Why do we need to keep building skyscrapers and what separates them marvels or monstrosities?

Dr. Antony Wood, one of the world’s foremost experts on tall buildings, reveals why cities go vertical, what drives the global icon race, and how most towers fall short. From skybridges and carbon-sequestering timber to the 5% of skyscrapers that actually work, this conversation reimagines the high-rise as more than a symbol, but rather as a system for living, density, and urban ambition.

Subscribe to Most Podern on:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodernInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/most.podernLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podern

Keywords

skyscrapers, tall buildings, vertical urbanism, sustainable architecture, high-rise design, mass timber construction, urban density, carbon emissions, skybridges, public space in cities, Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, Antony Wood, CTBUH, skyline architecture, mixed-use towers, high-rise housing, vertical infrastructure, future of cities, architectural sustainability, iconic skyscrapers

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome + Guest Intro

01:00 – Why Do We Build Tall?

04:50 – Does Density Mean Height?

07:20 – 94% of Skyscrapers Built After 2000

08:20 – Why Asia Builds Higher

11:20 – The Global Icon Race

13:40 – Vertical Access & Skybridges

16:30 – How We First Built Tall

18:00 – The Skyscraper Problem: 95% Are Bad

21:20 – What the Best 5% Get Right

24:30 – Defining 'Tall' (And 'Supertall')

27:30 – Why the U.S. Isn’t Building the Tallest Anymore

29:40 – The Shift from Office to Mixed-Use

31:45 – What Singapore Got Right

34:30 – Mass Timber: A Building Revolution

38:10 – The Roadblocks to Mass Timber

41:00 – Rethinking Land, Forests, and Verticality

42:15 – Antony’s Top 5 Tall Buildings

46:20 – How Height Changes Human Experience

51:00 – Fighting NIMBYism with Better Towers

53:40 – The Future of Tall Buildings

56:00 – Where to Follow Dr. Antony Wood

56:56 – What Moment Are We In?

Links

Dr. Antony Wood: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antony-wood/

Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CUTBUH): https://www.ctbuh.org/

What’s driving architects to rethink their role in a tech-driven world?

Evelyn Lee, FAIA, NOMA, shares her journey from traditional architecture to tech leadership, offering insights on how architects can adapt and thrive. Discover how she blends design thinking with business strategy to redefine the profession’s future.

Subscribe to Most Podern on:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodernInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/most.podernLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podern

Keywords

architecture innovation, Evelyn Lee, tech in architecture, design thinking, architectural practice, business strategy, Practice of Architecture, diversity in design, future of architecture

Chapters

00:00 Defining the Role of the Architect Today

04:46 Expanding Traditional Practices in Architecture

07:38 Challenges Facing New Architects

10:42 Transitioning from Architecture School to Practice

13:46 The Value of Studio Experience

16:41 Innovation and Risk in Architectural Practice

19:32 The Shift Towards Product-Based Architecture

22:56 Emerging Trends in Modular and 3D Printed Architecture

25:41Consulting and Advising in Architecture

31:00 The Future of Architecture and Its Boundaries

32:44 The Architect's Identity Crisis

40:00 Navigating the Changing Landscape of Architecture

48:33 Understanding Value in Architecture

55:07 The Future of Architecture and Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Links

Evelyn Lee: evelynlee.com

Practice of Architecture: practiceofarchitecture.com

Evelyn Lee on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/evelynlee

Mighty Buildings: https://www.mightybuildings.com/

Intelligent City: https://intelligent-city.com/

What if the bricks and mortar of tomorrow existed first as pixels? Discover how Manwen Li turned physical fabrics, tiles, and surfaces into ultra‑realistic digital twins—fueling faster iterations, richer creativity, and sampling. From pioneering Under Armour’s first virtual material library, she reveals the tech, the standards, and the surprising human challenges behind making “the physical digital.”

Links:

Manwen Li: https://www.manwenli.com

Under Amrour: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_Armour

Material Bank: https://www.materialbank.com/

Swatchbook: https://www.swatchbook.us/

Chapters

00:00 Welcome & Digital Material Mission

00:25 Why Pixel‑Perfect Materials Matter

01:38 Beyond Renderings: Fashion & Footwear

02:43 Material Bank’s Sampling Revolution

05:27 Anatomy of a PBR Data Package

08:04 Chasing Realism: Fidelity vs. Cost

10:11 Photogrammetry vs. Procedural Workflows

14:10 Everyday Digital Twins: Cars to Homes

17:24 Economics of Digital vs. Physical

19:04 Capturing Imperfection & Beating the Uncanny

25:30 Speed vs. Depth in Creative Feedback

28:22 Industry Fragmentation & the Library Gap

33:16 Fashion Lessons for AEC Professionals

39:41 Birth of the Digital‑Physical Co‑Twin

47:33 Characterizing Today’s Information Era