In a world increasingly facing the challenges of climate change, the "Building Green: Tomorrow’s Architecture Today" podcast dives deep into the intersection of...
#046 - Ethnie Xu: How AI is Changing Architecture (And Why Universities Are Banning It) - Bridging AI, Architecture & Real Estate for a Smarter Future
Could AI and modular design be the future of architecture? In this episode, we sit down with Ethnie Xu, an architect and real estate expert, to explore how technology, sustainability, and business intersect in the built world. From surviving a devastating earthquake at age 10 to designing resilient, AI-driven buildings, Ethnie shares how we can build smarter, greener, and more affordable cities. We break down the biggest myths about sustainable design, the real potential of AI in construction, and why adaptive reuse is the key to the future of our cities.🎧 Tune in for insights that could reshape the way we live, work, and build.To explore more about Ethnie Xu and her work, you can follow her on Instagram and LinkedIn, or visit her YouTube channel.Join me, Ladina, on this green journey, and don't forget to subscribe for more insightful conversations about sustainable living and architecture and drop us a review. If you have suggestions for future guests or topics, I'd love to hear from you on my socials!Let's explore the world of green architecture, one conversation at a time.Contact: Ladina @ladinaschoepfWebsite: buildinggreenshow.comProduced by: marketyourarchitecture.com
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#045 - Blaine Brownell (Top Materials Expert): FORGET EXTERNAL BATTERIES - The ‘Concrete Foundation’ Could Replace Your Tesla Powerwall more
Can buildings store electricity like a battery?Blaine Brownell is a leading voice in sustainable architecture and material innovation, with a career spanning over 20 years. Starting as an architect in Seattle during the rise of the LEED green building movement, he transitioned to academia, where he now directs the School of Architecture at UNC Charlotte. His research focuses on the future of sustainable materials, and he has authored nine books on the topic, including Transmaterial and Radical Green.Blaine challenges conventional thinking with ideas like:Cities made of sky, where buildings store carbon like forestsLiving architecture, where structures are literally grown from treesAnd he advocates for buildings as resource banks, emphasizing that architecture should store energy, water, and materials for reuseIn this episode, Blaine discusses why sustainability must become the default in architecture, how architects can integrate innovative materials visibly into design, and what it will take to shift from incremental improvements to radical change. He also shares amazing projects, from vertical microalgae facades to concrete walls that store electricity like batteries.Listen now to discover the future of green buildings and why the materials we choose today will shape the world of tomorrow. To explore more about Blaine Brownell and his work, you can follow him on LinkedIn, visit his website blainebrownell.com, or read his articles at Architect Magazine’s Mind and Matter Column.Join me, Ladina, on this green journey, and don't forget to subscribe for more insightful conversations about sustainable living and architecture and drop us a review. If you have suggestions for future guests or topics, I'd love to hear from you on my socials!Let's explore the world of green architecture, one conversation at a time.Contact: Ladina @ladinaschoepfWebsite: buildinggreenshow.comProduced by: marketyourarchitecture.com
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#044 - Zak Kostura: Al vs. Architects-Who Designs the Future?
Can AI design a better, greener future?Zak Kostura is the leader of the innovative team using AI and genetic algorithms to rethink sustainable architecture and urban planning at Arup. From designing New York’s NRDC headquarters with 3,000+ net-zero options, to optimizing entire transportation networks without building new roads, Zak shares how technology is transforming the built environment.Discover the future of smart, and efficient design - and why the biggest challenge isn’t the tech, but changing how people work.To explore more about Zak Kostura and his work, you can follow him on Linkedin, Instagram, Bluesky, or visit his website zakkostura.com.AI Tools recommendation: Autodesk Forma -autodesk.com/products/forma Speckle -speckle.systems Skema -skema.ai ARUP Inform -arup.com/services/digital-solutions-and-tools/informOther tools mentioned: Dynamo - dynamobim.org Grasshopper -simplyrhino.co.uk/3d-modelling-software/grasshopperJoin me, Ladina, on this green journey, and don't forget to subscribe for more insightful conversations about sustainable living and architecture and drop us a review. If you have suggestions for future guests or topics, I'd love to hear from you on my socials!Let's explore the world of green architecture, one conversation at a time.Contact: Ladina @ladinaschoepfWebsite: buildinggreenshow.comProduced by: marketyourarchitecture.com
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#043 - Scott Kelly & David Salamon: Future-Proofing Architecture—Beyond Net Zero
How can we design buildings centered only minimize environmental harm, but actively contribute to better world?That's exactly the mission of Re:Vision Architecture. Architects Scott Kelly and David Salamon reveal why true sustainability isn’t just about adding solar panels—it’s about designing smarter from the start. They share eye-opening lessons from decades of experience, including why beautiful buildings last longer, how to cut energy waste without breaking the bank, and why the best approach is to "think more, build less."To explore more about David Salamon, Scott Kelly, and their work, visit their website at revisionarch.com, follow them on Instagram, or connect with them on social media: David Salamon (LinkedIn) and Scott Kelly (LinkedIn).Join me, Ladina, on this green journey, and don't forget to subscribe for more insightful conversations about sustainable living and architecture and drop us a review. If you have suggestions for future guests or topics, I'd love to hear from you on my socials!Let's explore the world of green architecture, one conversation at a time.Contact: Ladina @ladinaschoepfWebsite: buildinggreenshow.comProduced by: marketyourarchitecture.com
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#042 - Vivian Loftness: Why Modern Buildings Are Suffocating Us
Why are so many buildings designed to shut out nature instead of working with it?Vivian Loftness has spent 50 years advancing sustainable architecture, focusing on climate-responsive design, energy efficiency, and healthier buildings. Her career began during the first energy crisis, leading her to research passive solar design and climate-adaptive architecture. She studied in Finland, where she learned from architects who prioritized daylighting and material efficiency.As a professor at Carnegie Mellon University and a leader in organizations like the US Green Building Council and the International Living Future Institute, she has pushed for buildings that operate with minimal mechanical intervention. Her work has influenced policies on passive survivability - ensuring buildings remain habitable during power outages - and environmental surfing, a strategy for maximizing natural ventilation and daylight before using mechanical systems.In this episode, Vivian explains why modern buildings have become overly sealed and dependent on artificial systems, how architects can design for location-specific climates, and why daylight and operable windows should be non-negotiable in all buildings. She also discusses groundbreaking projects like a Singapore hospital that cut mechanical cooling by two-thirds, replacing it with natural ventilation and rooftop gardens that feed patients.To explore more about Vivian and her work, you can follow her onLinkedin or visitCarnegie Mellon University's School of Architecture website.Join me, Ladina, on this green journey, and don't forget to subscribe for more insightful conversations about sustainable living and architecture and drop us a review. If you have suggestions for future guests or topics, I'd love to hear from you on my socials!Let's explore the world of green architecture, one conversation at a time.Contact: Ladina @ladinaschoepfWebsite: buildinggreenshow.comProduced by: marketyourarchitecture.com
In a world increasingly facing the challenges of climate change, the "Building Green: Tomorrow’s Architecture Today" podcast dives deep into the intersection of architecture, design, urbanism and environmental responsibility.
Our mission is to highlight the transformative power of sustainable architecture, not just as a practice but as a catalyst for broader societal change. Through engaging conversations with pioneering architects, urbanists, tech innovators, sociologists, etc. we explore the details of green architectural planning and its impacts across diverse sectors.
South Africa