Shows / Open City
Open City
Open City is a charity dedicated to making architecture and built heritage more open, accessible and equitable.
Providing you with essential listening, inspiring voices and built environment insights – the Open City Podcast covers news and current events as well as in depth studies of landmark buildings, and cities around the UK and world.
At the centre of our line-up is our flagship show The Brief – an award-winning review of the big stories in architecture, planning and housing news – hosted…
Episodes
Open CityInterCities: Sheffield with Johny Pitts
InterCities is a brand new podcast from the team at Open City. In this six-part series, we travel to a number of cities and boroughs around the world that have…
Open CityPlans for Manchester United's new stadium revealed
On The Brief this week, host Fran Williams is joined by Robin Nicholson, fellow of Cullanan Studios, to discuss: Plans for new 100 thousand-seat Manchester…
Open CityDeconstructed: Crossness Pumping Station - The Birth of Modern Sanitation
In this episode of Deconstructed, Matthew Lloyd Roberts is joined by Petra Cox – heritage educator, Open City tour guide and Golden Key Academy graduate. They…
Open CityCriterion Capital under the spotlight and how safe are London's Lime bikes?
On The Brief this week, host Sahiba Chadha is joined by the editor of London Centric Jim Waterson, to discuss: The man behind Criterion Capital, Asif Aziz //…
Open CityInterCities: Greenwich with Ana Francisco Sutherland
InterCities is a brand new podcast from the team at Open City. In this six-part series, we travel to a number of cities and boroughs around the world that have…
Open CityDozens of new towns planned across England and the contentious dismantling of Grenfell Tower
In this episode, host Merlin Fulcher is joined by the CEO of Open City, Manijeh Verghese to discuss: UK government unveils plans for dozens of new towns across…
Open CityDeconstructed: St Anne's Limehouse - East End Baroque
In this episode of Deconstructed, Matthew Lloyd Roberts is joined by George Saumarez Smith, Design Director at ADAM Architecture. They discuss the church of St…
Open CityBarbican revamp revealed, Denys Lasdun’s ‘glass castle’, Archigram and the save Prince Charles cinema campaign
In this episode, host Merlin Fulcher is joined by Jon Wright, an historian and 20 Century lead at Purcell to discuss: Plans to revamp London’s Brutalist…
- Open City
The Elizabeth Line sparks jobs and housing growth and a transformative redesign of London's Regent Street
This week Sahiba Chadha is joined by Julian Maynard, industrial designer and the managing director of Maynard Design Group. The Elizabeth Line spurs on new…
Open CityDeconstructed: Finsbury Health Centre - Healthcare for a modern age
In the first episode of Deconstructed, Matthew Lloyd Roberts is joined by Eleanor Marshall, an architectural designer and civil servant at the Department for…
- Open City
Is the UK housing crisis threatening the economy and NHS recovery?
This week Merlin Fulcher is joined by journalist and YouTuber Jon Stone to discuss the week's major stories in architecture and the built environment…
Open CityDeconstructed (coming soon)
De-constructed is Open City's brand new podcast which explores buildings, places, landscapes and communities, taking apart their architecture piece by piece to…
- Open City
Angela Rayner approves M&S’s contentious Oxford Street redevelopment
This week Merlin Fulcher is joined by Peter Murray OBE, the co-founder of New London Architecture to discuss the week's major stories in architecture and the…
- Open City
Smithfields closure, unrealistic housing targets and Brighton's white elephant
This week Merlin Fulcher is joined by the author, columnist and SAVE founding trustee Simon Jenkins to discuss: Smithfields meat market closes for good after…
- Open City
Office for Place scrapped, empty High Streets and C20's 'Coming of Age' campaign
This week Sahiba Chadha is joined by award winning architect Gurmeet Sian, to discuss: Government design champion, the Office for Place is scrapped // New…
- Open City
21,000 Saudi worker deaths, The Duchy of Cornwall and the Pay 100 survey
This week Fran Williams is joined by Ramsey Yassa, an architect and founding director of NOOMA studio, to discuss: UK architects facing scrutiny amid reports…
- Open City
The budget, China's super embassy and the legacy of Britain's Empire Exhibition
This week Merlin Fulcher is joined by the architectural worker, writer and editors of the magazine Failed Architecture to discuss: Rachel Reeves commits £500…
- Open City
Rachel Reeves' billion pound boost for council housing, design codes and the vital role of retrofit
This week Sahiba Chadha is joined by the architect Tara Gbolade to discuss: Rachel Reeves' £1 billion boost for council housing in the autumn budget // How…
- Open City
The Elizabeth line wins the RIBA Stirling prize, councils declare new UK housing targets unrealistic and the battle for Bethnal Green Working Men's Club
This week Fran Williams is joined by the architectural journalist Amy Frearson to discuss: The Elizabeth Line comes out on top at this year’s RIBA Stirling…
- Open City
Leaking luxury flats, RIBA's big rebrand and London's new 'town architects' named
This week Merlin Fulcher is joined by the architect David Ogunmuyiwa to discuss: A luxury Croydon tower needing ‘extensive’ remediation after only two years //…
- Open City
Affordable homes being run for profit, the nimby-yimby debate and the trouble with Euston Station
This week Merlin Fulcher is joined by writer and housing activist Adam Peggs to discuss: Run for profit affordable homes spark rent rise fears // Questions…
- Open City
Sycamore gap one year on, 'brownfield passports' and the wood burner wars
This week Sahiba Chadha is joined by the renowned tree expert and author, Paul Wood, to discuss: Sycamore Gap one year on // Labour's ‘brownfield passports’…
- Open City
Could this be the end for Birmingham’s brutalist Ringway Centre?
