Why does building “affordable” housing cost so much in the built environment? From land prices to loan rates, construction inflation to endless permitting, Alex and Libo break down the true costs of creating homes and why the system often works against the very people it is meant to help. They unpack how financing, regulation, and risk collide, what makes America’s housing model unique, and what simple reforms could unlock more livable and affordable cities for everyone.

Subscribe to Most Podern on:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodernInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/most.podernLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podern

Keywords

affordable housing crisis, built environment, housing policy, real estate development, construction costs, architecture, urban design, cities, zoning reform, housing finance, interest rates, pro forma explained

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Affordable Housing Costs02:29 The Role of Pro Forma in Housing Development05:49 Financing Affordable Housing Projects09:58 Impact of Rising Costs on Housing Development16:18 Government's Role in Affordable Housing20:29 Streamlining the Permitting Process23:13 Changing Perspectives on Housing Development

What happens when you run an architecture studio inside a refugee settlement — and let refugees lead it?

Scott Key (founder/CEO of Every Shelter) is back to break down how a 10-week “design school” in Nakivale turned buzzwords like “co-creation” into actual, working solutions — cow-dung bricks that survive soaking, shelter-wide mosquito netting, and quality water that families can afford.

Why it matters:

Refugees are displaced for 20+ years — which means they need permanent, local, extremely affordable building solutions. This episode shows how design unlocks what’s already on the ground: clay, ag waste, community trust, and good design.

LinksDonate to Support Every Shelter’s WorkEvery Shelter

Our Last Episode with Scott

Youtube*:* https://youtu.be/60d198yrKcY?feature=shared

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3iVzLi6aF5SV1K7WaVayT4?si=P2-DFU3_QNKP9c_XFxUEFQ

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/designing-dignity-how-scott-key-and-every-shelter-are/id1725756164?i=1000702692254

Chapters

00:00 Running an Architecture Studio in a Refugee Camp02:53 Pitching the Idea to Students and Stakeholders02:53 Introduction to the Program and Partnerships05:13 Setting the Stage: The First Day of Design School07:54 Curriculum and Transformation: Learning by Doing10:20 Innovative Projects: Cow Poop and Mud Bricks12:41 Community Engagement: Addressing Local Needs15:30 Water Quality Solutions: BioSand Filters18:18 Empowerment through Entrepreneurship: Offer Letters and Business Models20:39 Feedback and Iteration: Learning from the Community22:51 The Role of Donors and Future Directions25:08 Looking Ahead: Optimism for Human Connection

In this conversation, Kevin Kennon, reflects on his experiences surrounding the events of 9/11, particularly his involvement in the Ground Zero viewing platform and the subsequent World Trade Center competition. We discusses the emotional impact of architecture, the importance of community and collaboration in design, and the lessons learned from revitalizing Lower Manhattan. Kennon emphasizes the need for architects to articulate their vision and the role of travel in enhancing one's understanding of the built environment. He concludes with thoughts on the future of architecture and the importance of fostering a sense of hope and connection through design.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinkennonarchitect/

https://www.kdcaia.com/

Chapters

00:00 Ground Zero: A Catalyst for Change

07:47 The Power of Architecture in Crisis

15:05 Collaboration and Competition: Redesigning the World Trade Center

23:55 Revitalization: Lessons from Lower Manhattan

31:10 The Future of Architecture: Optimism and Collaboration

Why do some cities thrive while others slide into decline? Alex Yuen and Libo Li break down the Four Horsemen of Urban Decline - which include the Disease of Me, Construction Constipation, High Capital Contrast, and Identity Crisis. From San Francisco’s stalled growth to Tokyo’s adaptability and New York’s relentless appetite for change, this conversation reveals the hidden dynamics that decide whether a city stagnates or reinvents itself. Clear, provocative, and grounded in real-world examples, it’s a framework for seeing your city with new eyes.

