Rost Architects

Principal Architect, Mitchell Rocheleau meets Islam Issa, an award-winning Egyptian-British author, broadcaster, and the new Professor of Public Humanities at Birmingham City University, to discuss the Ancient City of Alexandria. Learn about the thoughtful planning that went into the city, the Lighthouse, and Library of Alexandria as well as what values were prioritized in its creation by Alexander the Great. What can we learn about an ancient city to create thoughtful cities for today's world? Watch the Episode:  https://youtu.be/KBbw3kGDZ3Y Read Along on our Website: https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2025/8/20/interview-with-islam-issa-history-of-ancient-alexandria ____________________________ Islam Issa’s "Alexandria: The City that Changed the World" has won the internationally acclaimed Runciman Award, is a Sunday Times and Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year, and in the USA, the Epoch Times named it the Best History Book of 2024. Alexandria is available in hardback, paperback, and as an audiobook read by the author. Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Alexandria/Islam-Issa/9781639368723 Audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/Alexandria-Audiobook/B0DKG8QPC6 To find out more about Alexandria: https://islamissa.com/alexandria Connect with Islam Issa | Website: www.islamissa.com X: @islamaissa

Explore the fascinating origins of Egypt’s ancient civilization with Mitchell Rocheleau of ROST Architects, from the early settlers near the Nile to the awe-inspiring construction of the Great Pyramid. This video explores the pivotal role the Nile River played in shaping Egypt’s agriculture, culture, and monumental architecture. Discover the innovations behind the Pyramids, the role of the Giza Plateau, the workers’ village, and the mystery surrounding Khufu’s reign. Uncover recent discoveries and speculations that challenge our understanding of Egypt's greatest architectural marvel. Read Along on our Website | https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2025/5/14/a-brief-history-of-the-great-pyramid-at-giza Watch the Episode | https://youtu.be/Cs4NMql4RDk

What if our cities were designed to heal? How can we design cities that offer places of wellness and connectivity?  Mitchell Rocheleau, Principal Architect of ROST Architects travels to Amsterdam to explore how Restorative Urbanism, an approach that analyzes how urban design can support mental health, has the power to foster change in our cities and our interconnected lives. He touches on psychosocial health, the importance of walkable cities, our sensory perceptions in urban environments, as well as his personal experiences in cities. Beyond sustainability, restorative urbanism aims to create cities that actively improve our well-being. By incorporating green and blue spaces, focusing on community, looking at different indigenous cultures, and diving into the core principles of restorative urbanism, we can help create cities that are truly thriving. In doing so, we can begin to promote the power of cultivating connections with others and ourselves.  Our future cities will serve our physical and our mental nature. Their purpose will be to create an environment that does its best to support the emergence of people's authentic human expression. Read Along on our Website | https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2025/8/11/restorative-urbanism-how-designing-for-human-connection-can-improve-our-lives-and-cities Watch the YouTube Episode | https://youtu.be/sy0944XBom4 ____________________________ Connect with Host Mitchell Rocheleau: ROST Architects | https://www.rostarchitects.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rost.architects/ Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/703zS0SPOZd6D24TbWjz51 LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/rost-architects/ Explore other ROST Architects Contemplations of the Built World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy0944XBom4&list=PLZSuBNzpIw07qgUaOrKfL1Cj2-6lgx_KJ ____________________________ About ROST Architects:  In addition to practicing architecture, principal and founder of ROST Architects, Mitchell Rocheleau AIA, searches the world to learn more about the buildings and cities humans have created, from the modern era to prehistory.  Through writing, expert interviews, and video documentation, we hope to make our journey available and accessible. Our mission is to understand the environments humans have created throughout history, learn from the successes and failures, and contribute to designing a better future. ____________________________ Books Mentioned: "Restorative Cities: Urban Design for Mental Health and Wellbeing" co-authored by Jenny Roe and Layla McCay, sparked an emergence in the field of urban design for mental health and provides a network of information on wellness, health and how that can look moving forward in our fast paced environment. https://a.co/d/1bKkHdv "Walkable Cities: How Downtown can Save America One Step at a Time" by Jeff Speck, analyzes how increasing walkability in our cities is a major factor in improving our overall mental health, and recognizes the various ways in how prioritizing humans over cars, can create a long lasting effect on our overall wellbeing. https://a.co/d/iJR2Wos "Spell of the Sensuous" by David Abram, explores indigenous cultures connection with their natural environments, as we compare it to our modern world, we can begin to recognize the lack of connection with our natural surroundings, as well as the importance of moving towards a connection to Earths natural rhythm. https://a.co/d/jaPhRzh “The North Atlantic Cities” by Charles Duff, beautifully surmises trends of cities and suggests a new era of urban development that's arising: cities of friendship and love. He explores how thoughtful planning and can encourage health and human expression in our communities and cities. https://a.co/d/i0Z0MkB

