Architecture Topics

Liam Caron
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Step into the world of architectural history with Architecture Topics (by WikiArquitectura). Each episode uncovers the stories behind iconic buildings and the visionary architects who shaped history. From ancient wonders to modern masterpieces, we explore the ideas that revolutionized design. 🎧 New episodes every... often! – Subscribe now and discover the legends of architecture!

  1. Marina City - A Vertical Dream on the Chicago River

    3D AGO

    Marina City - A Vertical Dream on the Chicago River

    In this episode of Architecture Topics, we travel to Chicago, the birthplace of the modern skyscraper, to explore Marina City, Bertrand Goldberg’s bold experiment in urban living. Designed in the late 1950s and completed in 1967, Marina City was a "city within a city," two cylindrical towers combining apartments, shops, parking, offices, and even a marina. At a time when Americans were fleeing downtowns for the suburbs, Goldberg set out to prove that high-density living could once again be desirable, not a compromise but an ideal. We’ll look at how this visionary project was built, how it changed Chicago’s skyline, and how it became a cultural icon featured in films, album covers, and the House of Blues. ---------- If you enjoy this show, I'm sure you will be interested in the new Certification Programs from the Global Institute for Architectural Analysis.Visit giaainstitute.org to learn more, and do it fast! The first 50 to enroll get a 50% OFF any Certification!

    16 min
  2. The Gateway Arch - When Geometry Became Poetry

    OCT 7

    The Gateway Arch - When Geometry Became Poetry

    Rising 192 meters above the Mississippi River, the Gateway Arch is one of the most striking monuments in the United States. A stainless-steel curve that turned pure geometry into national poetry. In this episode, we'll discover the story behind Eero Saarinen’s masterpiece: from the ambitious vision of St. Louis in the 1930s, to the dramatic father-and-son design competition, to the decades of delays, protests, and technical challenges that nearly stopped it from being built. You’ll hear about the hidden engineers who made it possible, the civil rights activists who turned it into a stage for protest, and the quiet genius who invented its one-of-a-kind tram system. A story of ambition, time, and beauty.

    15 min
  3. HSBC Main Building – Designing the Most Expensive Building of the 80s

    SEP 30

    HSBC Main Building – Designing the Most Expensive Building of the 80s

    In the early 1980s, Hong Kong’s HSBC Main Building became the most expensive building ever constructed. Designed by Norman Foster, it turned the skyscraper inside out and upside down. It was more than just an engineering marvel, it was also shaped by feng shui, public space, and the political uncertainty of Hong Kong’s looming 1997 handover. For Foster, winning the 1979 competition to design HSBC was the turning point that launched him onto the global stage. Join us as we explore the radical design and cultural context that came together to create one of the most influential skyscrapers of the late 20th century.

    15 min
  4. Eiffel Tower - The Rise of an Iron Revolution

    SEP 23

    Eiffel Tower - The Rise of an Iron Revolution

    Step into the story of the Eiffel Tower, the iron revolution that reshaped Paris and captured the world’s imagination. Built for the 1889 World’s Fair, this daring structure was once mocked and resisted, yet it became the ultimate symbol of France. Learn how the engineers behind the design, backed by Gustave Eiffel’s leadership and ambition, turned a temporary fairground tower into the enduring “Iron Lady” we know today.

    16 min
  5. One World Trade Center - From Freedom Tower to Reality

    SEP 16

    One World Trade Center - From Freedom Tower to Reality

    One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the United States and one of the most debated skyscrapers ever built. Initially envisioned as the “Freedom Tower,” its path from concept to reality was shaped by politics, security concerns, financial struggles, and symbolism. This episode explores how the design evolved after Daniel Libeskind’s master plan, how David Childs and SOM transformed it into its final form, the delays and controversies during construction, and the reception it received when it finally opened in 2014.

    12 min
  6. Rebuilding Ground Zero - A Skyline shaped by Politics, Power, and Memory

    SEP 9

    Rebuilding Ground Zero - A Skyline shaped by Politics, Power, and Memory

    Rebuilding Ground Zero was never just about architecture. It was a battle over politics, power, memory, and profit. This episode traces the long struggle to decide what would rise where the Twin Towers once stood. From Daniel Libeskind’s “Memory Foundations” to designs by David Childs of SOM, Norman Foster, Richard Rogers, Fumihiko Maki, Bjarke Ingels, Santiago Calatrava, and more. Whether you are an architecture student, a history enthusiast, or simply curious about how New York rebuilt after 9/11, this episode will guide you through the conflicts, compromises, and ambitions that shaped the new World Trade Center.

    18 min
  7. 9/11 - How and Why the Towers Fell

    SEP 2

    9/11 - How and Why the Towers Fell

    Step into the morning of September 11th, 2001, as the Twin Towers of New York faced the unthinkable. This episode recounts the confusion of that day as it unfolded, the desperate attempts at rescue, and the moment both towers collapsed. Beyond the human tragedy, it explains in clear terms how impact damage, fire, and structural failure combined to bring the buildings down, and why their fall reshaped both the skyline and the history of modern architecture.

    14 min
  8. Twin Towers - The Rise of New York's Giants

    AUG 26

    Twin Towers - The Rise of New York's Giants

    Discover the story of how the Twin Towers came to dominate New York’s skyline. From the decline of Lower Manhattan in the 1950s, to the powerful role of the Port Authority and the Rockefeller family, to architect Minoru Yamasaki’s bold vision, this episode traces the creation of the World Trade Center step by step. Learn how engineers pioneered new solutions like the slurry wall, the framed-tube structure, and sky lobbies, and how the towers transformed into cultural icons, symbols of ambition, modernism, and life in the city.

    16 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Step into the world of architectural history with Architecture Topics (by WikiArquitectura). Each episode uncovers the stories behind iconic buildings and the visionary architects who shaped history. From ancient wonders to modern masterpieces, we explore the ideas that revolutionized design. 🎧 New episodes every... often! – Subscribe now and discover the legends of architecture!

Information

  • Creator
    Liam Caron
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Liam Caron
  • Show Website
    Architecture Topics

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