The latest episode of Tête-à-Tête features an interview by Rice Architecture alumna Lindsey Chambers with Ivi Diamantopolou and Jaffer Kolb, co-founders of New York-based design practice New Affiliates. In the interview, Diamantopolou and Kolb discuss the challenge of representation--creating renderings and drawings--for projects that could take many possible forms and the need to be presented to different audiences. The role of reuse is considered in their work, along with the overall trajectory of New Affiliates since its founding.

An interview by graduate student Lindsey Chambers with Ivi Diamantopolou and Jaffer Kolb, co-founders of New York-based design practice New Affiliates. In the interview, Diamantopolou and Kolb discuss the challenge of representation--creating renderings and drawings--for projects that could take many possible forms and need to be presented to different audiences. Additionally, we consider the role of reuse in their work, along with the overall trajectory of New Affiliates since its founding.

The latest episode of Tête-à-Tête features an interview by graduate student Lindsey Chambers with Eric Höweler, co-founding principal and partner of Höweler + Yoon Architecture LLP and Associate Professor in Architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. In the interview, Höweler discusses the issue of representation in the design of monuments, who is represented and how meaning is represented, specifically in the firm’s Collier Memorial and the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers at UVA. In addition, the trajectory of Höweler + Yoon alongside the rise of digital design tools and fabrication processes is considered.

The latest episode of Tête-à-Tête features an interview by graduate student Lindsey Chambers (M.Arch. '22) with former Rice Architecture Wortham Fellow Viola Ago. She discusses her thoughts on the roles of digital technology, compositional physics, and empathy in the design process. Themes in relation to some of Ago's recent work, including the installation Poppy Red and essays for PLAT 9.0 Commit and Log 46, are included in the interview.

The latest episode of Tête-à-Tête features an interview by graduate student Lindsey Chambers with former Rice Architecture Wortham Fellow Amelyn Ng. She discusses her Stay-at-home Stress and Screenspace projects, which are concerned with what designers can learn from stay-at-home experiences during the pandemic and digitally representing environmental phenomena, respectively. We also discuss some of her more recent work on environmental issues and representation, among other things.

The latest episode of Tête-à-Tête features an interview by graduate student Lindsey Chambers with architects Anzilla Gilmore, Justin Taplet, and Micki Washington. Anzilla Gilmore is the current assistant director for project management and engineering at Rice University, Justin Taplet is an associate at Gensler Houston, and Micki Washington is the regional leader of WorkPlace at HOK. All are currently serving as officers for Houston’s chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects. NOMA’s mission is to build a strong organization for the purpose of minimizing the effects of racism in the design profession. We’re excited to share a conversation with Anzilla, Justin, and Micki about mentorship, the work of NOMA, and making the design profession more equitable.

An interview with designer, musician, and filmmaker Giorgio Angelini. After touring in bands for much of his 20s, Giorgio enrolled in the Masters of Architecture program at Rice University during the 2008 real estate collapse. It was during his time at Rice that the seeds for Giorgio’s directorial debut, OWNED: A Tale of Two Americas began to take shape, which led to him co-founding a film production company called Ready Fictions. He continues to seek out projects that can help expand our understanding of the perversity of American culture. Architectural, film, or otherwise. The interview was conducted by host Lindsay Chambers.

An interview with René Graham, who in addition to being a licensed architect, co-founder and design principal of a joint architecture & real estate development practice, Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas School of Architecture, as well as a Visiting Critic at Texas A&M College of Architecture, is the founder and CEO of Renzoe Box, a modular system for color cosmetics. Although her work is divided among two different industries, she recognizes challenges and strategies that are common across these pursuits, from the gender divide in the architecture and startup communities to the design thinking necessary for creating makeup boxes to dwellings. Her cross-disciplinary experience underscores her belief that crossing conventional boundaries may unlock new potentials for the built environment. This episode was conducted by hosts Anna Cook and Yangtian Yan.

An interview with Frank Barkow of Barkow Leibinger, an American/German architectural practice based in Berlin and New York, founded in 1993 by Frank Barkow and Regine Leibinger. Their practice is a research-based approach to architecture and design, allowing the work to respond to advancing knowledge and technology, locating the practice as an international leader in digital and analogue fabrication techniques. The office’s focus revolves around a commitment to academic teaching, research, and the practice itself. The interview was conducted by host Lindsey Chambers.

An interview with Armando Hashimoto and Surella Segú. El Cielo, their architecture and urban design practice based in Mexico City since 2001, has extensive experience in the public, private and academic sectors. El Cielo generates visions of the future through consulting for urban development, architecture and housing projects, and policies and programs. These ventures all focus on participatory and community management, integration with the environment and the implementation of strategic plans and projects.