114: Austin Williams and Humphrey Hawksley - The Goldster Magazine Show Podcast

Austin Williams is an architect, author and podcaster who imagines our society and cities far into the future. For many years he has worked closely with Baroness Claire Fox at the Academy of Ideas, organising regular weekend-long events of debate, argument and fun. He is frequently a contradictory voice on a range of issues from climate change, sustainability and development.  As one critic noted, "Austin Williams has a gift for lobbing well-directed grenades."  

Much of Austin’s latest writing has been examining how China is building cities and societies. His books include New Chinese Architecture: Twenty Women Building the Future and China’s Urban Revolution on how China is pioneering the concept of the eco-city. Austin is also a book lover who runs the Bookshop Barnie discussions at the famous Foyle’s bookshop in Charing Cross Road. These salon type discussions challenge the author to justify their work in front of an invited audience of specialists and critics. Unlike most book launches where the most challenging task for the author is to sign so many autographs, Bookshop Barnies force them to take a stand for their ideas. Among his guests have been Peter Hitchens, David Goodhart and David Aaronavitch.