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. Deconstructed: Peckham Library - Millenium Culture

    4 DAYS AGO

    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
  2. 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
  3. In the Room at Accelerate Debates: Designing With, Designing For

    26 FEB

    In the Room at Accelerate Debates: Designing With, Designing For

    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 fourth debate of the year, “Designing With, Designing For", where we ask: how often do communities truly get to shape the spaces they live in? This was a special debate held as part of our Open House Festival programme in September 2025 at The Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great. For this episode two of our Accelerate Alumni, Khaira Abimbola and Aaron Yonas guest moderated the discussion, and were joined by four guest speakers: Abebaw Mesfin Meri, Director of AM Meri Architects, Kuljeet Sibia, Founding Director of Diverse Dialogues, Peter Sofoluke, Architect and Director at BPTW, and Tasnima Chowdhury, a community organiser and key figure in the Save Brick Lane campaign.   Hosts: Khaira Abimbola and Aaron Yonas Music: Massive Music Further reading: Good Growth by Design: Supporting Diversity handbook Diverse Dialogues Save Brick Lane Urban Symbiotics  Civic Square 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.

    44 min
  4. Generational pedestrianisation plans for London's West End and a controversial overhaul of Liverpool Street station

    19 FEB

    Generational pedestrianisation plans for London's West End and a controversial overhaul of Liverpool Street station

    This week on The Brief Fran Williams is joined by Christopher Martin. Christopher is the managing director and head of urban design at Urban Movement. Together they discuss: Massive pedestrianisation plans for London’s West End move forward // The Brutalist Southbank Centre is listed after three decades of uncertainty // Controversial plans to overhaul London’s Liverpool Street are approved // And campaigners are fighting a decision to leave Clandon Park House a preserved ruin 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.

    27 min
  5. Deconstructed: Robin Hood Gardens - Brutalism and Demolition

    12 FEB

    Deconstructed: Robin Hood Gardens - Brutalism and Demolition

    In this episode, Matthew Lloyd Roberts was joined by Sam Elbahja to discuss a vanished building with a complicated history. Robin Hood Gardens was a housing estate in Poplar, designed by Alison and Peter Smithson for the LCC, completed in 1972. It was the first opportunity that the Smithsons had to enact their long-developed ideas about modern residential planning, including 'streets in the sky', a principle for community design grounded in the sociological patterns of kinship in the East End. The building was controversial from the outset, and in 2010, Tower Hamlets Borough Council decided to demolish and redevelop the estate. In 2025, the demolition of the estate was completed, and the V&A Storehouse opened in nearby Hackney Wick, featuring a fragment of the facade of the building as part of their collection. Sam Elbahja is a Moroccan-Thai poet and artist from East London, and a recent Architecture graduate from the University of Cambridge. Sam is an Eden’s Scholar and recipient of the Cambridge David Flemming Prize, she is also a four-time published poet, with work featured by the V&A, Chicago’s Trope, and in her debut collection Naked Pen. Sam’s greatest passion lies in community engagement and exploring the intersectionality of architecture, poetry, and art - recently co-founding an interdisciplinary collective called ISO.  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. To help support excellent and accessible, independent journalism about the buildings and the urban environment, please become an Open City Friend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  6. Government guidance on best practice design and why you should still become an architect in 2026

    5 FEB

    Government guidance on best practice design and why you should still become an architect in 2026

    This week on The Brief Sahiba Chadha is joined by Caroline Harper. Caroline is the Managing Director of BeFirst, the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham’s urban regeneration agency. Together they discuss: Government reveals its latest housing design and placemaking guidance // London house prices need to fall, says the housing minister // Níall McLaughlin wins RIBA Royal Gold Medal // And amid downturn and uncertainty is a career in architecture and the built environment still endlessly rewarding? 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.

    26 min
  7. The Home That Made Me: When home becomes a prison

    28 JAN

    The Home That Made Me: When home becomes a prison

    Introducing a brand new show from Open City: The Home That Made Me. In this episode Fiona Chilton is joined by Clare who after years of renting managed to buy her dream flat in London. But, within a matter of months, everything changed and her sanctuary became a place of despair. This experience has profoundly changed how she sees the balance of power in the built environment, and has forever changed what she would look for in any future home. 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. To help support excellent and accessible, independent journalism about the buildings and the urban environment, please become an Open City Friend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  8. Government launches ‘biggest home upgrade plan in UK history’

    22 JAN

    Government launches ‘biggest home upgrade plan in UK history’

    This week on The Brief Fran Williams is joined by Tom Dollard. Tom is an architect and partner for sustainability at Pollard Thomas Edwards. He was recently appointed Mayor’s Design Advocate and is Chair of the Good Homes Alliance. Together they discuss: Government launches ‘biggest home upgrade plan in UK history’// Westminster Council puts Retrofit at the heart of the city // New plans to protect architects from unqualified rivals  // And Mexico’s LANZA picked for this year’s Serpentine Pavilion 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. To help support excellent and accessible, independent journalism about the buildings and the urban environment, please become an Open City Friend. Music credit: Homestead by Punch Deck | https://soundcloud.com/punch-deck Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min
See All (273)

4.7
out of 5
60 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
    273
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Open City

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