Advertise on podcast: Archello Podcast

In this episode, Archello speaks with Eran Chen, founder and executive director of ODA Architecture, the New York-based architecture practice known for challenging conventional models of housing, density, and urban development. Founded in 2007, ODA has grown to around 120 people, with its main office in Tribeca and projects extending from New York to cities around the world.  Chen’s work is driven by a recurring question: how can architecture respond to ways of living that are changing faster than the cities around them? Rather than approaching buildings primarily as objects, he describes ODA’s work through experience, density, and the spaces that architecture leaves open. “Instead of looking at the built, we're looking at the voids between the built,” he says. Listen as Chen reflects on ODA’s experiments with New York zoning, the relationship between density and public space, and projects including POST Rotterdam, Denizen, 420 Kent, and Ola Palermo. Across them, he returns to an idea he calls “porosity”: shaping the voids within increasingly dense cities as spaces for interaction, belonging, and collective life.

In this episode, Archello speaks with Michael Murphy, architect, author, and founding principal of AMMA, formerly of MASS Design Group, whose work has helped redefine the relationship between architecture, health, public memory, and community-driven design. Murphy’s work examines how buildings shape human life at both intimate and systemic scales, exploring architecture not only as the design of objects, but as a social, cultural, and economic force capable of influencing health, equity, identity, and collective experience. Listen as Murphy reflects on the founding of MASS Design Group during the global financial crisis, his early work in Rwanda with Partners in Health, the ideas behind his new book Our World in Ten Buildings, and projects including the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, offering insight into an approach to architecture grounded in public responsibility, systems thinking, and the transformative power of the built environment.

In this episode, Archello's Editor-at-large Michiel van Raaij speaks with Ma Yansong, founder and principal partner of Beijing-based MAD Architects, whose practice spans cultural, civic, and residential projects shaped by fluid forms, emotional resonance, and an ongoing dialogue between architecture, nature, and the city. Yansong’s work explores how architecture can move beyond efficiency and object-making to create spaces that invite feeling, imagination, and public encounter, while remaining attentive to narrative, community, and the cultural meaning of place. Listen as Yansong reflects on the opening of Rotterdam’s Fenix Museum, his approach to sketching and imperfection, the spatial ambitions behind projects such as Harbin Opera House, and the lasting influence of Beijing’s hutongs, offering insight into an architecture grounded in human experience, openness, and change.

Archello speaks with Annabelle Selldorf, founding principal of Selldorf Architects, whose practice is based in New York and is known for its work on museums, cultural institutions, and carefully considered residential projects. Selldorf’s work is guided by questions of judgment, proportion, and longevity, examining how architecture can operate with restraint while remaining responsive to context, use, and public life. Listen as Selldorf reflects on her early years in New York, the formation of her practice, and projects including the Frick Collection and the National Gallery in London, offering insight into an approach to architecture grounded in clarity, responsibility, and long-term thinking.

Archello speaks with Martin Duplantier, an architect whose practice, Martin Duplantier Architectes, spans offices in Paris, Bordeaux, and Ukraine, shaping projects that range from infrastructure for the Paris Olympics to initiatives in post-conflict reconstruction. Duplantier’s work explores questions of place, responsibility, and resilience, examining how architecture can respond to uncertainty in times of war while connecting global challenges with everyday urban life.  Listen as Duplantier discusses his early career, the founding of his practice, his work in Ukraine, and projects that exemplify a deep commitment to context, sustainability, and cultural meaning.

In this episode Archello speaks with architect Benedetta Tagliabue, founder of Benedetta Tagliabue - EMBT Architects.   From her studio in Barcelona, Tagliabue reflects on a career that bridges countries, disciplines, and decades—from formative years studying in Venice and working alongside Enric Miralles, to projects that merge memory, materiality, and a distinctly organic formal language.   Listen as she discusses her early influences, evolving practice, and three major projects that exemplify her studio's blend of innovation, tradition, and emotional resonance.

In this episode, Archello connects with Mexican architect Gabriela Carrillo, founder of Taller Gabriela Carrillo as well as Colectivo C733. Known for her deeply collaborative and socially engaged architecture, Carrillo has created impactful public projects across Mexico. She recently won the 2024 OBEL Award for the ambitious "36 Projects in 36 Months" initiative, which redefines how architecture can serve communities quickly and effectively. Listen as Carrillo touches on her design philosophy, material strategies, teaching, and her most meaningful projects shaping public architecture in Mexico.

