USModernist Radio - Architecture You Love

We talk with the brilliant author and architect Richard Saul Wurman, who wrote more than ninety books, founded TED talks, and pretty much created the field of information architecture.  Architectural historian Kim Hoagland sues Donald Trump over the East Wing demolition, and musical guest, the lovely Quinn Lemley, brings Hollywood glamour back to life.  

On this episode, Ellen Mirro and Howard Miller of Studio TJP; then Dominic Bradbury, author of a new book on the style we all love to love, Nordic modernism.  Next Andy Cohen: a magician, business strategist, and NYU professor who argues that architects and illusionists are in exactly the same business. Last to bat, musical guest, Steve Holt, a Montreal jazz pianist who gave up Wall Street and won a Juno nomination. 

Will Bruder is a celebrated architect that never went to architecture school, but he became one of the most respected architects in America through apprenticing to Paolo Soleri and Gunnar Birkerts.  Alex Josephson quit London's most prestigious architecture program mid-degree and struck out on his own. Greg Case isn't an architect at all — he's an ad guy who out-researched the professionals and rescued a forgotten modernist from obscurity. And Suzy Cash has a graduate degree and a résumé from one of the best firms in the South, yet she traded it for an off-grid life built with her own hands. 

On today's episode, international architect Patrik Schumacher, CEO of Zaha Hadid Architects;  Elias Tabache shares beautifully shot house videos of his Open Space platform, and later, musical guest Karrin Allyson.  

We're revisiting conversations with two special guests who have passed away since these interviews were recorded — architect Paul Rudolph's partner Ernst Wagner and Frank Lloyd Wright's grandson, architect Eric Lloyd Wright.  Ernst Wagner died in 2024 at 81. A Swiss exchange student who came to New York in 1970, he met architect Paul Rudolph and the two became lifelong partners both in architecture and in business, co-founding the Modulightor lighting company and building the landmark Modulightor Building on East 58th Street. After Rudolph's death, Ernst spent nearly three decades keeping that legacy alive, founding what has become the Paul Rudolph Institute and opening this iconic building to the public several times a month under the leadership of CEO Kelvin Dickinson.  

In another of our wildly popular series, Children of Genius, we talk with family of famous architects, starting with Jennifer Lapidus, granddaughter of Morris Lapidus who reshaped Miami with hotels like the Fontainebleau. Next, Jenny Jacks Shreve, daughter of Arkansas architect Ernie Jacks, who worked on the Kennedy Center with Edward Durell Stone and the Case Study Houses with Craig Ellwood.  Later, returning musical guest, Stacey Kent, one of the most noted jazz vocalists in the world. 

Acclaimed architect Tom Phifer builds around light, with three decades designing buildings that make walls feel invisible.  Author Alastair Gordon has written more than 28 books and knows all the midcentury Modern houses in the Hamptons that shaped American architecture.  Jeanie Bryson spent decades as a jazz vocalist, sharing stages with Grover Washington Jr., Kenny Burrell, and Etta Jones.  Having a famous but also secret father helped, yet losing her husband and musical partner had her step away from performing for years.  Now she's back, and we're lucky to have her.

Elizabeth Gordon was editor-in-chief of House Beautiful.  In April 1953 she published an influential and controversial editorial that rocked the architecture world, presenting Modernism as uncomfortable, impractical, and like communism a threat to American cultural values. We'll talk with author Monica Penick, author of the definitive book on Gordon, 2001's Tastemaker.  Next up, Alison Fisher just closed a wildly successful exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago on Bruce Goff, an architect who made Frank Lloyd Wright look restrained. Wrapping up, Naama Gheber is a jazz vocalist with four albums and a voice critics have compared to Peggy Lee. 

On this special edition of USModernist taped live earlier this year at the Onera Foundation in New Canaan CT,  we explore diplomacy through Modernist architecture with three guests: Dublin architect Cormac Murray gives a talk on John Johansen's US Embassy in Dublin; legendary photographer Norman McGrath, who shot that building soon after it opened, and architect Christen Johansen, son of John Johansen, discusses family legacy.  Laurence Lafforgue of the Onera Foundation hosts.

