Archello Podcast

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.

In this episode, Archello is in Paris with Odile Decq of Studio Odile Decq, who established her own office shortly after graduating from architecture school in Brittany in the 1980s.Decq is a prominent French architect renowned for her bold, avant-garde designs. Her notable projects include the extension of the Macro Museum in Rome and the Phantom Opera Garnier restaurant in Paris. In addition to her architectural practice, she founded the Confluence Institute for Innovation and Creative Strategies in Architecture, which emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches in architectural education.Listen as Decq speaks about her background, her integration of striking forms with practical design, and her motivation for introducing a new model of architectural education in France.

In this episode, Archello is in Paris with Dominique Perrault, who founded Dominique Perrault Architecture (DPA) in 1981 after graduating from the École des Beaux-Arts. Over forty years, Perrault has become a key representative of contemporary French architecture, both in France and internationally. He first gained widespread recognition for designing the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris in 1989. Other notable projects include the Velodrome and Olympic Swimming Pool in Berlin, the EWHA Women's University in Seoul, and the DC Tower in Vienna. Perrault received the Praemium Imperiale award in 2015, among other recognitions.Listen as Perrault speaks about his experience with design competitions, his explorations with natural topography, his new book, and his work for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

In this episode, Archello visits the newly-launched London office of Sordo Madaleno, a leading Mexican architecture firm based in Mexico City, and one of Mexico's largest practices with over 200 architects.  The interview is with Fernando Sordo Madaleno de Haro and Rosalba Rojas, two leaders in the office of Sordo Madaleno, which was founded by Fernando’s grandfather in 1937. Fernando, who is a partner in the firm, moved to London last year to set up a new international office for the practice. Rojas is an architect based in the Mexico office, where she directs the Sordo Madaleno Foundation and leads its archival work.Listen as Sordo Madaleno and Rojas discuss Sordo Madaleno’s history, its projects in Mexico and Europe, the experience of opening a UK office, and the foundation it established after discovering a lost treasure trove archives containing both built and unbuilt projects.

In this episode Archello is in London with Mario Cucinella, who runs his own practice Mario Cucinella Architects which he first founded in Paris in 1992, and then moved to Italy, where it now has offices in Bologna and Milan.   With over 20 years of experience, MCA excels in architecture that emphasizes sustainability and environmental impact. Its portfolio includes acclaimed projects in product design, buildings, and urban master plans. In 2015, Mario founded the School of Sustainability (SOS) in Bologna, a post-master's program for training professionals in sustainable design. His contributions to the field have earned him the Honorary Fellowship from the American Institute of Architects and the International Fellowship from the Royal Institute of British Architects.Listen as Cucinella speaks about background in Italy, his writing, some of his recent and upcoming projects, and how he approaches design by considering the environment and technological innovations from today as well as historically.

In this episode Archello is in London with Alison Brooks, Principal and Creative Director of Alison Brooks Architects, the office she founded in 1996.  The works produced by Alison’s practice are experimental and sophisticated. The projects exhibit forms and materials that are sensitive to their neighborhoods yet unique enough to make one pause and appreciate a building that is unexpected, well designed and invigorating. The practice’s work has garnered awards that range from the RIBA house of the year to the Stirling Prize. Listen as Alison speaks about her newly-published monograph, her constant process of experimentation, and the evolution of the practice of architecture.

In this episode Archello is in Shoreditch, East London with Simon Henley who is Principal of Henley Halebrown, the office he co-founded in 1995. The buildings realized by Simon’s practice engage with their surroundings and prioritize environmental responsibility.There is clear a commitment both to craftsmanship and community engagement in the projects, which range from housing to offices but all which share a special focus on social spaces. Henley Halebrown’s projects are well recognized and have been honored with the Neave Brown Award for Housing and twice been shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize.Listen as Simon speaks about starting his practice in the 1990s, his work on adaptive reuse projects, and the importance of community in architecture.

In this episode we're in London with Patrik Schumacher, principal of Zaha Hadid Architects. Born in Bonn, Germany, Patrik studied philosophy, math and architecture in Germany and the UK before earning his PhD. In 1996 he co-founded the Design Research Laboratory at the Architectural Association in London, where he continues to teach today. Patrik first joined Zaha Hadid Architects in 1988 and collaborated closely with the late Zaha Hadid to define the design approach of the firm, which produces visionary projects that range from cultural institutions, to transportation hubs and office towers in cities around the globe. Patrik is an architect that combines theory with practice to create new types of space and forms. Despite their complexity, the projects are surprisingly clean and legible.Listen as we talk about Patrik's design process, his experience with Zaha Hadid, how he works with materials, and how he is using new technologies such as artificial intelligence to advance projects.

In this episode Archello is in Paris with Manuelle Gautrand. Manuelle is Principal Architect and Director of Manuelle Gautrand Architecture, the agency she founded in 1991. Manuelle was born in Marseille and received her diploma in Architecture from l’Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Montpellier. She has led projects that range from housing to cultural centers and which experiment widely with form and material. In 2017 Manuelle was awarded the European Prize for Architecture, making her both the first female and the first French architect to receive the honor.Listen as Manuelle describes her design process, the importance of participating in design competitions, how she works with materials, and the ways in which she uses new technologies in developing projects.