Courtyards, Community, and Controversy: Rethinking Multifamily Living – Ep 62 with Frances Anderton

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, Joe Menchefski sits down with Frances Anderton, former host of KCRW’s Design and Architecture and author of Common Ground: Multifamily Housing in Los Angeles. Frances shares her journey from growing up in England’s architecturally rich city of Bath to her impactful work in Los Angeles, where she champions housing that balances personal and communal spaces.

Frances and Joe dive into the history and future of multifamily housing in LA, discussing the role of density, design, and the “social condenser” of courtyard living in creating vibrant communities. They also explore challenges like zoning and community resistance to higher density, revealing how thoughtful design can benefit the environment and social cohesion.

Tune in to discover Frances’s vision for human-centered, environmentally sensitive housing that prioritizes connection and well-being.

About Frances Anderton

Frances Anderton is the author of Common Ground: Multifamily Housing in Los Angeles, published by Angel City Press, and winner of a Gold award for best Regional Nonfiction from Foreword Reviews. She has co-produced short films for the nonprofit housing developers Community Corporation of Santa Monica and Venice Community Housing. She is currently researching “Awesome and Affordable” housing as a Fellow of Friends of Residential Treasures: Los Angeles (FORT: LA). She writes a regular newsletter on design and architecture for KCRW public radio station, for which she previously hosted the show DnA: Design and Architecture, and produced the current affairs shows Which Way, LA? and To The Point. She also supports the creation of programming at Helms Bakery District. Honors include the Esther McCoy Award, from the Architectural Guild of USC School of Architecture, for her work educating the public about architecture and urbanism.. She serves on the boards of AIA/LA, Community Corp, and Palm Springs Modernism Week.

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