Do We Still Build Beautiful? Samuel Hughes on Architecture & Cities

Samuel Hughes, editor at Works in Progress, joins me to talk architecture, planning, and how we think about beauty in our cities.“Most buildings in Tokyo are ugly, but the streets are beautiful—urban form matters more than facades.”In this episode we explore:Can we still mass-produce beautiful buildings?Japanese urban design and zoning lessonsHow long buildings should last: UK vs JapanRent control and housing history in BerlinRethinking the greenbelt in BritainDresden’s reconstruction and underrated citiesFuture solutions for housing supply–––Full Contents01:02 Mass Producing Beautiful Buildings01:43 The Decline of Ornament in Architecture04:37 Tokyo’s Urban Design and Zoning10:05 How Long Should Buildings Last? UK vs Japan16:13 Philosophy, Beauty, and Emotions25:53 Public Policy Trade-offs in Practice31:41 Berlin: Rent Control and Urban Planning36:32 Housing in Europe: A Historical Context38:02 Modern Housing Markets and Trends41:50 Rethinking the Greenbelt44:40 Planning Authorities and Their Role50:40 Overrated and Underrated Urban Ideas1:02:03 Dresden: Lessons in Urban Reconstruction1:05:03 The Future of Britain’s Housing Supply1:08:40 Career Advice on Policy and DesignFull transcript, video and links here: https://www.thendobetter.com/arts/2025/8/20/samuel-hughes-architecture-beauty-and-the-future-of-cities-podcast