AJ Climate Champions podcast: Owen Hatherley on Modernism + Will Hurst explains RetroFirst

Author and critic Hatherley describes approaches to the retrofit of Modernist buildings, lessons learned from post-Soviet housing and why he thinks White Design’s straw-bale Lilac Cohousing in Leeds could be a replicable new-build approach.

Hurst explains the tactics and ambitions of the AJ’s RetroFirst campaign, from engaging with MPs to raising public awareness, as well as the policy levers necessary to prioritise retrofit.

And, in a quick news roundup, co-hosts Hattie Hartman and George Morgan share their views on Zaha Hadid Architects’ Forest Green Rovers timber stadium proposal and round up other sustainability news, including ACAN’s Carbon Footprint of Construction report.

You can catch up on previous episodes of AJ Climate Champions, featuring Maria Smith, Annalie Riches, Sofie Pelsmakers, Diana Dina, Sarah Wigglesworth and Anna Heringer, here.

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Show notes: resources mentioned in this episode

News roundup

Zaha Hadid Architects’ all-timber stadium for Forest Green Rovers, due to complete in 2024, will have a CLT structure, as well as timber floor slabs and seating terraces.

• ACAN embodied carbon report Carbon Footprint of Construction
• Energy People Buildings by Judit Kimpian, Hattie Hartman, and Sofie Pelsmakers
• AJ Summit  March 25, 9 am-5 pm
• Ed Mazria, Architecture 2030. Ed Mazria of New Mexico-based Architecture 2030 will speak at the AJ Summit on March 25
• Forest Green Rovers stadium, Zaha Hadid Architects (pictured)
• MHCLG, National Model Design Code
• Policy Exchange, Strong Suburbs
• Riverside Sunderland Urban Design Challenge webinars

The AJ’s Will Hurst on RetroFirst

Will Hurst is the AJ's managing editor and has spearheaded a campaign to promote the retrofit of buildings over demolition and new build. Find out more about RetroFirst here, and read the letter published in The Times here.

Owen Hatherley on Modernism and Reuse

Source:ModCell

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Owen is a prolific author and commentator on the intersection between politics and the built environment and culture editor at Tribune magazine. In Red Metropolis (2020), Hatherley sets his razor-sharp gaze on, among other things, the regeneration of Southwark which has favoured demolition over reuse.

• Owen on obsolescence and reuse in south London in the AR
• Carl Turner’s Peckham Levels
• Coventry Town Centre
• Park Hill For more on Park Hill, listen to Episode 2 with Annalie Riches
• Lilac Housing White Design (pictured)

Credits

The AJ Climate Champions series is produced in association with ACAN, the Architects’ Climate Action Network

Podcast edited by Concept Culture

Music: Edmilson do Pífano, Forró de dois Amigos. Interpretation: Felipe Tanaka e banda Balaio de Baião