Layers of Architecture

The Architectural Gulliver: In this episode we look into how could one skyscraper become a prominent landmark in the contemporary times and inspire other skyscrapers to emulate it, when skylines across the world are already crowded with towers competing for attention. The answer lies in a building which I call as the architectural Gulliver.

A Case of Contextual Disruption and Aesthetic Polarization : In this episode we look into one of the major dilemmas in architecture, the challenge of making contemporary additions to historic buildings.

In this episode of Layers of Architecture, we’re unraveling the political and architectural controversy surrounding one of the most fascinating buildings in modern history: Casa del Fascio in Como, Italy.

Architecture can be read at multiple layers. The impetus of this podcast is to approach architecture much like the traditional method of drafting—by placing one sheet of tracing paper over another. One may see the uppermost layer, while still perceiving the faint presence of those beneath it. In much the same way, this podcast offers focused analyses of architecture—of particular buildings examined through particular lenses. In each episode, a single building is read allowing one aspect to come into sharp relief without erasing the others. The aim is not to deliver factual summaries or encyclopedic accounts, nor to produce definitive interpretations. Rather, it is to slow down perception and cultivate a way of seeing— one that gains depth when we allow its multiple transparencies to remain visible at once.I am B.SO, the creator and host of the Layers of Architecture podcast. I am an architect and professor of architecture with more than 30 years of experience in academia. In each episode we unfold one building through these layered readings, tracing the ideas, tensions, and contexts that shape its presence. Visual materials that accompany each episode can be found on Instagram at LayersofArchpodcast. If you would like to reach out with questions, comments, or suggestions, you may also write to [email protected]. Thank you for joining us, we appreciate your time and interest in Layers of Architecture.