Off The Drawing Board Podcast suaspod

In this episode, we are having a discussion with SSoA lecturer dr. Luis Hernán about consumerism and its impact on architectural reality.
The built environment has been drastically changing within the political consumerism agenda; entire cities are constructed on this principle, echoing the reorientation of architectural design towards a more commercialized concept. 
Press play to listen as we dig into the deeper roots of this phenomenon, the manner architecture is affected and the implications on the architect's and design's role!
 
Dr. Luis Hernán is a researcher and designer based at Sheffield School of Architecture, interested in the philosophical perception of architecture. He is also a lecturer at the SSoA, and enjoys literature and writing.

As much as it may be enjoyable, architecture school is also known to be demanding. The intensity of the course and mounting assignments often lead to architecture students neglecting their physical and mental health. 
Tune in to our discussion about the primary issues concerning our well-being and our degree, how they might be affecting students and what is the best solution to balance daily life and architecture, making the best out of both!

In this episode we chat with Italian architect Franco Audrito to share his knowledge on practicing aboard and gain an insight into his wealth of professional experience. Franco’s practice Studio 65 was formed in 1965 in Turin by architecture and art students disillusioned by the stagnation of post war society urging for radical political and social reform that was expressed in their evocative artworks, manifestos and buildings. Today Studio 65 has offices in Turin, Riyadh and Jeddah with work spanning from Bali to the Middle East. The practice is globally recognised for provoking salient issues and raising important debates through designing playful furniture in close collaboration to their architecture.

At the recent Built Environment Summit in London, we sat down with Andrew Waugh, co-founder of Waugh Thistleton Architects. Waugh Thistleton are eager proponents in making the case for engineered timber as the only realistic, environmentally friendly alternative to energy intensive steel and concrete to tackle our global housing shortage. Their landmark projects include Dalston Works in London, that was when it was built the largest Cross Laminated Timber Building in the world, and the Bushey Cemetery in Hertfordshire which was shortlisted for the 2018 Stirling Prize. Waugh Thistleton helped organise this Built Environment Summit to bring more interconnected and joined up dialogue across the construction industries as we together rise to the challenge of the climate emergency. To get the lowdown on Andrew’s anger with mushroom architecture listen on!

We recently attended the Built Environment Summit at the RIBA in Portland Place, London. It was a global conference serving as a call to action, bringing together professionals from across the international built environment sector to address the urgent need to drive changes in behaviour to reduce carbon emissions. In this podcast we discuss sustainable cities with Labour councillor Vincent Stops Chair of the Planning Committee at Hackney Council with 20 years experience in street policy, who has been a key driver in encouraging more innovative housing and timber construction schemes in the borough. We also catch up with Paul Brannen Director of Public Affairs at CEIBois, The European Confederation of the Woodworking Industries and a former Member of the European Parliament, who sat on the Agriculture and Environment committees, to discuss climate conscious construction and the role of timber. To get the lowdown on Vincent’s bicycle outrage and Paul’s call for a timber revolution listen on!

This week we have the pleasure of welcoming two amazing guests in Alice Grant and Rosa Turner Wood of MatriArch as part of our final event in what has been an amazing week celebrating feminist practice in the built environment. MatriArch currently work between SSoA, after graduating, and practice. Cofounded by Alice and Rosa, campaigning for a more accessible learning and professional environment. They make space for marginalised voices to be heard in architectural discourse. They have recently completed their showcase for International Women’s Day, a celebration of incredible student work from across the world. 
Access to the brilliant SSoA Feminist library can be found here: https://feministssoa.group.shef.ac.uk/?p=1628