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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 issue ..read more

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 o ..read more

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 bo ..read more

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 wor ..read more

Last year’s Call to Action was an open letter using first hand experiences of Black and Asian students, demonstrating how SSoA had been complicit in systemic racism. In part two, we continue conversation with current students Anu, Aisha and Aayushi, and graduates Aisha, Connie, Jasmin, Emma and Lucie; discussing anti racism in the studio course and the future of the conversation. If you're a student and you want to get involved with the EDI committee, contact our social media so we can give you the details. The Call to Action Letter can be read on the schools feminist library, alongside o ..read more

Last year’s Call to Action was an open letter using first hand experiences of Black and Asian students, demonstrating how SSoA had been complicit in systemic racism. In part one of this two-part episode, we speak to Professor Karim Hadjri, head of school at Sheffield to understand the actions taken in response to the letter. We will also be starting the conversation with current students Anu, Aisha and Aayushi, and former students Aisha, Connie, Jasmin, Emma and Lucie to discuss how we can create an anti-racist school of architecture. If you're a student and you want to get involved with ..read more

In our second episode we are joined by Dr. Leslie Kern, author of the book 'Feminist City: Claiming Space in a Man-Made World' and Rosa Tully, a sociology student at the University of Sheffield, writing her dissertation on how to make Sheffield a more feminist city. Now more than ever a rethink about how we design our cities is required to make them a safer, more equal place for all. We discussed what makes a feminist city, what is needed to achieve one and if it is possible under capitalism and privatisation of housing and public space ..read more

In our first episode, we will be speaking to Akil Scafe-Smith, one third of Resolve Collective, about what work they do, community engagement during coronavirus, our role as designers, keeping the faith and being locked in the Arts Tower for the rest of his life ..read more