiba Chadha is joined by the renowned tree expert and author, Paul Wood, to discuss: Sycamore Gap one year on // Labour's ‘brownfield passports’ for new housing // the UK's missed tree-planting targets // and how millions of Britons want their cities carfree according to a new poll.To help support excellent and accessible, independent journalism about the buildings and the urban environment, please become an Open City friend by clicking here.The Brief is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Brief is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.The Brief is also supported by Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 19, 2024 • 31min
Could this be the end for Birmingham’s brutalist Ringway Centre?
This week Merlin Fulcher is joined by Ewan Harrison, a lecturer in Architectural Studies at the University of Manchester.Campaigners lose bid to save Birmingham’s brutalist Ringway Centre // Sadiq Khan wins new powers to pedestrianise Oxford Street // Listing bid for Portsmouth Civic Offices blocked // And an abandoned leisure centre in West Yorkshire reimagined as a state-of-the-art skate parkThe Brief is supported by Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app.Click here to get early, ad-free access to The Brief, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Brief is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Brief is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 4, 2024 • 29min
The Grenfell Report: Key Findings from the Inquiry
This week Merlin Fulcher is joined by Tomi Balogun, a young architect studying the Bartlett and winner of the Beyond The Box People's Pavilion prize 2023. The Grenfell inquiry’s damning verdict sees architect Studio E given ‘very significant’ responsibility for the fire // A new design handbook making cities safer for women // Anthony Gormley slams plans to transform Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross // And a hidden message is discovered during the National Gallery’s contentious redevelopment The Brief is supported by Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app.Click here to get early, ad-free access to The Brief, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Brief is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Brief is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 15, 2024 • 33min
‘Retrofit-first’ council approves five demolitions in one scheme
This week Fran Williams is joined by Gino Spocchia, senior reporter at the Architects Journal.‘Retrofit-first’ council approves five demolitions in one scheme // Foster + Partners rumoured to be designing Manchester United’s new stadium // China revives plans for a new London embassy after Labour’s election victory // And an ‘intimate’ biography of acclaimed architect Zaha Hadid is on the horizonThe Brief is supported by Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app.Click here to get early, ad-free access to The Brief, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Brief is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Brief is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 7, 2024 • 33min
Far-right riots leave communities across the UK scarred
This week Merlin Fulcher is joined by Tamsie Thomson, the chief executive of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland. Far-right rioting leaves struggling high streets and communities further scarred // Angela Rayner announces ambitious planning reforms and a New Towns taskforce // A fire breaks out at Glasgow’s beloved Carlton Place // And the London Festival of Architecture announces a new competition to give a much-needed glow up to a gloomy Battersea underpassThe Brief is supported by Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app.Click here to get early, ad-free access to The Brief, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Brief is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Brief is produced in association with the London Society, Twentieth Century Society and SAVE Britain’s Heritage, and in partnership with the Architects’ Journal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 1, 2024 • 36min
RIBA Stirling Prize 2024 finalists revealed
This week Sahiba is joined by journalist India Block, Deputy Editor of Homes and Property at the Evening Standard.The RIBA Stirling Prize 2024: this year’s finalists revealed // Rachel Reeves scraps landmark infrastructure projects // Acclaimed architect Peter Barber’s visionary idea to make Britain self-sufficient // And a London pavement parking ban is proposed as the row over e-bikes escalatesThe Brief is supported by Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app.Click here to get early, ad-free access to The Brief, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Brief is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Brief is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 25, 2024 • 36min
Six million people at risk from extreme heat in England
This week Fran is joined by architect and writer Nana Biamah-Ofosu, the director of YAA Projects: an architecture, design and research practice focused on making, speaking and writing architecture.Six million people at risk from extreme heat in England, campaign group warns // 80% of potential first-time buyers can’t afford a deposit on a home in their area // Milton Keynes landmark The Point saved from ‘soulless’ redevelopment // KPF unwraps proposals to overhaul Foster’s HSBC tower in Canary WharfThe Brief is supported by Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app.Click here to get early, ad-free access to The Brief, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Brief is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Brief is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 18, 2024 • 41min
Local authorities in urgent financial crisis
For our 150th episode, Merlin is joined this week by Jas Bhalla, an Architect, Town Planner, Urban Designer and founder of Bermondsey-based Jas Bhalla Works. Local authorities warn of urgent financial threat to council housing // UK’s largest housebuilder cuts output in blow to government targets // Lloyds bank to transform back offices into social housing // And the NIC and IPA are merged into a new infrastructural body: NistaThe Brief is supported by Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app. Click here to get early, ad-free access to The Brief, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Brief is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Brief is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 11, 2024 • 42min
Labour restores housing targets and resurrects onshore wind
This week Merlin Fulcher is joined by Akil Scafe-Smith, urban designer and co-founder of RESOLVE.Labour bring back housing targets and lifts onshore wind ban // “Levelling up” is stripped from the housing department name and Matthew Pennycook is appointed as Housing Minister // Chris Williamson wins RIBA presidential election // And a contest is launched for the Grenfell tower memorial.The Brief is supported by Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app. Click here to get early, ad-free access to The Brief, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Brief is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Brief is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
