Demystifying Zoning and the Hidden Rules Behind Every City

Why is zoning so opaque, and what if making it more accessible could unlock the future of our cities?

Quang Truong, architect and founder of UrbanForm, joins Most Podern to unpack how zoning works, why it became so complex, and what it will take to make it transparent, legible, and collaborative. From trophy architecture in New York to building tools in Portland, Quang shares his journey from chasing prestige to reshaping the systems that shape our neighborhoods. He explains why zoning isn't neutral, how bad actors weaponize complexity, and why he believes the built environment needs a new alliance between architects, planners, and developers.

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Keywords

zoning, urban development, architecture, community, Urban Form, zoning codes, housing, city planning, collaboration, urban planning,

Chapters

00:00 The Journey from New York to Portland

09:24 Understanding Zoning and Its Impact on Architecture

12:25 The Evolution of Client Relationships in Architecture

15:26 Navigating the Challenges of Urban Development

18:34 The Role of Technology in Modern Architecture

24:30 The Shift in Development Dynamics

27:33 Zoning as a Common Language

30:41 Understanding the Complexity of Zoning

35:05 The Power Dynamics in Zoning

37:36 Urban Form: Decoding Zoning

42:21 Who Benefits from Zoning?

45:36 Opening Zoning to the Public

49:41 The Ideal Zoning System

55:41 Navigating Zoning Challenges

57:56 The Role of Zoning in Community Development

01:01:30 Architects and the Design Conversation

01:06:55 The Complexity of Zoning Regulations

01:10:55 The Future of Urban Development

01:25:00 A Post-Rational Era in Urban Planning

Links

UrbanForm

Quang Truong, AIA

Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DSR)

The Broad

NBCUniversal

The Economics of Zoning Laws - William A. Fischel

Hugh Ferriss