Modernist architecture may be among the more divisive, debated and controversial architectural styles throughout history. But love it or hate it, few can contest its contributions to fundamentally shifting the way humans engage with the built environment. Modernist architects believed in designing spaces that blurred the lines between indoors and outdoors, tapped into primal instincts and desires and eased the stresses of modern life––in a sense, providing architectural therapy.

And George Smart, the founder and CEO of US Modernist, a nonprofit organization, is on a mission to promote and preserve modernist architecture and the stories behind it. In this episode, modernist architect Arielle Schechter shares how she connects her designs to nature and uses modernist principles to evoke a sense of optimism and joy.