This week Merlin Fulcher is joined by Ewan Harrison, a lecturer in Architectural Studies at the University of Manchester. Campaigners lose bid to save…
- Open City
The Grenfell Report: Key Findings from the Inquiry
This week Merlin Fulcher is joined by Tomi Balogun, a young architect studying the Bartlett and winner of the Beyond The Box People's Pavilion prize 2023. The…
- Open City
‘Retrofit-first’ council approves five demolitions in one scheme
This week Fran Williams is joined by Gino Spocchia, senior reporter at the Architects Journal. ‘Retrofit-first’ council approves five demolitions in one scheme…
- Open City
Far-right riots leave communities across the UK scarred
This week Merlin Fulcher is joined by Tamsie Thomson, the chief executive of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland. Far-right rioting leaves…
- Open City
RIBA Stirling Prize 2024 finalists revealed
This week Sahiba is joined by journalist India Block, Deputy Editor of Homes and Property at the Evening Standard. The RIBA Stirling Prize 2024: this year’s…
- Open City
Six million people at risk from extreme heat in England
This week Fran is joined by architect and writer Nana Biamah-Ofosu, the director of YAA Projects: an architecture, design and research practice focused on…
Open CityLocal authorities in urgent financial crisis
For our 150th episode, Merlin is joined this week by Jas Bhalla, an Architect, Town Planner, Urban Designer and founder of Bermondsey-based Jas Bhalla Works…
- Open City
Labour restores housing targets and resurrects onshore wind
This week Merlin Fulcher is joined by Akil Scafe-Smith, urban designer and co-founder of RESOLVE. Labour bring back housing targets and lifts onshore wind ban…
- Open City
Labour promises a post-election housing surge
This week Fran Williams is joined by Jan Kattein, architect, lecturer, author and founding director of Jan Kattein Architects. Labour vows major housing…
- Open City
Reimagining UK department stores as sustainable housing
This week Merlin is joined by Hilary Satchwell, architect, urban designer and director of Tibbalds, a South London-based planning and urban design firm. Bold…
- Open City
Campaign to save the Beatles’ birthplaces
This week Merlin is joined by Henrietta Billings, the Director of SAVE Britain’s Heritage, a charity dedicated to securing the long-term future of Britain’s…
- Open City
Labour moots community buy-outs of derelict land
This week Merlin is joined by Jack Cornish, Jack is the author of a new book called The Lost Paths: A history of how we walk from there to here. He also holds…
Open CityArchitects call for a new ministry of housing
This week Sahiba is joined by Hugh Pearman, an architectural writer and editor who is also chair of the 20th Century Society. Architects demand a new ministry…
- Open City
The surprise snap election being celebrated by architects
This week Merlin's joined by Adam Peggs, a journalist and activist. The surprise snap election being celebrated by architects // No Grenfell Tower criminal…
Open CityMuseum of London’s contentious demolition cleared for approval
This week Merlin's joined by John Elledge, a journalist and author of the new book “A History of the World in 47 Borders: The Stories Behind the Lines on Our…
Open CityCalls for new public ballots on all tall buildings above 60 metres
This week Merlin's joined by Alpa Depani, an architect and the head of strategic planning and design at the London borough of Waltham Forest. Calls for new…
Open CityLabour vows to build on the ‘grey-belt’ and deliver 1.5 million homes
This week Sahiba spoke to Charles Holland; the architect and author of the new book 'How to Enjoy Architecture: A Guide for Everyone' // Labour vows to build…
Open CityGender pay gap widening among UK architectures biggest firms
This week Merlin spoke to the architect, author and columnist Eleanor Jolliffe // Sadiq Khan pledges to end rough sleeping in the capital // The Grenfell…
Open CityRent rises set to outpace wage growth for next three years
This week Merlin spoke to the Chief Executive of Camden Highline, Simon Pitkeathley // Rent rises set to outpace wage growth for next three years // Outrage…
