Why do American neighborhoods so often look the same, filled with “five-over-one” apartments or endless rows of wood-framed houses? In Part II of our conversation, architect Jeana Ripple—author of The Type V City and Chair of Architecture at the University of Virginia—explains how Type V construction and building codes interact with zoning, finance, and policy to shape entire cities. From Chicago’s fire-driven codes to Seattle’s tolerance of replacement, Ripple shows how materials influence affordability, aesthetics, politics, and even community health. This conversation reveals how hidden regulations quietly dictate the look, feel, and risks of American urban life.Jeana Ripple is the Chair of the Department of Architecture and the Vincent and Eleanor Shea Professor at the University of Virginia. A registered architect, she is principal and co-founder of the collaborative architecture firm, Mir Collective.LinksJeana Ripple - https://www.arch.virginia.edu/people/jeana-rippleMir Collective - https://mircollective.com/Purchase the BookUT Press: The Type V City: Codifying Material Inequity in Urban America - https://utpress.utexas.edu/9781477331620/Amazon: The Type V City: Codifying Material Inequity in Urban America - https://a.co/d/cUzKkySSubscribe 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-podernKeywordsType V construction, The Type V City, Jeana Ripple, American housing, Why U.S. cities look the same, Five over one buildings, Wood frame construction, U.S. building codes, Zoning vs building code, Architecture podcast, Housing affordability, Sustainable building materials, Urban design and policy, Multifamily housing design, Mid-rise apartment design, Housing crisis America, Cookie cutter housing, Mass timber construction, History of U.S. housing, Building codes explained, Real estate development podcast, Neighborhood design patterns, Wood vs concrete housing, Urban resilience, Affordable housing policy, City planning podcastChapters00:00 Introduction to Type 5 Construction00:37 Future Directions for Type 5 Construction06:32 Understanding Community Engagement and Zoning10:00 The Impact of Building Codes on Urban Development14:37 The Relationship Between Building Codes and Zoning17:20 Global Perspectives on Building Materials and Practices20:13 Sustainability and Materiality in Housing Policy25:07 Aesthetics and Cultural Preferences in Urban Design29:36 Challenges in Affordable Housing Development33:32 The Role of Community in Shaping Building Regulations38:10 Future Perspectives on Building Codes and Community Needs

Why are nearly all American homes built out of wood when most of the world uses brick, steel, or concrete? In Part I of our conversation Architect Jeana Ripple, author of The Type V City, explains how the U.S.’s reliance on light wood framing—known as Type V construction—became the national default. She breaks down the benefits (affordability, flexibility, sustainability) and the hidden risks (mold, storm damage, limited adaptability) that slowly shape the country’s homes, neighborhoods, cities, and built environment. This conversation reveals how building codes and materials influence urban life far more than most of us realize.

Jeana Ripple is the Chair of the Department of Architecture and the Vincent and Eleanor Shea Professor at the University of Virginia. A registered architect, she is principal and co-founder of the collaborative architecture firm, Mir Collective.

LinksJeana Ripple - ⁠https://www.arch.virginia.edu/people/jeana-ripple⁠

Mir Collective - ⁠https://mircollective.com/⁠

Purchase the BookUT Press: The Type V City: Codifying Material Inequity in Urban America - ⁠https://utpress.utexas.edu/9781477331620/⁠

Amazon: The Type V City: Codifying Material Inequity in Urban America - ⁠https://a.co/d/cUzKkyS⁠

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

Type V construction, The Type V City, Jeana Ripple, American housing, Wood frame construction, U.S. building codes, Urban design, Architecture podcast, Why U.S. houses are wood, Building codes explained, Wood vs concrete housing, Mass timber, Multifamily housing design, Housing crisis America, Home maintenance mold, Sustainable building materials

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Type 5 Construction

01:32 Understanding Type 5 and Its Global Context

05:11 The Dominance of Type 5 in the U.S.