In this episode, Archello is in London with Helen Ensor, Director, and Robin Dhar, former Chairman, at Donald Insall Associates. For over 65 years, this practice has been at the forefront of architectural conservation in the UK, known for preserving historic buildings while thoughtfully integrating modern updates. The firm’s portfolio includes iconic projects like the restoration of Windsor Castle after the 1992 fire and the rejuvenation of historic estates across the country. Listen as the two describe their personal journeys, discuss some of the firm's standout conservation projects, as well as speak about the ways historic buildings can be rethought considering sustainability and material innovations.

In this episode, Archello is in Bilbao with Iñaki Garai, Director of Architecture at IDOM, one of Spain’s most influential firms. IDOM has played a key role in Bilbao's recent evolution, from working as the local architect on the transformative Guggenheim Bilbao, to completing other iconic projects like the San Mamés Stadium.  Listen as Garai discusses his IDOM’s deep connection to Bilbao, and his thoughts on contextual design both in the Basque Country and globally.

Archello connects with John McAslan, Founder, and Colin Bennie, Director, at John McAslan + Partners. For over 30 years, this practice has been shaping the built environment on a global scale, with a reputation for blending heritage preservation with contemporary design. From revitalizing King's Cross Station in London to reimagining urban transit centers like the Belfast Transport Hub, the practice’s work emphasizes the balance between historical context and modern innovation. McAslan, originally from Scotland, honed his architectural vision under the mentorship of Richard Rogers before founding his own practice in London. And Bennie brings expertise in complex infrastructure projects. Listen as the two describe their personal journeys, and discuss how the firm’s transport hub projects respond to the cultural and social contexts of the cities they serve.

Archello connects with Daniel Lobitz, partner at Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA), a firm known for its contextual designs that reference history and place, especially for projects in the office's hometown of New York City. Since joining the firm in 1986, Lobitz has led transformative projects across the country, including the tallest residential tower in Lower Manhattan at 30 Park Place, One Bennett Park in Chicago, and the reimagined Lovejoy Wharf in Boston. His work spans from large-scale urban developments to award-winning product design, with a focus on creating spaces that enhance the public realm. Listen as Lobitz discusses the evolution of multifamily residential design and the enduring importance of context in architecture.

In this episode, Archello connects with Dimitri Roussel, founder of DREAM (Dimitri Roussel Ensemble Architecture Métropole), a Paris-based architecture studio blending environmental responsibility with bold, modular design. Known for projects that prioritize both people and the planet, DREAM’s work often showcases innovative use of timber to create sustainable, dynamic buildings. Notable projects include l’Arbre Blanc in collaboration with Sou Fujimoto and the recently completed Athletes Village for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, both of which embody DREAM’s commitment to ecological design and fostering community connections. Listen as Roussel discusses his founding of DREAM, the office's pioneering use of timber in architecture, and some of the exciting projects taking shape in Paris and elsewhere in France today.

In this episode, Archello connects with Chris Hardie, Partner and Design Director of Schmidt Hammer Lassen’s China studio in Shanghai. Schmidt Hammer Lassen (SHL) is known for creating human-centered, innovative designs that balance cultural heritage with contemporary needs. The office’s projects pay a particular attention to sustainabilty and yielding a reduced embodied carbon content. Listen as Hardie reflects on his path to China from Scotland, the founding of the China studio, and leading projects like the Beijing Performing Arts Centre and Shanghai Library East, one of the world’s largest libraries and a vibrant community hub.

In this episode, Archello connects with Seattle-based architect Alan Maskin. Maskin is a principal and owner at Olson Kundig, a design powerhouse known for pushing the boundaries between architecture and art. With projects that span the globe like the iconic renovation of Seattle’s Space Needle and the Bill & Melinda Gates Discovery Center, Maskin’s work brings a fresh perspective to how we interact with space.  Olson Kundig is renowned for its commitment to materiality, sustainability, and storytelling in design, making Maskin a fascinating guest to explore these ideas with. Listen as Maskin reflects on his unconventional path to architecture, his passion for drawing and hands-on design, and his transformative projects.

In this episode, Archello is in Paris with Canada-based architect Omar Gandhi of Omar Gandhi Architects. Gandhi was born in Toronto and studied architecture in Nova Scotia. He started his own design studio in 2010, which is today based in Toronto and Halifax. In addition to his practice, he often teaches and lectures and has held appointments such as the Louis Kahn Visiting Assistant Professor at the Yale School of Architecture. Gandhi and his studio have garnered significant recognition for his projects both in Canada and abroad. The studio earned among other honors, the Governor General's Medal in Architecture, one of Canada's most important achievements for built projects.  Listen as Gandhi speaks about background, and a number of his projects which are known for being site specific and for their clever use of natural materials.