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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 – theOpen City Podcastcovers 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 showThe Brief– an award-winning review of the big stories in architecture, planning and housing news – hosted by Sahiba

society & culture design

All Episodes

29:58

Four more new towns announced and the future of the...

Open City ·

2026/04/01

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

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30:35

The Home That Made Me: The place that raised me

Open City ·

2026/03/26

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

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29:49

The UK government hires AI to help speed up planning...

Open City ·

2026/03/19

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

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27:58

Deconstructed: Peckham Library - Millenium Culture

Open City ·

2026/03/11

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

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30:11

Retail giant John Lewis closes its housebuilding...

Open City ·

2026/03/05

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

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43:43

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

Open City ·

2026/02/26

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,

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27:13

Generational pedestrianisation plans for London's...

Open City ·

2026/02/19

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 ruinSubscribe to the Open

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29:44

Deconstructed: Robin Hood Gardens - Brutalism and...

Open City ·

2026/02/12

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

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25:34

Government guidance on best practice design and why...

Open City ·

2026/02/05

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

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30:25

The Home That Made Me: When home becomes a prison

Open City ·

2026/01/28

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 environmen, and has forever changed what she would look for in any future home.Subscribe to the Open City Podcast

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28:15

Government launches ‘biggest home upgrade plan in UK...

Open City ·

2026/01/22

This week on The Brief Fran Williams is joined by the architect and partner for sustainability at Pollard Thomas Edwards, Tom Dollard to 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 PavilionSubscribe to the Open City Podcast onSpotify,SoundcloudoriTunesThe Open City Podcast is supported byBloomberg

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31:27

Deconstructed: Tate Modern - Art and Power

Open City ·

2026/01/15

In this episode Matthew Lloyd Roberts is joined by Christian Dimbleby to discuss Tate Modern, the former power station converted into a gallery for modern art by Herzog & de Meuron at the turn of the millennium. Originally built as Bankside Power Station from 1947 to designs by Giles Gilbert Scott, the discussion ranged from the challenges in transforming infrastructure into cultural spaces and the lasting lessons which can be learned from the conversion.Christian Dimbleby is the UK Head of

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29:42

Labour’s New Towns, rural regeneration and the Da...

Open City ·

2026/01/08

Description:This week on The Brief, Merlin Fulcher is joined by Giles Smith, a founding member of the Turner Prize winning art, architecture and design collective Assemble, to discuss:Milton Keynes’ original planners call for more social homes in the latest new towns // New plans are set out for a world-leading cultural hub in the remote Scottish Highlands // A discovery in Shropshire offers a breathtaking incite into English architectural heritage // And finally, the great and good of architecture

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55:02

In the Room at Accelerate Debates: Rethinking...

Open City ·

2026/01/01

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 third debate of the year, “Rethinking Recruitment”, where we ask:just how transparent is the recruitment process in the field of architecture and design?Moderators Siraaj Mitha and Jasmin Yeo are joined by six guest speakers:Andrea Villate, Associate Architect who, at the time, was driving talent development and HR policies at

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30:48

RIBA vs ARB, Nnena Kalu's Turner Prize win and data...

Open City ·

2025/12/18

This week on The Brief Merlin Fulcher is joined by curator of Digital Design at the V&A Natalie Kane to discuss: The president of the Royal Institute of British Architects tears up his accreditation in a bid for greater protection// Nnena Kalu wins the 2025 Turner Prize in a breakthrough for neurodiverse artists// London architecture grandee Peter Murray announces a mayoral bid // And finally, amid a surge in new data centres could now be the time for a design rebrand?Subscribe to the Open City

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27:29

Deconstructed: Matilda House - Co-operative Council...

Open City ·

2025/12/11

Deconstructed. Matilda House - Co-operative Council Housing. In this episode, Matthew Lloyd Roberts is joined by Dr Holly Smith to discuss Matilda House, the home of a radical experiment in co-operative housing which was welcomed by politicians of all stripes as a solution to the crises of the late 1970s. Matilda House is one of several projects discussed in Smith's new book, 'Up in the Air: A History of High-Rise Britain', which we also discuss.Archive photos: © Stephen and Matilda Tenants’

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28:47

Rough sleeping surges to post pandemic-high

Open City ·

2025/12/04

This week on The Brief Fran Williams is joined by the writer and activist, Adam Peggs to discuss:Rough sleeping surges to post pandemic-high // Government housebuilding forecast downgraded // New measures to ease planning for homes near transport hubs // And an alternative vision to save Liverpool Street Station’s vaulted glass concourse roof from being lost to redevelopment Subscribe to the Open City Podcast onSpotify,SoundcloudoriTunesThe Open City Podcast is supported byBloomberg Connects, the

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50:52

In the Room at Accelerate Debates: Constructive...

Open City ·

2025/11/27

In The Room at Accelerate Debates is a new podcast from Open City, broadcasting the live debates from Accelerate, Open City’s free educational programme. In this episode, you’ll hear our second debate of the year, “Constructive Criticism”, where we ask: where do we draw the line between constructive and destructive criticism in the field of architecture? Moderator Siraaj Mitha is joined by five guest speakers: Shumi Bose, Senior Lecturer in Architecture at Central Saint Martins; Alberto Villanueva

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30:08

AI nimbyism threatens to upend UK planning

Open City ·

2025/11/20

This week on The Brief Sahiba Chadha is joined by the architect and co-founder of We Made That, Holly Lewis, to discuss:AI nimbyism threatens to upend UK planning // Highstreet developer goes into liquidation // VAT imbalances found to be incentivising demolition// And a furore over plans to install uPVC windows on Peter Barber’s award-winning housing in BowSubscribe to the Open City Podcast onSpotify,SoundcloudoriTunesThe Open City Podcast is supported byBloomberg Connects, the free arts and

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28:57

Deconstructed: The Old Justice - Multiculturalism and...

Open City ·

2025/11/13

In this episode of Deconstructed, Matthew Lloyd Roberts is joined by Alfred Yatlong Yeung to discuss British multiculturalism through the lens of The Old Justice in South Bermondsey, a South Korean styled public house that was built by Sidney C Clark in 1933.If you’ve enjoyed this series about the London County Council, check out @LCC_Legacy on Instagram. (https://www.instagram.com/lcc_legacy)Subscribe to the Open City Podcast onSpotify,SoundcloudoriTunesThe Open City Podcast is supported

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