What is design worth and can its value even be measured?

The authors of the forthcoming book, Value of Design: Creating Agency Through Data-Driven Insights, join Most Podern to state that it can be and discuss the importance of design in the built environment and its impact on society. They aim to bridge the gap between design and finance, and quantify the value of design in terms of its impact on financial value, social value, and cultural value. The discussion also touches on the subjective nature of design, the role of developers and policy makers in decision-making, and the importance of evidence-based approach to evaluating design quality.

Value of Design: Creating Agency Through Data-Driven Insights coming Fall 2024

by Andrea Chegut, Minkoo Kang, Helena Rong, and Juncheng Tony Yang

In the context of architecture and real estate, the value of design—be it financial or social value—remains largely unmeasured, overlooked, and inadequately researched. By failing to acknowledge the potential of design, we miss opportunities to address the wide-ranging social and sustainability challenges at play today.

MIT Real Estate Innovation Lab

Published by ORO Editions

Graphic Design by Studio Lin

Edited by Julia van den Hout of Original Copy

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De Peter Yi joins Most Podern to talk about his work in addressing the built environment through a design research approach to architectural practice. As an ⁠Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Cincinnati⁠, and founder of ⁠Rebuild Collective⁠, an architectural research and design studio, Peter’s practice addresses ways in which architectural and urban design plays a role in the evolution of contemporary society.

Combining his various roles as an architect, researcher, and educator, Peter discusses his journey from childhood experiences to architectural training, education, and professional practice. He explores the impact of research in design, the role of academia, and the development work that targets how ways to improve the relationship between policies governing the development of the built environment and the outcomes that they yield.

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Season 3 of the Most Podern Podcast focuses on design research in the built environment, ranging from innovative ways to address real estate finance, sustainability, policy, civic and engagement. In this season preview, your hosts Libo, Minkoo, and Alex explore how knowledge is created, disseminated, and applied in the industry and introduce the guests, topics, themes, and insights from the season’s upcoming episodes.

Season 3 Schedule

May 27 - Season Introduction with your hosts

June 3 - De Peter Yi - ⁠Architect and Professor at the University of Cincinnati

June 10 - Helena Rong, Tony Juncheng Yang, and Minkoo Kang - Researchers at MIT Real Estate Innovation Lab, Co-Authors of The Value of Design (forthcoming)

June 17 - Yasushi Sakai - Researcher at the MIT Media Lab's City Science Research Group

June 24- Yair Titelboim - Data Scientist and CRE Specialist at ⁠Hines Office of Innovation

July 1 - Brian Lee - Principal Research Scientist at Autodesk Research

July 8 - Irmak Turan - Vice President of Sustainability & Resilience at Thornton Tomasetti

In another in between episode, we explore the question of what makes a good building. We touch on the importance of context, the challenges of building in urban environments, and the impact of building materials and technologies. We explore the importance of light, air, and ceilings in creating a pleasant environment. Our next season on the topic of Research is dropping next week!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Questioning the Definition of a Building

02:24 Exploring the Importance of Purpose and Context

06:49 Adaptability and Flexibility in Urban Environments

10:11 The Role of Materials and Technologies in Building Efficiency

14:48 Balancing Policy and Feasibility in Building Design

27:27 Exploring the Role of Light, Air, and High Ceilings

28:55 Discussing Comfortable Stairs and Well-Designed Spaces

32:38 Evaluating the Impact of Views, Colors, Smell, and Sound

36:25 Appreciating the Experience of Urban Environments

41:30 Defining the Characteristics of a Good Building

50:53 Encouraging a Demand for Better Built Environments

The Sphere in Las Vegas is a unique and captivating building that has gained viral attention. It is a giant LED screen and a building in one, displaying dynamic and immersive content. It has quickly become a symbol of Las Vegas and its entertainment culture. In this episode, we discuss the Sphere's impact on the built environment and its place in the prioritization of spectacle and entertainment, pushing the boundaries of architecture and real estate.

13:41The Sphere as an Immersive Experience

28:57The Sphere: Building or Billboard?

39:35The Importance of Entertainment in Buildings

In this conversation, we explore the challenges of running an architecture business. Why architects are reluctant to view their practice as a business and the stigma associated with prioritizing profit. We dive into the intersection of architecture and entrepreneurship, how architects can become developers and create their own projects. We discuss the business side of architecture and the importance of having the ability to adapt and pivot in response to market changes.

Chapters

00:00The Stigma of Viewing Architecture as a Business

01:50The Lack of Emphasis on Business Practices in Architecture Education

05:09Why Architecture Firms Are Not High-Value Businesses

09:19The Role of Branding and Specialization in Architecture Firms

14:30The Limitations and Risks of Running an Architecture Business

29:59Bridging the Gap: From Architecture to Development

32:17Innovation in Architecture: Addressing Market Needs

35:26The Business Side of Architecture: Understanding Codes and Zoning

38:12Challenges and Rewards of Running an Architecture Business

49:03Building a Strong Team and Network for Success

52:53Self-Awareness and Continuous Learning in Architecture

In this conversation, we explore the definitions of work, career, and job, and how they differ from each other. We discuss the importance of finding work that aligns with one's values and provides a sense of fulfillment. What is the role of office culture and politics in work satisfaction, and how it can it vary across different industries and regions?

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Work

08:14 Work-Life Balance and Approaches

25:50 Finding Flow

38:04 Lessons Learned and Applying Them to Business

Have you wondered how the buildings you live, work, learn, and play in actually get created? Libo, Minkoo, and Alex break down the process of making a building and who is involved - who allows it, who pays for it, who designs, and who builds it. The group breaks down how it all comes together and starts to get at the important challenges and opportunities that the process enables.

06:12 Market Conditions and Incentives in Building Construction

23:45 The Importance of Community Feedback in the Design Process

31:17 Balancing Risk and Certainty in the Construction Process

39:03 The Importance of Project Completeness and Quality

49:43 Becoming Informed and Engaged Occupants of Buildings

Brandon Hall, architect and founder of BHA in Chicago, discusses his career journey and experiences in the field of architecture. He shares how his early interest in building and design led him to pursue a career in architecture that saw him work across continents for some of the most recognized firms in the world. Brandon reflects on his own education and training, and the lessons he continues to learn as the founder of an active architecture practice that looks to build buildings of character and value.

00:00 Introduction and Career Journey

09:30 Design Competitions in Europe

29:17 Embracing the Journey of Your Career

38:54 Articulating Your Design Process and Ideas

Can design training translate to technological innovation?

Zach Soflin, architect turned tech entrepreneur joins Most Podern to discuss his journey from studio to startup. Zach discusses his path from being an architect to building Layer, a transformative software for the building industry, that tackles the unique challenges of working with spatial data. Zach shares how he first became interested in architecture and how his passion for design led him to pursue a career in the field and then beyond.

00:00 Zach's Background and Journey to Architecture

03:18 The Birth of Layer: Solving a Project's Problem

08:16 Financing and Funding a Startup

35:26 The Future of the AEC Industry and Layer's Role