New York architect Tom Gluck of GLUCKplus, son of architect Peter Gluck, takes us behind the scenes of projects from prefab high-rises in Manhattan to his Tower House in upstate New York. Nick Ferrell brings the history of Modernist lighting design in Modeline of California: Pioneer of Modern Lighting, with lamps that have inspired designers for decades. And freshly-minted Pulitzer prize winner Mark Lamster updates the endangered IM Pei-designed City Hall in Dallas.  Later on, special musical guest, the Grammy-winning Miami singer Jon Secada. 

In Bakersfield CA, David Coffey preserves two houses one by Neutra, and one by Wright, but today we talk about his passion, Modernism in Uruguay.  In Los Angeles, Cindy Olnick stewards the Neutra Institute. Later on, jazz duo Lenore Raphael and Chris Hodgkins reunite for their joyful new album, Pennies From Heaven. 

We're talking about North Carolina, our home state.  Architect Phil Szostak has shaped some of the state's most prominent cultural spaces and houses.  Architect Ben Taylor's long career starting in the 1950's has left a lasting mark across North Carolina. Later, it's straight out of Birdland with musical guests Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks. 

Imagine doing Modernist preservation – in a war zone.  Dmytro Soloviov documents Ukraine's modernist architecture.  Ben Wever cares for one of America's modernist treasures, the Miller House in Columbus, Indiana. Hallie Swenson uncovers the stories of San Diego Modernism, and architect Robert Stone brings new desert Modernism to life. 

We dug into the podcast vault for one of the most successful and admired architects in the world, Bjarke Ingels of BIG. Later, we swoon over jazz vocalist Halie Loren.

Ready for a dose of music, design, and spectacle? Steve Young digs up wild, forgotten midcentury industrial musicals and somehow makes them catchy again. Megan Reilly turns WestEdge LA into a playground of design, ideas, and inspiration.  And Erik Stabnau keeps the venerable Glenn Miller Orchestra swinging, blowing the roof off of jazz clubs, arenas, coliseums, and amphitheaters after almost 100 years.

Archivist Natalie Morath is keeper of Eero Saarinen's GM Technical Center history, bringing the amazing campus to life for yet another generation of fans.  Linda Brettler renovated Raphael Soriano's 1964 Grossman House, and Marcos Santa Ana transformed the Wagoya House. Later, musical guest John Pizzarelli, with a sound that's both timeless and new.

Chris Roman designs a Modernist fire station in Richmond VA.  Authors Edward Dimendberg and Crosby Doe share the story of the breakout project for Richard Neutra, the Lovell Health house in Los Angeles.  Holland Murphy investigates an architectural mystery in Dallas, and from northwest Arkansas, musical guest Claudia Burson. 

Joe Massaro brought an unbuilt Frank Lloyd Wright design to life and weathered 20 years of criticism from Wright purists; Corbett Jones share his new documentary on Arts and architecture magazine and the Case Study Houses; Glenn Kurtz gracked down the men in Lewis Hine's iconic Empire State Building photographs, turning symbols into real people; and musical guest Jenna Esposito keeps the 60's alive. 

We've dug into the podcast vault for the story of Star Trek's furniture.  Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek launched a franchise in 1966 and is still going strong 60 years later. Sequels, movies, toys, fan films - there's just no end to Star Trek's bright, progressive, optimistic future where Earth has transcended national and international politics. Something architecture fans may have missed, and we certainly did, is that Star Trek adapted midcentury Modern furniture for the set design, from the Bridge to the Conference Room, to the alien buildings on the planets they landed on.  Authors Dan Chavkin and Brian McGuire about talk their book: Star Trek: Designing the Final Frontier, The Untold Story of How Midcentury Modern Decor Shaped Our View of the Future. Later on, legendary singer Jennifer Warnes, who you've loved for I've Had the Time of my Life, Right Time of the Night, Up Where We Belong, and a vast treasure of songs with and by Leonard Cohen.