Mitchell Rocheleau of ROST Architects explores the History behind The Stahl House: A Mid-Century Modern Icon of Los Angeles, also known as Case Study House #22. Intended to be a home for the Stahl Family, Architect Pierre Koenig was tasked with designing a house that could capture the views of the city and was a vision for what a post-war modern home could look like through the Case Study House Program. It is important to know that the Case Study House program was not the beginning of the mid century modern movement in Los Angeles nor did the program represent all of the key players in the architecture scene.   The Stahl House was built during a period of promise, hope, and innovation. It was the perfect representation of the zeitgeist and energy in Los Angeles at the time and continues to be a testament to the lasting allure of Mid-Century Modern Architecture. Read Along on our Website | www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2025/7/30/c Watch the Episode | https://youtu.be/J4GR6G1AWjQ Connect with Host Mitchell Rocheleau ROST Architects | https://www.rostarchitects.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rost.architects/ Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/703zS0SPOZd6D24TbWjz51 ____________________________ About ROST Architects:  In addition to practicing architecture, principal and founder of ROST Architects, Mitchell Rocheleau AIA, searches the world to learn more about the buildings and cities humans have created, from the modern era to prehistory.  Through writing, expert interviews, and video documentation, we hope to make our journey available and accessible. Our mission is to understand the environments humans have created throughout history, learn from the successes and failures, and contribute to designing a better future

In the 1960s, Copenhagen began prioritizing cars — but a bold shift toward people-first design changed everything. This video explores how the city transformed its streets into walkable, bike-friendly spaces, revitalized public life, and became a global model for sustainable urban living. Learn how fewer cars led to a stronger economy, better health, and vibrant public spaces. Watch the Episode Here: https://youtu.be/gEs4hFRxYPY Read Along on Our Website: https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2025/7/30/the-urban-transformation-of-copenhagen

Join Principal Architect, Mitchell Rocheleau in this interview with Dr. Moudhy Al-Rashid, author of "Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and The Birth of History", Historian and honorary fellow at Wolfson College, University of Oxford. We discuss the importance of the creation of cities, early beginnings of Mesopotamia as a place and the incredible technologies from irrigation and writing systems that were essential to the environment. Watch to understand why studying ancient Mesopotamia is vital for our understanding of our present societies and how evolution of these creations has affected our current life and the ways in which we access basic needs. Watch the Full Episode & Read Along on Our Website | https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2025/7/25/dr-moudhy-al-rashid-on-understanding-ancient-mesopotamia Connect with Dr. Al-Rashid | BlueSky | https://bsky.app/profile/moudhy.bsky.social Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drmoudhy/ Wolfson College Oxford | https://www.wolfson.ox.ac.uk/person/moudhy-al-rashid/ Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History | https://a.co/d/axAafLb

Mitchell Rocheleau of ROST Architects dives into the fascinating story of Central Park's creation, from its inception as a public space for all New Yorkers to its role as a restorative haven and symbol of democratic ideals. Why is Central Park important for our generation to understand? Through collective self-awareness and community intention Central Park's design created an enduring legacy as a place for recreation, social interaction, and civic engagement. Through reconnection with the natural world and exposure to nature in an individual's life, New York was able to make a cultural statement for restorative public space within a city. Explore YouTube Episode: https://youtu.be/HHlwUm9OhTI Explore Central Park: https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2025/7/18/central-park-early-history-of-new-york https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2024/9/23/history-of-the-design-and-development-of-central-park-in-new-york-city?rq=central

