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