In this episode, the guys dive into the new Adrien Brody movie and end up deep in a conversation about architecture—especially in D.C. They talk about the Beautiful Buildings Movement, why brutalism still gets so much hate, and the clash between modern and traditional design. They break down how architecture reflects politics and culture, and how some big-name architects have pretty controversial legacies. There’s also talk about how social media is changing who gets a say in design, why Art Deco stands out as a bold American style, and what went wrong with the Eisenhower Memorial. It’s a fun but thoughtful look at how architecture shapes the world around us—and why it might be time to bring back some beauty.

Special Guest

Justin Shubow - President National Civic Art Society

civicart.org

rebuildpennstation.org

@civicartsociety | @justinshubow

Chapters

00:00 Intro & Random Banter
02:49 Adrien Brody’s New Movie
06:04 How Architecture Shows Up in Film
08:53 What’s the Beautiful Buildings Movement?
11:45 Modern vs. Traditional Design
15:09 Why People Feel So Strongly About Buildings
18:00 Is Architecture Political?
20:56 Brutalism—Why the Hate?
24:12 Brutalism in Movies
26:56 The History Behind Architectural Trends
29:57 Wrapping It Up… Or So You Thought
39:14 Architecture’s Darker Past
42:33 What Modernism is Really About
45:50 How Architecture is Taught Today
49:08 Social Media is Changing the Game
50:39 Why Art Deco Still Slaps
53:31 The Eisenhower Memorial—What Happened?
01:01:41 Where Architecture Goes From Here