07:58 The Evolution of Wood Frame Construction

11:41 Maintenance and Vulnerabilities of Type 5 Buildings

15:44 Consumer Awareness and Decision-Making

19:10 The Role of Policy in Building Codes

22:43 The Impact of Interest Groups on Building Regulations

25:59 Future Directions for Type 5 Construction

In this conversation, Alex Yuen and Libo discuss the importance of architects learning to code, exploring how coding can enhance creativity, efficiency, and control in architectural design. They delve into Libo's personal journey into coding, the impact of technology on architectural practice, and the future implications for the built environment. The discussion emphasizes the need for architects to embrace technology to improve their work and the overall quality of architecture.

Takeaways

• Architects need to learn coding to enhance design capabilities.
• Current architectural outputs are often unsatisfactory due to a lack of software proficiency.
• Mastery of technology allows architects to control design outcomes better.
• The transition from manual to automated processes can significantly increase efficiency.
• Learning to code can help architects manage complex projects more effectively.
• Embracing discomfort in learning new skills is essential for growth.
• AI and coding can streamline repetitive tasks in architecture.
• Architects should leverage coding to improve project management and communication.
• The architectural industry must adapt to technological advancements to retain talent.
• Future architects should be trained in coding to remain competitive.

Chapters:

00:00 The Need for Architects to Learn Coding

09:45 Personal Journey into Coding

19:13 The Impact of Coding on Architectural Practice

24:09 Future of Architecture and Technology

What if a pool could clean a river—and a building could rewrite culture? Would you swim in the East River? What does “local” look like when it doesn’t mimic the block around it?

Architect Dong-Ping Wang (FOOD Architects)—who’s collaborated with Kanye West and Virgil Abloh—breaks down architecture as a cultural engine, from hyperlocal listening to rapid, messy sketching that invites feedback fast. He shares a Barbados culinary design studio with Pierre Seurat (Ghetto Gastro), why WhatsApp-level intimacy with clients beats sterile presentations, and how a tiny 6–8 person team caps projects to stay deeply hands-on.

We dive into PLUS POOL: the plus-shaped, river-filtering pool that turned a single rendering, a patent, and a site into a movement—and why the biggest risk isn’t tech, it’s convincing New Yorkers to jump in. DPW also opens up about shaping an Asian-American architectural language, rethinking practice as an “architectural production studio,” and the simplest way to read a space: look up at the ceiling.

https://food-arch.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dongpingwong/

https://pluspool.com/

https://www.instagram.com/foodmahjongclub/

00:00 The Importance of Local Culture in Architecture02:02 Navigating Client Relationships and Intimacy05:27 Architecture as a Cultural Vehicle06:49 Fluidity in Architectural Practice09:09 Working with Creative Clients10:21 Scaling Intimacy in Architecture12:28 The Architectural Production Studio Model16:04 The Plus Pool Project: Origins and Development24:25 The Power of Packaging in Architecture27:40 Local Context and Cultural Identity30:34 Post-Occupancy Analysis and Success Metrics32:58 Exploring Scales of Architectural Practice37:02 Cultural Identity and Architectural Expression39:43 Lessons from Other Creative Fields45:36 Cultural Shifts and Future Perspectives

What happens when cities expand into fire-prone landscapes—and what can we do about it? Jonah Susskind, Director of Climate Strategy at SWA, unpacks the overlooked realities of wildfire risk, why most modern cities are spreading in all the wrong directions, and how smart design can turn parks, neighborhoods, and planning policies into climate-resilient systems. From the “wildland-urban interface” to shelter-in-place strategies, this conversation blends environmental science, urban planning, and design thinking to illuminate the future of where and how we live.

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

Links & References

Jonah Susskind - https://www.swagroup.com/principals/jonah-susskind/SWA Group - https://www.swagroup.com/Playbook for the Pyroscene (Free PDF) - https://www.swagroup.com/ideas/playbook-for-the-pyroscene

Chapters

0:00 – Intro: Urban Futures in a Burning World

2:11 – What Is a Landscape Urbanist?

5:24 – Why “Natural Disasters” Aren’t Natural Anymore

8:16 – What Is Wildfire, Really?13:20 – Smoke, Soil, and the Carbon Cost

13:44 – Designing for Fire: Myths and Realities

16:10 – Lessons from Australia and the U.S.18:26 – Who’s Responsible at the Edge?