Architects Carin Carlson and Tim Mitchell from Hennebery Eddy Architects restore mid-century and Mission 66–era architecture. Anthony Alofsin, one of the world's leading authorities on Frank Lloyd Wright, joins us to talk about his new book, Frank Lloyd Wright's Bogk House and reveals his new, famous cousin.  Paige Figenbaum, Executive Director of the Nevada Preservation Foundation, tells us about Vegas modernism and later, musical guests Naomi & Her Handsome Devils.

Kevin McCloud and Tim Ross are hosts of Tim and Kev's Big Design Adventure, a globe-trotting podcast centered on people, places, architecture, and design. Later, baritone saxophonist Leigh Pilzer, whose powerful sound has anchored ensembles from the DIVA Jazz Orchestra to the immortal Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.

The venerable magazine Architectural Record is one of the most influential design publications in the world, clocking in 135 years of extraordinary coverage.  You can see all their issues at usmodernist.org/index-ar. Today we'll explore one of their editors, Lawrence Kocher, with Luis Pancorbo and Ines Martin Robles.  We'll talk with Steven Hurtt on The Urban Design Legacy of famed critic Colin Rowe, and we'll hear about celebrated architect Ulrich Franzen from Josephine Franzen.  Wrapping up, musical guest Kim Kaskiw.

First up, for our concrete fans, art critic and author Blake Gopnik looks inside modernism through his book, Brutalist Interiors.  Holland Murphy solves the mystery of a house in Dallas. From there, we head to St. Louis, where Pam Sanfilippo of the Eero Saarinen-designed Gateway Arch National Park shares how Saarinen's soaring 630-foot monument endures for millions of visitors.  And we wrap up with the Rolling Stones of swing, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, carrying forward one of the greatest big bands with leader Jeff Bush. 

Starting with Los Angeles, we'll talk with Rudolph Schindler homeowner, and star of Two and a Half Men, Holland Taylor.  Then we move to Palm Springs, the center of the Universe for midcentury Modernism. Everybody who's a fan of Modernism needs to plan a trip, and today we'll talk with Palm Springs tour guides Shann Carr and JD Cargill, author Adele Cygelman and her new documentary Arthur Elrod: Modern Cool, Later music from jazz pianist Lenore Raphael. 

We've dug into the podcast vault to one of our favorite shows:  the story of the awesome Modernist house in the 2006 movie, The Lake House, starring Keanu Reaves and Sandra Bullock.  The house stole the show, and we'll talk to the architect Nathan Crowley and the engineer, Fritz Hengge.

Today we'll talk with producers of architecture and design documentaries featured in Kyle Bergman's Architecture and Design Film Festival which opened last fall and continues around the world.  Filmmaker Allie Rood's Prickly Mountain captures Vermont's countercultural design/build movement. Beck Carpenter's Space Architect tells the story of NASA architect Constance Adams, whose pioneering designs for off planet habitats inspire solutions for our own climate challenges. Danny Berish and Ryan Mah's Arthur Erickson: Beauty Between the Lines traces the life and work of one of Canada's most celebrated architects, and wrapping up, JUNO award-winning musician Brandi Disterheft. 

Carol and Dan Price stepped in to save architect Victor Lundy's Bellaire, Texas, home just weeks before demolition.  Erin DiFazio champions Sarasota's architectural heritage, and owner Joel Disend shares his 1959 Edward Durell Stone house in New Canaan, Connecticut.  Then from teen idol to chart-topper to movie star to pro basketball team owner (and Debbie's dad), we've got the great Pat Boone, with a career spanning seven decades. 

In our continuing series, Children of Genius, we'll talk with the children of extraordinary architects. First, Llisa Demetrios, Curator of the Eames Institute and youngest granddaughter of design legends Ray and Charles Eames. Next, Sarah and Cameron Nims, children of Florida architect Rufus Nims, and later, we'll talk with Gabriela Liebert, the architect reviving Nim's iconic "Jetsons House" in Miami.  Then, it's the daughter of architect Irving Tobocman, and also our musical guest, jazz singer Susan Tobocman. 