Check out Alex's full article here:https://www.dusttodensity.com/p/the-four-horsemen-of-urban-decline

Subscribe to Most Podern on:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodernInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/most.podernLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podern

Chapters

00:00 Understanding the Four Horsemen of Urban Decline

04:10 San Francisco: A Case Study of Urban Decline

09:39 Mismanagement and Its Impact on Urban Environments

12:29 Cities That Are Thriving: Lessons from Asia

14:41 Empowering Citizens to Improve Their Cities

18:29 The Role of Leadership in Urban Identity

20:27 Applying the Framework Beyond Urban Areas

21:41 The Dangers of Overbuilding: Lessons from China

23:06 Recommendations for New Urban Leaders

25:54 Optimism for the Future of Cities

27:08 The Digital vs. Physical Urban Experience

29:10 The Future of Urban Decline: A Historical Perspective

Keywords

urban decline, Four Horsemen of Urban Decline, San Francisco urban crisis, why cities fail, construction delays, permitting reform, housing crisis, inequality in cities, capital contrast, city identity crisis, urban design podcast, built environment, urban development, architecture and cities, density and growth, future of cities, urban policy, city planning challenges, how to fix cities, urban renewal, Most Podern Podcast

Why do American neighborhoods so often look the same, filled with “five-over-one” apartments or endless rows of wood-framed houses? In Part II of our conversation, architect Jeana Ripple—author of The Type V City and Chair of Architecture at the University of Virginia—explains how Type V construction and building codes interact with zoning, finance, and policy to shape entire cities. From Chicago’s fire-driven codes to Seattle’s tolerance of replacement, Ripple shows how materials influence affordability, aesthetics, politics, and even community health. This conversation reveals how hidden regulations quietly dictate the look, feel, and risks of American urban life.Jeana Ripple is the Chair of the Department of Architecture and the Vincent and Eleanor Shea Professor at the University of Virginia. A registered architect, she is principal and co-founder of the collaborative architecture firm, Mir Collective.LinksJeana Ripple - https://www.arch.virginia.edu/people/jeana-rippleMir Collective - https://mircollective.com/Purchase the BookUT Press: The Type V City: Codifying Material Inequity in Urban America - https://utpress.utexas.edu/9781477331620/Amazon: The Type V City: Codifying Material Inequity in Urban America - https://a.co/d/cUzKkySSubscribe to Most Podern on:Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodernInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/most.podernLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podernKeywordsType V construction, The Type V City, Jeana Ripple, American housing, Why U.S. cities look the same, Five over one buildings, Wood frame construction, U.S. building codes, Zoning vs building code, Architecture podcast, Housing affordability, Sustainable building materials, Urban design and policy, Multifamily housing design, Mid-rise apartment design, Housing crisis America, Cookie cutter housing, Mass timber construction, History of U.S. housing, Building codes explained, Real estate development podcast, Neighborhood design patterns, Wood vs concrete housing, Urban resilience, Affordable housing policy, City planning podcastChapters00:00 Introduction to Type 5 Construction00:37 Future Directions for Type 5 Construction06:32 Understanding Community Engagement and Zoning10:00 The Impact of Building Codes on Urban Development14:37 The Relationship Between Building Codes and Zoning17:20 Global Perspectives on Building Materials and Practices20:13 Sustainability and Materiality in Housing Policy25:07 Aesthetics and Cultural Preferences in Urban Design29:36 Challenges in Affordable Housing Development33:32 The Role of Community in Shaping Building Regulations38:10 Future Perspectives on Building Codes and Community Needs

Why are nearly all American homes built out of wood when most of the world uses brick, steel, or concrete? In Part I of our conversation Architect Jeana Ripple, author of The Type V City, explains how the U.S.’s reliance on light wood framing—known as Type V construction—became the national default. She breaks down the benefits (affordability, flexibility, sustainability) and the hidden risks (mold, storm damage, limited adaptability) that slowly shape the country’s homes, neighborhoods, cities, and built environment. This conversation reveals how building codes and materials influence urban life far more than most of us realize.

