Cities as Provocation with Paul van Herk

In this episode, we speak with Paul van Herk—architect, urbanist, and lecturer at RMIT—about his particular mix of humour and frustration towards our cities, with a focus on Melbourne and its numerous failed urban ventures, including the long-troubled Fisherman's Bend precinct. Paul has recently completed his PhD titled 'Urban Myths: Counterfactuals for Articulating Political Dissonance,' and his work functions as a kind of mythbuster and provocateur towards the forces that make cities—or rather, prevent their making. Paul's research and design projects produce cut-through cultural and political insights, directing public discourse and opening new spatial opportunities for complex urban sites. He applies knowledge drawn from extensive international experience—including roles at McBride Charles Ryan, MVRDV, and Snøhetta, a Research Fellowship at Strelka Institute, and co-founding EXCX, a collaborative practice designing playful public installations for government authorities seeking to reactivate public spaces post-pandemic. The voice of Paul's provocation is a spicy mix of hilarious and exasperated—but always hopeful, and well-armed for the often absurd situations that define modern city-making. This conversation is for anyone who has ever wondered why cities so frequently fail to live up to their own ambitions, and what it might look like to design—and advocate—differently. Check out the references from this episode.