We've dug into the USModernist Radio vault to bring back a special interview on early 20th century Modernist Harwell Hamilton Harris, with author Lisa Germany and Harris' friend and executor, Frank Harmon. 

Today on the show, George writes a song in 30 seconds.  Architects Margaret Sullivan and Jim Richärd turn libraries into vibrant hubs. Glenda Flaim and Federico Engel restore a William Wurster house in San Francisco, and later we'll croon with musical guest Matt Belsante.

Today we welcome podcast host Evan Troxel of Archispeak; developer Ken Reiter, who answers the question, what do you do with a old Modernist school?  Jason Langkammerer, founder of AT6 Architecture + Design Build, on renovating his own house; and returning podcast guest, the enchanting Julianna Raye, singer-songwriter and CEO of Unified Mindfulness, blending soulful music with meditation practice.

Our first guest Volker Welter uncovers how architect Leopold Fischer fled Europe to shape Modernism in the US.  We have Cranbrook Museum's Chief Curator Andrew Blauvelt, and later, musical guests Gregg and Kathy Gelb in a tribute to Paul Montgomery.

We've dug into the podcast vault to bring back two interviews with internationally respected architects Moshe Safdie and Danlel Libeskind.  

Shane Hood safeguards Tulsa's architectural gems. Peter Maunu lovingly restored Frank Lloyd Wright's Lamberson House in Iowa.  Emily Almloff, the youngest licensed architect in the US, is transforming hospitals across the Midwest. Later, musical guests Danger Hall, with Peter Lamb and Daniel Hall.  

First up, three prolific architecture authors: Alan Hess, Dominic Bradbury, and Sam Lubell. Then we meet Harper Halprin and Aaron Leshtz of AAHA Studio — a marriage proving that design collaboration isn't just for coworkers. And later, Montreal-born jazz master Steve Rosenbloom, who leads a 16-piece ensemble by night and is a psychologist by day.

Aidan Anderson is a former carpenter in Sydney Australia who turned a local furniture business into the Local Project, a worldwide media company for architecture and design. Trading a career a NASA for furniture, you will meet The Rattan Man Harvey G. Schwartz. And later, Hugh Martin, one of the founders of the UK Modern House Index, a huge digital archive documenting British modernist homes from the 1920s to today. 

We've dug into the podcast vault to bring back a show from the first year of USModernist Radio.  One of the best 80s films is Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Here's the plot: near the end of the school year, high school senior Ferris Bueller (played by Matthew Broderick) fakes being sick to stay home. His parents believe him, though his sister Jeanie (played by Jennifer Grey, the baby you don't back into a corner) is not convinced. Ferris persuades his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) to help lure Ferris' girlfriend (Mia Sara) out of school and let them use his father's prized 1961 Ferrari. Spoiler:  that Ferrari tumbles out of a really cool Modernist house, much to the chagrin of Cameron and his dad. Our pal Bob Langford, who pretty much knows every line in the movie, drops by to help us examine this cultural icon with guest Meghann Salamasick, who with her husband Chris are the owners of the that famous Modernist house. Later in the show, with apologies to Wayne Newton, it's George and Bob and Tom serenading Meghann.

Tom Kundig of Seattle's Olson Kundig is a superstar in residential architecture, and he's got a new book, Complete Houses.  But you can't have a world-class architect without a world-class builder, and we'll talk with Kundig's close friend and frequent collaborator, Jim Dow of Dowbuilt. Later, you'll hear Veronneau, a husband-and-wife duo whose tunes go around the world.

Back on the show is one of our favorite guests, YouTube architecture star Professor Stewart Hicks; Brian Horowitz revives the joy and nostalgia of pinball, that midcentury pastime that was going to rot our midcentury minds; and author Hillary Carlip shares the wonderful world of Willis Wonderland, a new popup book for all ages.

E. Fay Jones is a name most architects know but the public does not.  A student of Frank Lloyd Wright, Jones blurred the line between indoors and outdoors with careful use of wood, stone, and glass.  It's like these buildings just emerge from the woods. Today, we've got three people dedicated to preserving Jones legacy. David McKee worked for Jones and is the go-to guy for restoring houses.  We'll talk with Jonathan Formanek, who created the E. Fay Jones Conservancy, along with his partner, Andy Whitmore, who live in the Faubus house in Arkansas.  And back in the studio, we talk with influencer Maggie Weber, whose takes on bad design keep us laughing. 

