What’s driving architects to rethink their role in a tech-driven world?

Evelyn Lee, FAIA, NOMA, shares her journey from traditional architecture to tech leadership, offering insights on how architects can adapt and thrive. Discover how she blends design thinking with business strategy to redefine the profession’s future.

Subscribe to Most Podern on:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodernInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/most.podernLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podern

Keywords

architecture innovation, Evelyn Lee, tech in architecture, design thinking, architectural practice, business strategy, Practice of Architecture, diversity in design, future of architecture

Chapters

00:00 Defining the Role of the Architect Today

04:46 Expanding Traditional Practices in Architecture

07:38 Challenges Facing New Architects

10:42 Transitioning from Architecture School to Practice

13:46 The Value of Studio Experience

16:41 Innovation and Risk in Architectural Practice

19:32 The Shift Towards Product-Based Architecture

22:56 Emerging Trends in Modular and 3D Printed Architecture

25:41Consulting and Advising in Architecture

31:00 The Future of Architecture and Its Boundaries

32:44 The Architect's Identity Crisis

40:00 Navigating the Changing Landscape of Architecture

48:33 Understanding Value in Architecture

55:07 The Future of Architecture and Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Links

Evelyn Lee: evelynlee.com

Practice of Architecture: practiceofarchitecture.com

Evelyn Lee on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/evelynlee

Mighty Buildings: https://www.mightybuildings.com/

Intelligent City: https://intelligent-city.com/

What if the bricks and mortar of tomorrow existed first as pixels? Discover how Manwen Li turned physical fabrics, tiles, and surfaces into ultra‑realistic digital twins—fueling faster iterations, richer creativity, and sampling. From pioneering Under Armour’s first virtual material library, she reveals the tech, the standards, and the surprising human challenges behind making “the physical digital.”

Links:

Manwen Li: https://www.manwenli.com

Under Amrour: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_Armour

Material Bank: https://www.materialbank.com/

Swatchbook: https://www.swatchbook.us/

Chapters

00:00 Welcome & Digital Material Mission

00:25 Why Pixel‑Perfect Materials Matter

01:38 Beyond Renderings: Fashion & Footwear

02:43 Material Bank’s Sampling Revolution

05:27 Anatomy of a PBR Data Package

08:04 Chasing Realism: Fidelity vs. Cost

10:11 Photogrammetry vs. Procedural Workflows

14:10 Everyday Digital Twins: Cars to Homes

17:24 Economics of Digital vs. Physical

19:04 Capturing Imperfection & Beating the Uncanny

25:30 Speed vs. Depth in Creative Feedback

28:22 Industry Fragmentation & the Library Gap

33:16 Fashion Lessons for AEC Professionals

39:41 Birth of the Digital‑Physical Co‑Twin

47:33 Characterizing Today’s Information Era

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.

Subscribe to Most Podern on:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodernInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/most.podernLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podern

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