In this thought-provoking episode of "Let's Talk About Cities," we delve into the complex relationship between architecture, aesthetics, and populism. We examine how populist movements exploit traditional notions of beauty to craft exclusionary narratives, using the reconstruction of the Berlin Palace and the renovation of the Neues Museum as contrasting case studies. We discuss the historical use of architecture as propaganda and the dangers of establishing a rigid aesthetic ideology as the arbiter of good design. Through these discussions, we aim to uncover the deeper meanings behind architectural choices and their impacts on our urban landscapes.

We're told that denser cities are better for the environment, for the economy, even for our happiness. But is that the whole story? On this episode of Let's Talk About Cities we dive into the debate about urban density and add nuance to dogma.

In this episode we’ll take a deeper dive into the countryside and its relation to the city. An overview of city and countryside through the lens of urbanization is given, reports and research on the topic are presented, definitions and differences of terms used are explained and renewed interest for countryside within architectural discourse is examined before future outlooks are considered.