The High Line in New York City is an iconic example of urban revitalization, transforming an abandoned industrial rail line into a vibrant, landscaped public park. The High Line story is one of evolution, from its origins as a bustling freight rail line to its decline and eventual rebirth as a symbol of innovative landscape, urban design. Experiencing the High Line was a thought provoking and energizing experience. It made me feel optimistic about the future of our cities, and it showed awareness and an effort to reintegrate nature into our urban environments. Watch the Full Episode: https://youtu.be/vyGWy1KLLx0 Read the Article on our Website: https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2025/7/11/the-high-lines-impact-on-new-york-city Learn more about The High Line: https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2024/6/14/the-story-behind-the-high-line-in-new-york-city

On this episode of our Live Series: ROST Talks, we answer your biggest questions about designing and building a custom home! No topic is off-limits, from budgeting and timelines to choosing materials and working with builders. Whether you're just getting started or already deep in the process, we're here to help guide you every step of the way. Watch the Episode: https://youtu.be/wi28I6o_5jM

Architect Mitchell Rocheleau discusses the importance behind Architecture History. Architecture can provide glimpses into human history, allowing us to understand the evolution and development of the human species. Learn the stories Architecture History tells us, from prehistoric structures to contemporary architecture, we can see what was important to humans at the time. Watch the Episode: https://youtu.be/d9oT1cdYuMM Read the Article: https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2025/6/27/the-stories-architecture-tells-us

Architect Mitchell Rocheleau was invited by Josh Cooperman to speak on Convo by Design, a podcast that was created by Josh to “share stories behind design and amplify ideas that make better the way we live, work & play.” The conversation centered around ROST Architects intentions and approach to creating designs for the human experience. Listen to the episode or read the conversation to hear the ideas shared and explored during this thought-provoking conversation. Convo by Design Podcast: https://convobydesign.com/ Read the Article: https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2025/6/16/reflection-intention-and-resilience-the-deeper-meaning-of-the-built-world-rost-architects-guest-feature

Alexandria is often overlooked when in comparison with ancient Athens or Rome. However, this city does deserve some further investigation due to its interesting philosophies, ideas, and concepts that it was conceived upon, primarily those of Alexander the Great, and how he conceived the city, how he founded it, and how he began to lay out the preliminary planning of the city. Architect Mitchell Rocheleau highlights the natural landscape features, philosophies, and cultural influences that helped Alexander the Great design the city, including two of its most notable architectural works, the Library & the Lighthouse. Watch the Episode Here: https://youtu.be/W5ALlzG93Hc Read the Article on our Website: www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2025/6/18/a-history-of-the-ancient-city-of-alexandria

What makes Stonehenge so captivating? This enigmatic Neolithic monument offers a window into our past and the lives of our ancestors. Stonehenge provides insights into their values, societal norms, and psychology. It unveils their astonishing level of sophistication, intricate communication networks, complex collaboration methods, and a deeply intuitive community with a profound understanding of materials, construction techniques, ecology, and astronomy. This megalithic marvel has the potential to enlighten us about our own journey and the evolution of our species. Read the Article Here: https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2025/2/12/stonehenge-architectural-and-archaeological-history

Architect Mitchell Rocheleau travels to England and France to explore Gothic Cathedrals and uncover the ideas and concepts that led to their creation. The ideas of light, luminosity, and transparency created an innovative form of architecture that has attracted people worldwide. Learn about the origins and history of these stunning works of architecture. Watch the Episode Here: https://youtu.be/EWRX7BMGao0 Read the article on our website: https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2024/5/29/the-gothic-era-the-evolution-of-a-new-architecture?rq=gothic

Principal and Architect of ROST Architects, Mitchell Rocheleau, meets with Mike Parker Pearson. Mike is an English archeologist specializing in the study of Neolithic Britain, most notably Stonehenge. He was the director at the Stonehenge Riverside Project and the author of several books, including Stonehenge - A New Understanding. Mike has firsthand knowledge of the site and a deep understanding of its rich history and has been intimately involved with Stonehenge for decades. He continues to conduct excavations studying the origins of the stones used at Stonehenge. Watch the Interview: https://youtu.be/7eT9q5Poe5g Read the article that inspired the conversation: https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2025/2/12/stonehenge-architectural-and-archaeological-history Mike Parker Pearson: https://g.co/kgs/bmDgGGX