US Modernist Radio - Architecture You Love

First up, three prolific architecture authors: Alan Hess, Dominic Bradbury, and Sam Lubell. Then we meet Harper Halprin and Aaron Leshtz of AAHA Studio — a marriage proving that design collaboration isn't just for coworkers. And later, Montreal-born jazz master Steve Rosenbloom, who leads a 16-piece ensemble by night and is a psychologist by day.

Aidan Anderson is a former carpenter in Sydney Australia who turned a local furniture business into the Local Project, a worldwide media company for architecture and design. Trading a career a NASA for furniture, you will meet The Rattan Man Harvey G. Schwartz. And later, Hugh Martin, one of the founders of the UK Modern House Index, a huge digital archive documenting British modernist homes from the 1920s to today. 

Tom Kundig of Seattle's Olson Kundig is a superstar in residential architecture, and he's got a new book, Complete Houses.  But you can't have a world-class architect without a world-class builder, and we'll talk with Kundig's close friend and frequent collaborator, Jim Dow of Dowbuilt. Later, you'll hear Veronneau, a husband-and-wife duo whose tunes go around the world.

Back on the show is one of our favorite guests, YouTube architecture star Professor Stewart Hicks; Brian Horowitz revives the joy and nostalgia of pinball, that midcentury pastime that was going to rot our midcentury minds; and author Hillary Carlip shares the wonderful world of Willis Wonderland, a new popup book for all ages.

We've got author and architect Peter Forguson celebrating Michigan's extraordinary collection of bold, Modernist houses with the new book Contemporary Michigan, from the UK, Michael Diamant rants against Modernism, and later on, musical guest Brent Jensen serves classic tunes made famous by Paul Desmond.  

Kata Walters went from the catwalk to the construction site, changing from an international career in modeling to building Modernist houses.  Allison C. Meier shares her map of New York, uncovering hidden histories in architecture and culture from cemeteries to the streets. Kyle Bergman of the New York Architecture and Design Film Festival shares this year's highlights, and from Sweden, musical guest Klas Lindquist.  

Who's the author of that architecture book on your coffee table?  It's probably written by one of our guests, Dominic Bradbury and Adam Stech.  Later on, jazz with returning musical guest Elijah Rock. 

Today, it's Bartlesville, Oklahoma, home to Frank Lloyd Wright's skyscraper, the 19-story Price Tower, talking with new owners Macy Snyder-Amatucci and John Snyder, about their plan to bring the tower back to life. Then it's on to Washington DC and the administration's plans for architecture, with writer and critic Ian Volner. Next, World's Fairs with Bill Cotter, and later, music from jazz pianist Lenore Raphael.

Our last set of poolside interviews from Modernism Week 2025 features three fun and exciting author pairs: Corey and Margeret Bienert on midcentury motels, Jonathan Schroeder and Janet Borgerson on instructional records, and Adriene Biondo and Chris Nichols on the sporting craze of the 1950's - bowling!

From the swanky USModernist compound in Palm Springs during Modernism Week 2025, it's a full schedule of poolside guests. We've got pop culture historian Charles Phoenix, the Craig Ellwood Whisperer Barton Jahncke, and authors Peter Moruzzi and Sven Kirsten on the most fun you can have in a brightly colored Polynesian shirt - tiki bars. 

On the blue plate special today we've got a full platter of deliciously talented architects, with Tod Williams, Paul Masi, and Jon Gentry. Later on for a jazzy dessert, music with Carrie Marshall.

Recorded poolside at the swanky USModernist compound during Modernism Week 2025, this week we're hanging with the Daughters of Design: Susan Saarinen, Celia Bertoia, and Carla Hartman.  Back in the studio, authors Phillip Cox and Niall Cronin on architect Evans Woollen, and later, a well-known NPR host who's toured with Pink Martini, special musical guest Ari Shapiro.