Jeana Ripple is the Chair of the Department of Architecture and the Vincent and Eleanor Shea Professor at the University of Virginia. A registered architect, she is principal and co-founder of the collaborative architecture firm, Mir Collective.

LinksJeana Ripple - ⁠https://www.arch.virginia.edu/people/jeana-ripple⁠

Mir Collective - ⁠https://mircollective.com/⁠

Purchase the BookUT Press: The Type V City: Codifying Material Inequity in Urban America -  ⁠https://utpress.utexas.edu/9781477331620/⁠

Amazon: The Type V City: Codifying Material Inequity in Urban America -  ⁠https://a.co/d/cUzKkyS⁠

Subscribe to Most Podern on:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodernInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/most.podernLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podern

Keywords

Type V construction, The Type V City, Jeana Ripple, American housing, Wood frame construction, U.S. building codes, Urban design, Architecture podcast, Why U.S. houses are wood, Building codes explained, Wood vs concrete housing, Mass timber, Multifamily housing design, Housing crisis America, Home maintenance mold, Sustainable building materials

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Type 5 Construction

01:32 Understanding Type 5 and Its Global Context

05:11 The Dominance of Type 5 in the U.S.

07:58 The Evolution of Wood Frame Construction

11:41 Maintenance and Vulnerabilities of Type 5 Buildings

15:44 Consumer Awareness and Decision-Making

19:10 The Role of Policy in Building Codes

22:43 The Impact of Interest Groups on Building Regulations

25:59 Future Directions for Type 5 Construction

In this conversation, Alex Yuen and Libo discuss the importance of architects learning to code, exploring how coding can enhance creativity, efficiency, and control in architectural design. They delve into Libo's personal journey into coding, the impact of technology on architectural practice, and the future implications for the built environment. The discussion emphasizes the need for architects to embrace technology to improve their work and the overall quality of architecture.

Takeaways

• Architects need to learn coding to enhance design capabilities.
• Current architectural outputs are often unsatisfactory due to a lack of software proficiency.
• Mastery of technology allows architects to control design outcomes better.
• The transition from manual to automated processes can significantly increase efficiency.
• Learning to code can help architects manage complex projects more effectively.
• Embracing discomfort in learning new skills is essential for growth.
• AI and coding can streamline repetitive tasks in architecture.
• Architects should leverage coding to improve project management and communication.
• The architectural industry must adapt to technological advancements to retain talent.
• Future architects should be trained in coding to remain competitive.

Chapters:

00:00 The Need for Architects to Learn Coding

09:45 Personal Journey into Coding

19:13 The Impact of Coding on Architectural Practice

24:09 Future of Architecture and Technology

What if a pool could clean a river—and a building could rewrite culture? Would you swim in the East River? What does “local” look like when it doesn’t mimic the block around it?

Architect Dong-Ping Wang (FOOD Architects)—who’s collaborated with Kanye West and Virgil Abloh—breaks down architecture as a cultural engine, from hyperlocal listening to rapid, messy sketching that invites feedback fast. He shares a Barbados culinary design studio with Pierre Seurat (Ghetto Gastro), why WhatsApp-level intimacy with clients beats sterile presentations, and how a tiny 6–8 person team caps projects to stay deeply hands-on.

We dive into PLUS POOL: the plus-shaped, river-filtering pool that turned a single rendering, a patent, and a site into a movement—and why the biggest risk isn’t tech, it’s convincing New Yorkers to jump in. DPW also opens up about shaping an Asian-American architectural language, rethinking practice as an “architectural production studio,” and the simplest way to read a space: look up at the ceiling.

https://food-arch.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dongpingwong/

https://pluspool.com/

https://www.instagram.com/foodmahjongclub/

00:00 The Importance of Local Culture in Architecture02:02 Navigating Client Relationships and Intimacy05:27 Architecture as a Cultural Vehicle06:49 Fluidity in Architectural Practice09:09 Working with Creative Clients10:21 Scaling Intimacy in Architecture12:28 The Architectural Production Studio Model16:04 The Plus Pool Project: Origins and Development24:25 The Power of Packaging in Architecture27:40 Local Context and Cultural Identity30:34 Post-Occupancy Analysis and Success Metrics32:58 Exploring Scales of Architectural Practice37:02 Cultural Identity and Architectural Expression39:43 Lessons from Other Creative Fields45:36 Cultural Shifts and Future Perspectives

