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.

  1. The Home That Made Me: 1 Plot, 3 Families

    7 MAY

    The Home That Made Me: 1 Plot, 3 Families

    In this episode Fiona Chilton is joined by Miriam, who lives in rural Devon in a home that she bought together with two other households so that they could raise their families side by side. But the dream was more challenging in reality as they tackled the practicalities of dividing land, buildings and responsibilities fairly between them. It’s a story of a dream becoming a reality, but also of the trade-off between city and country and the quest to combine the joy of wide-open space with the intimacy of a neighbourhood. Is it possible to have both? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  2. Deconstructed: Culling Road Ventilation Shaft - Adventurous Vents

    23 APR

    Deconstructed: Culling Road Ventilation Shaft - Adventurous Vents

    In this episode Matthew Lloyd Roberts is joined by Judy Ovens, one of the authors of the new book ‘Adventurous Vents: A Journey through the Ventilation Shafts of Britain’. They discussed the Culling Road Ventilation shaft on the edge of Southwark Park, designed for the Jubilee Line by Ian Ritchie Architects. They also discussed ventilation shafts designed by Eduardo Paolozzi in Pimlico, William Whitfield in Paternoster Square and the ‘Camberwell Submarine’. Judy co-founded the architecture education charity Our Hut alongside Lucy Lavers and Suzanna Prizeman, with whom she co-wrote ‘Adventurous Vents’. She has a background in art and architecture, is a teacher and has recently become an accredited Lambeth tour guide. The podcast is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, London Society, C20 Society and Save Britain's Heritage. It's recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Subscribe on Spotify, Soundcloud or iTunes and to further support, become an Open City Friend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  3. In the Room at Accelerate Debates: Healthy Competition

    14 APR

    In the Room at Accelerate Debates: Healthy Competition

    In The Room at Accelerate Debates is a podcast which broadcasts the live debates from Accelerate, Open City’s free educational programme. In this episode, you’ll hear our fifth and final debate of 2025, “Heatlhy Competition", where we ask: is there a healthier way to run architectural competitions that makes them worth the risk? Moderators Siraaj Mitha and Jasmin Yeo were joined by six guest speakers: Selasi Setufe, Principal Project Officer at the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Co-Founder of Black Females in Architecture; Rosa Rogina, Associate Director of Place Partnerships at New London Architecture, and Director of the London Festival of Architecture; Jonathan Hagos, architect and Director of Freehaus and a Mayor's Design Advocate; Tomi Balogun, an Accelerate-alumna, second-year architecture student at the Bartlett School of Architecture and winning designer of the 2023 People’s Pavilion; and Chloë Phelps, architect and Director at Grounded & BPTW and Co-Chair of Camden’s Design Review Panels. Hosts: Siraaj Mitha and Jasmin Yeo Music: Massive Music Further reading: London Festival of Architecture Freehaus wins Grenfell Memorial competition // Freehaus GLA - A+U Framework Black Females in Architecture Beyond the Box - People's Pavilion 2023 Grounded The podcast is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, London Society, C20 Society and Save Britain's Heritage. It's recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Subscribe on Spotify, Soundcloud or iTunes and to further support, become an Open City Friend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
  4. Four more new towns announced and the future of the Museum of London

    1 APR

    Four more new towns announced and the future of the Museum of London

    This week on The Brief Sahiba Chadha is joined by Henrietta Billings. Henrietta is the director of SAVE Britain’s Heritage, an organisation dedicated to protecting historical buildings. Since joining SAVE in 2016, she has worked on campaigns such as M&S Oxford Street, Anglia Square in Norwich and the historic Grimsby Docks. The government confirms four more locations for its new towns programme // A derelict church with a Grade II listed mural is finding new life as an arts and community centre // A court has rejected a legal challenge opposing the demolition of the former Museum of London // And a storm is brewing in Edinburgh over plans to transform four listed buildings in the New Town into a pod hostel Subscribe to the Open City Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud or iTunes 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. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  5. The Home That Made Me: The place that raised me

    26 MAR

    The Home That Made Me: The place that raised me

    In this episode of the Home that Made me, Nabil Al Kinani reflects on his experience growing up on the Chalk Hill Estate in Wembley, and how his sense of self was challenged as he saw his home through the eyes of others without first hand experience of the place and its community. This experience has profoundly shaped what he wants for his future as well as the responsibility he feels he has to the place and community that helped raise him.  Background image for the artwork is by Nabil Al Kinani.  Subscribe to the Open City Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud or iTunes The Open City Podcast 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  6. The UK government hires AI to help speed up planning decisions and the new architects of the BT Tower revamp

    19 MAR

    The UK government hires AI to help speed up planning decisions and the new architects of the BT Tower revamp

    This week on The Brief Fran Williams is joined by Ben Stuart. Ben is director and co-founder of architecture studio able partners, and the host of Able Diaries, a weekly show that gives a behind-the-scenes look at running an architecture practice. Government hires Google to speed up planning decisions in England using AI // Orms replaces Heatherwick Studio on the revamp of BT Tower // Restoration plans for the Brutalist Crystal Palace Sports Centre are revealed // And another blow to Glasgow’s heritage as Forsyth House is destroyed in a fire Subscribe to the Open City Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud or iTunes 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. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  7. Deconstructed: Peckham Library - Millenium Culture

    11 MAR

    Deconstructed: Peckham Library - Millenium Culture

    In this episode Matthew Lloyd Roberts is joined by John Puttick to discuss Peckham Library, one of a number of civic and community projects commissioned to mark the turn of the millenium. It was designed by Alsop & Störmer Architects with engineering by AKT II and won the Stirling Prize in 2000, and combines ebullient and eccentric design culture with a hard-wearing material palette to create a hugely successful piece of community infrastructure.  John Puttick has over 25 years' experience as an architect and founded John Puttick Associates in 2014. He led the refurbishment of Grade II-listed Preston Bus Station, which was awarded the World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize and Civic Trust’s Special Award for Reuse & Adaptation. The practice’s work includes significant civic and community projects across the UK, and is appointed to the Mayor of London’s Architecture + Urbanism framework.  Background image by John Puttick. Subscribe to the Open City Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud or iTunes 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. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min
  8. Retail giant John Lewis closes its housebuilding venture and what style of homes do Londoners want?

    5 MAR

    Retail giant John Lewis closes its housebuilding venture and what style of homes do Londoners want?

    This week on The Brief Sahiba Chada is joined by architect Jeremy Walker. Jeremy is the Head of Design at Human Nature, a property developer currently working on the construction of the UK’s largest timber-structure neighbourhood: the Phoenix development in East Sussex. Together they discuss: Retail giant John Lewis winds up its housebuilding arm amid economic woes // The London Assembly argues Londoners want more traditional-looking homes // The Royal Institution of British Architects calls for the abolition of the Architects Registration Board // And… raising the profile of women architects and designers… we discuss the winners of the 2026 Jane Drew and Ada Louise Huxtable prizes Subscribe to the Open City Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud or iTunes 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. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
See All (279)

4.7
out of 5
61 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Open City
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    279
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Open City

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