Open CityBrutalism and Biodiversity
In this episode Paul spoke to the landscape architect, urban designer and Director of Landscape and Placemaking at Peabody, Dr Phil Askew. Their discussion…
Open CityNorwich City Council 'disappointed' after sell flagship homes lost to right to buy
This week Sahiba spoke to Amandeep Singh Kalra. Amandeep is the Associate Director of Be First, the regeneration arm of Barking and Dagenham council. //…
Open CityCouncil housing ratcheting up the political agenda
This week Merlin speaks to the President of the RIBA, Muyiwa Oki. // Council housing ratcheting up the political agenda ahead of big year of elections // How…
Open CitySpring budget criticised for failing to boost housing
This week Merlin spoke to Simon Vickery, the Programme Manager of the Open House Festival. // Spring budget criticised for failing to boost housing // A…
Open CityTidal Pools and the Landscape of Swimming
In this episode Paul spoke to the co-founder of architects Studio Octopi and Future Lidos Group; Chris Romer-Lee. Chris is a outdoor swimming enthusiast and…
Open CityCompetition Probe into the UK’s Biggest Housebuilders
This week Merlin is joined by Tom Wilkinson. Tom is a writer and historian, and author of the new book ‘Emergency Money: Notgeld in the Image Economy of the…
Open CityGovernment warned London house building is grinding to a halt
This week Producer Poppy spoke to Fran Williams - the architectural journalist and occasional host of The Brief - to discuss the big stories in housing…
Open CityRIBA president slams Labour’s £28bn green U-turn
This week Sahiba spoke to Rob Fiehn, the Director of the London Society // RIBA president Muyiwa Oki slams Labour’s £28 billion pound green U-turn // Michael…
Open CityLandscape-Led Waste Water Infrastructure
In this episode Paul spoke to the architect, curator and urbanist, Madeleine Kessler. Together they looked at waste water management in London, and…
Open CityHousebuilders throw support behind Labour as Conservatives ‘bow to Nimbyism’
This week Sahiba spoke to Pooja Agrawal. Pooja is an architect, chief executive of Public Practice, and a trustee of Open City. // Housebuilders throw support…
Open CityReestablishing the link between housing and health
This week Merlin spoke to the architect and co-founder of the Stirling Prize-winning practice Haworth Tompkins, Graham Haworth. // Calls for a Royal Commission…
Open CityLesley Lokko wins RIBA Gold Medal
Fill out our 2 minute listener survey to be in with a chance to win a 6 month subscription to Open City's Pocket London printed guides. This week Merlin spoke…
Open CityFresh divisions emerge in the debate over greenbelt development
Fill out our 2 minute listener survey to be in with a chance to win a 6 month subscription to Open City's Pocket London printed guides. On the show this week…
Open CitySustainable Urban Drainage systems for a greener future
In this episode we investigated the importance of Sustainable Urban Drainage systems in building a greener future, with Sue Illman who guest edited this…
Open CityWords on Wood: A Trillion Trees with Fred Pearce
Special episode of award-winning podcast series examining forest restoration. Open City is delighted to present this special episode of Words on Wood, a…
Open CityUK rents up by more than a quarter since 2020
This week Merlin spoke to Rowan Moore - the architecture critic of The Observer and author of several books including ‘Property: The myth that built the world’…
Open CityPioneering Parks of the Past and Future
In this episode, Paul spoke to Karen Fitzsimon, Colleen D’Souza and Rajan Dewan. Karen is a chartered landscape architect, historian, and horticulturist…
Open CityWalking the Walk: A Sustainable Urbanism Themed Tour of Marylebone
Given the climate and biodiversity crises we currently face, there is an urgent need to make urban environments more sustainable. This walking tour has been…
Open CityExtreme weather labelled ‘greatest threat’ to UK built heritage
This week Merlin spoke to Director of the C20 Society, Catherine Croft. // Extreme weather labelled ‘greatest threat’ to UK built heritage // Concrete concerns…