What happens when cities expand into fire-prone landscapes—and what can we do about it? Jonah Susskind, Director of Climate Strategy at SWA, unpacks the overlooked realities of wildfire risk, why most modern cities are spreading in all the wrong directions, and how smart design can turn parks, neighborhoods, and planning policies into climate-resilient systems. From the “wildland-urban interface” to shelter-in-place strategies, this conversation blends environmental science, urban planning, and design thinking to illuminate the future of where and how we live.

Subscribe to Most Podern on:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodernInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/most.podernLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podern

Links & References

Jonah Susskind - https://www.swagroup.com/principals/jonah-susskind/SWA Group - https://www.swagroup.com/Playbook for the Pyroscene (Free PDF) - https://www.swagroup.com/ideas/playbook-for-the-pyroscene

Chapters

0:00 – Intro: Urban Futures in a Burning World

2:11 – What Is a Landscape Urbanist?

5:24 – Why “Natural Disasters” Aren’t Natural Anymore

8:16 – What Is Wildfire, Really?13:20 – Smoke, Soil, and the Carbon Cost

13:44 – Designing for Fire: Myths and Realities

16:10 – Lessons from Australia and the U.S.18:26 – Who’s Responsible at the Edge?

19:30 – What Homeowners Need to Know

21:54 – Policy, Enforcement, and the Zone Zero Debate

25:36 – Why We Need Local, Nuanced Research30:56 – Rethinking the Wildland-Urban Interface

33:10 – The WUI: Conflict, Desire, and Inequality

37:12 – Building Pragmatic, Resilient Communities

39:07 – Why East Coast Listeners Should Care Too

42:35 – This Moment: On the Precipice

44:12 – Where to Learn More

Keywords

wildfire resilience, built environment, suburbanization, urbanism, architecture, landscape architecture, design, urban planning, climate adaptation, landscape urbanism, wildland-urban interface, Jonah Susskind, SWA Group, climate strategy, suburban development, wildfire design, zone California, fireproof cities, smoke exposure effects, urban development

What if the secret to a better life wasn’t a bigger house or higher salary, but simply living closer to your friends? Phil Levin, co-founder of Live Near Friends, reveals how proximity can drastically increase happiness, cut housing costs, and reshape how we think about community. From building a 10-home campus in Oakland to redefining what “neighbor” really means, we explore how small shifts in where—and who—you live near can change everything.

Subscribe to Most Podern on:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodernInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/most.podernLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podern

Keywords

community, co-living, housing, quality of life, social connections, urban living, real estate, friendship, shared spaces, neighborhood design, built environment

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Crocs Distance and Its Importance00:40 Building a Community: Life at Radish01:56 The Cadence of Living Near Friends04:03 The Science of Happiness and Friendship06:33 The Pandemic's Impact on Co-Living Trends08:58 Barriers to Living Near Friends11:07 Live Near Friends: The Enterprise13:29 Target Demographics for Co-Living15:48 The Difference Between Co-Living and Living Near Friends18:19 Cultural Context of Living Near Friends20:32 Sharing Spaces: What Works and What Doesn't22:14 The Joy of Shared Living24:28 Navigating the Home Search Process27:26 Flexibility in Living Arrangements28:18 Rethinking Urban Design for Community39:32 The Dizziness of Freedom and Community Anchors

Links

Phil Levin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillevin/

Live Near Friends – https://www.livenearfriends.com

Radish – https://radishoakland.com/

Supernuclear (Blog + Substack) – https://supernuclear.substack.com

Framingham Heart Study – https://www.framinghamheartstudy.org

Culdesac (Car-Free Community) – https://culdesac.com