We've got author and architect Peter Forguson celebrating Michigan's extraordinary collection of bold, Modernist houses with the new book Contemporary Michigan, from the UK, Michael Diamant rants against Modernism, and later on, musical guest Brent Jensen serves classic tunes made famous by Paul Desmond.  

Kata Walters went from the catwalk to the construction site, changing from an international career in modeling to building Modernist houses.  Allison C. Meier shares her map of New York, uncovering hidden histories in architecture and culture from cemeteries to the streets. Kyle Bergman of the New York Architecture and Design Film Festival shares this year's highlights, and from Sweden, musical guest Klas Lindquist.  

We're back with one of our most popular segments, Children of Genius. Them apples don't fall too far from the tree, and today we'll hear from two that dropped nearby, Toby Rapson and Ron Kappe. They grew up immersed in Modernist design with some of the most influential architecture of the 20th century, thanks to their fathers Ralph Rapson and Ray Kappe, tradition they continue today. Later, Modernist homeowner and musical guest Holly Cole.  

You all know we love midcentury modern houses in Palm Springs, but what about new ones?  These will be the houses we will tour and sip martinis at and give lectures about 40 years from now.  Today we'll talk with one of those architects, Jill Lewis, about a new house in the Desert Palisades area of Palm Springs, along with the landscape architect for that project, John Hreno.  Then we'll meet the leader of SOCOMCM, architect Edward Peck, plus returning jazz vocalist Jaimee Paul. 

Who's the author of that architecture book on your coffee table?  It's probably written by one of our guests, Dominic Bradbury and Adam Stech.  Later on, jazz with returning musical guest Elijah Rock. 

Today, it's Bartlesville, Oklahoma, home to Frank Lloyd Wright's skyscraper, the 19-story Price Tower, talking with new owners Macy Snyder-Amatucci and John Snyder, about their plan to bring the tower back to life. Then it's on to Washington DC and the administration's plans for architecture, with writer and critic Ian Volner. Next, World's Fairs with Bill Cotter, and later, music from jazz pianist Lenore Raphael.

Do you like architecture?  Do you like Jeopardy?  Recent Jeopardy contestant Jade Snelling is an archivist at Virginia Tech working at the International Archive of Women in Architecture, preserving the history of women architects around the world. Next we've got Catherine Croft, the Director of the Twentieth Century Society dedicated to protecting Britain's most significant 20th-century buildings. We'll hear about a new Frank Lloyd Wright house with Sarah and Debbie Dykstra. Then special musical guest, Thomas Lauderdale and Pink Martini.

Every serious Modernist fan knows about the Case Study Houses, the legendary program started by John Entenza of Arts and Architecture Magazine in the 1950's, attracting top and emerging architects to create affordable houses for Los Angeles.  We'll talk with Dustin Bramell, who's working to create a new series of Case Study Houses; Cary O'Dell on the great Bucky Fuller;  mother-daughter duo Sarah and Debbie Dykstra share the story of their Frank Lloyd Wright house, and music by Lenore Raphael. 

Our last set of poolside interviews from Modernism Week 2025 features three fun and exciting author pairs: Corey and Margeret Bienert on midcentury motels, Jonathan Schroeder and Janet Borgerson on instructional records, and Adriene Biondo and Chris Nichols on the sporting craze of the 1950's - bowling!

Welcome to USModernist Radio, where we talk and laugh with people who enjoy, own, create, dream about, preserve, love, and hate Modernist architecture, the most exciting and controversial buildings in the world. It's Monday, August 4, and we've got prolific architecture author Sam Lubell, Colorado architects Rowland and Broughton, and musical guest Taurey Butler.  Plus, a new addition for the USModernist Archives - we're taking on architecture podcasts that stopped producing new episodes - and preservation websites that have vanished.