19:30 – What Homeowners Need to Know

21:54 – Policy, Enforcement, and the Zone Zero Debate

25:36 – Why We Need Local, Nuanced Research30:56 – Rethinking the Wildland-Urban Interface

33:10 – The WUI: Conflict, Desire, and Inequality

37:12 – Building Pragmatic, Resilient Communities

39:07 – Why East Coast Listeners Should Care Too

42:35 – This Moment: On the Precipice

44:12 – Where to Learn More

Keywords

wildfire resilience, built environment, suburbanization, urbanism, architecture, landscape architecture, design, urban planning, climate adaptation, landscape urbanism, wildland-urban interface, Jonah Susskind, SWA Group, climate strategy, suburban development, wildfire design, zone California, fireproof cities, smoke exposure effects, urban development

What if the secret to a better life wasn’t a bigger house or higher salary, but simply living closer to your friends? Phil Levin, co-founder of Live Near Friends, reveals how proximity can drastically increase happiness, cut housing costs, and reshape how we think about community. From building a 10-home campus in Oakland to redefining what “neighbor” really means, we explore how small shifts in where—and who—you live near can change everything.

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

community, co-living, housing, quality of life, social connections, urban living, real estate, friendship, shared spaces, neighborhood design, built environment

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Crocs Distance and Its Importance00:40 Building a Community: Life at Radish01:56 The Cadence of Living Near Friends04:03 The Science of Happiness and Friendship06:33 The Pandemic's Impact on Co-Living Trends08:58 Barriers to Living Near Friends11:07 Live Near Friends: The Enterprise13:29 Target Demographics for Co-Living15:48 The Difference Between Co-Living and Living Near Friends18:19 Cultural Context of Living Near Friends20:32 Sharing Spaces: What Works and What Doesn't22:14 The Joy of Shared Living24:28 Navigating the Home Search Process27:26 Flexibility in Living Arrangements28:18 Rethinking Urban Design for Community39:32 The Dizziness of Freedom and Community Anchors

Links

Phil Levin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillevin/

Live Near Friends – https://www.livenearfriends.com

Radish – https://radishoakland.com/

Supernuclear (Blog + Substack) – https://supernuclear.substack.com

Framingham Heart Study – https://www.framinghamheartstudy.org

Culdesac (Car-Free Community) – https://culdesac.com

What if plumbers and HVAC techs are America’s newest millionaires—and the secret heroes of our economy? Why is fixing your sink so expensive, and how is the skilled trades shortage reshaping everything from infrastructure to green energy? Could these hands-on careers actually be more future-proof—and profitable—than a traditional college degree?

Dive into a revealing conversation with Ruchir Shah, CEO of SkillCat, who’s dismantling myths about trades work and spotlighting why these jobs are booming—some even building $100 million businesses. From the surprising political and environmental impact of the skilled trades shortage to how online training is making this career path accessible to thousands, this video uncovers the untold story behind America’s evolving workforce.

Discover why tradespeople enjoy higher job satisfaction, why these careers are almost AI-proof, and how a resurgence in skilled trades could fix not just pipes but the very fabric of our society. If you think the trades are just “blue collar” dead ends, think again. Ready to challenge what you thought you knew and explore an overlooked path to wealth and fulfillment? Watch now and get inspired by America’s new millionaire class.

Subscribe to Most Podern on:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrp

Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodern

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/most.podern

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podern

Links:

https://www.skillcatapp.com/

ruchir@skillcatapp.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruchirshah2/

Chapters:

00:00 The Importance of Skilled Trades

01:08 The Shift in Perception of Trades

03:26 The Impact of Aging Workforce

05:53 SkillCat's Role in Training08:05 The Evolution of Training Methods

10:47 Measuring Success in Skilled Trades

13:29 The Ideal Profile for Tradespeople

16:42 Exploring the Trades: A Hidden Opportunity

18:43 Breaking Barriers: Awareness and Access in Trades

21:06 The Dignity of Work: Fulfillment in the Trades

25:14 AI and the Future of Trades: Job Security

26:52 The Role of Trades in Green Energy and Infrastructure

28:56 Debunking Myths: The Financial Reality of Trades

30:44 Education and the Future of Trade Skills