In the first of two episodes on social and affordable housing , Tim Williams sits down with Mark Washer the CEO of Sovereign Network Group/SNG, one of the biggest providers in the UK, with an asset base of 85,000 homes, to talk about managing a massive business with a big social purpose: to provide good, affordable homes that are the foundation for a better life – with the aim of sustaining thriving communities, over generations. Joining them in the conversation is architect and master planner Kirsten Lees, Grimshaw’s Managing Partner in Paris and Sara Waller, SNG’s Head of Place, a role showing the significant emphasis SNG puts on supporting sustainable communities. In episode One we talk about the demands of running a big social housing provider and developer of affordable homes, under a new Government with housing as a priority. A specific focus is the role social housing providers can play in delivering the 1.5 million homes the UK Government wants to see built over the next 5 years, some of them in the exciting New Towns program. Episode two, has Sara and Kirsten further developing the focus on ‘housing in place’ and the need to design and deliver not just great housing but also great communities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tim Parker has massive experience of successfully managing big urban infrastructure and development projects.In this episode, he shines a light on his unique insights from an impressive CV and speaks with both passion and clarity about leading his latest large-scale project: the Federal Government’s initiative to build high speed rail initially between Newcastle and Sydney on Australia’s east cost, with the ambition to build further on this link in future.This is a massive transport undertaking, promoting a low-carbon transition from car and air over to rail, and economic and housing development and community opportunity – a project of national, and we think international, significance of interest to listeners from a wide range of professional and policy backgrounds and countries. Big ambitions for a big country: seems about right to us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the latest Grimshaw Cities podcast, Dr Tim Williams interviews Syrian architect and best-selling author Marwa al Sabouni. Unable to practice her profession in her battle-ravaged city of Homs, as the buildings and the lives around her and across Syria were reduced to rubble, Marwa Al Sabouni turned her fierce intelligence to chronicling how her city and country were undone through decades of architectural mismanagement and mistakes. The result was The Battle for Home in 2016 and Building for Hope:Towards an Architecture of Belonging(2021). We talk about these important books, her architectural advocacy and the values Marwa believes that architecture needs to embody so as to promote greater civic harmony, humanity and yes beauty in a divided and often ugly world. A really important and challenging conversation about why, what and how we build with someone with a unique voice and standpoint not heard enough in the international discussions about the future of our cities: exactly what the Grimshaw cities podcasts were created to do. Joining Tim and Marwa on this occasion is Grimshaw architect and urbanist, Awkar Ruel, with his own special experience and contribution as an Iraqi-born Sydneysider. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tim talks with international housing expert Professor Josh Ryan-Collins of UCL’s Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tim Williams talks with Austin Williams, director of Future Cities and author of China’s Urban Revolution: Understanding Chinese Eco-Cities. What can we learn, as environmentalists, planners and architects, from the eco-city initiative and overall from the Chinese process of urbanisation? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr Aruna Sathanapally, CEO of Australia’s leading urban thinktank, the Grattan Institute, talks about the key policy priorities to make a more productive and inclusive nation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joel Kotkin, a fellow in urban studies at Chapman University in California, is the author of the best-selling book The Coming of Neo-Feudalism: A Warning to the Global Middle Class. He is widely recognised as a leading international commentator on the future of cities and suburbs.In this episode, Joel joins Tim Williams for a passionate and insightful conversation about key urban trends. They explore Joel’s concern that declining home ownership and growing inequality are leading to a concentration of wealth and power reminiscent of pre-modern Europe. An important and thought-provoking discussion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today's episode features Dr. Caroline Butler-Bowden, State Librarian for the State Library of New South Wales, alongside Dr. Tim Williams and Grimshaw Principal, Eduard Ross. Together, they explore the role of libraries and museums in shaping cities and their significance as dynamic public spaces. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On today's episode, Dr. Tim Williams examines how America's largest city has grappled with the tensions between cars and public transit since the 1960s, with Nicole Gelinas, author of 'Movement: New York's Long War to Take Back Its Streets from the Car' and Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute. As a key part of this conversation, we also have Grimshaw Deputy Chairman and Partner, Vincent Chang sharing his insights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr Hila Oren has an international reputation as a city-making and branding expert. In her work in Tel Aviv over decades she has helped make that ‘smart-city’ a recognised global leader in tech start-ups and innovation. In conversation with our host Tim Williams, Head of Cities at Grimshaw, Dr Oren shares that journey with us and her insights into what other cities can learn from it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We are excited to share this unique episode to begin the fifth series of the Grimshaw Cities Podcast, The Resurgent City. Today we speak with our very own Jorrin ten Have, Associate Principal and Graham Gibbon, Principal about how Grimshaw, collaborators and clients collectively designed and delivered the Elizabeth Line – and won one of the world’s most prestigious architectural awards. Featuring special guest Howard Smith, Transport for London Elizabeth Line Director. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Making sure that cities provide enough social and affordable housing has become a global priority. Rebecca Pinkstone, head of new government agency Homes NSW with its $6b budget and 130,000 homes in ownership, leads the charge in Australia’s global city. Joining Tim Williams in this episode is housing specialist Leigh Hanekom, Associate Principal at Grimshaw. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Cities are in flux in the wake of the pandemic with further disruption imminent in the era of Urban AI. On today's episode of the Grimshaw Cities Podcast Series, Carlo Ratti, Director of MIT Senseable City Lab & Curator of the 2025 Venice Biennale asks, "What role for architects in the future city?" Also joining the conversation is Keith Brewis, Partner at Grimshaw. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode's guest is Beck Dawson, who has an international reputation in her crucial role as Chief Resilience Officer for Australia's global city, Sydney. In this conversation, Beck shares her acute insights into the international innovation and best practice for promoting the resilience of our cities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today's guest is Todd Litman, Executive Director of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute, based in Canada. Todd is recognised internationally as a thought leader in transport and city-planning. This episode discusses everything from congestion charging through Transit Oriented Development, to EVs and AVs, so don't miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Our guest is Gail Connolly, urban planner and now CEO of one of the most important councils in Australia, Parramatta, at the fast-growing heart of the nation’s global city, Sydney. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Tim talks with Andrew Chappell, the Head of Origination at international developer, LendLease about his current, broad real estate, place-making and ESG portfolio. Andrew also discusses LendLease's recent development work in Silicon Valley, and his early and continuing involvement in innovation districts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Tim talks to the Chief Executive of Leeds City Council, Tom Riordan CBE about managing the services for and economic development of Leeds, one of the biggest and most important British cities. Joining them is award-winning architect Mark Middleton, Grimshaw's Group Managing Partner who has the further distinction of being a fellow Yorkshireman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tom Wright, President of the storied and influential Regional Plan Association of New York talks about their impact, current campaigns – and the future of the tri-state area. Tim is also joined by Niharika Shekhawat, an Urban Designer at Grimshaw's New York studio, to discuss how she interacts with the RPA's legacy in her own work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Architects Gustavo Maldonado-Gil and Christina Lenart, both Masters in Space Syntax from the Bartlett School, do a deep dive into data analytics, housing and urbanism, with acute insights into success factors for social housing design and location. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.