Welcome to Radio Mecanoo, a podcast series led by Sandra Rottenberg, talk show host and producer, which will explore current social issues where architects play a crucial role, such as urban resilience, sustainable development, and inclusive design.
Emphasizing why the human condition should be central to the future of design, this series brings diverse perspectives to the forefront. Guests range from architects and urban planners at Mecanoo, to developers, stakeholders, and community activists, each offering unique insights into the intersection of architecture and societal well-being.
Tall buildings capture the imagination. Twenty-five years ago, Mecanoo built a residential tower in Rotterdam: the Montevideo Tower, which at the time was the tallest residential building in the Netherlands. Francine Houben, Creative Director and Founding Partner at Mecanoo, wanted to demonstrate that living at great heights can be both pleasant and comfortable. She believed that such a building need not dominate its surroundings, but rather connect with its environment.
As the demand for housing continues to grow, the need to build upwards will only increase. How can we ensure that high-rise buildings maintain a sustainable relationship with their surroundings? That the people living in them don’t disappear into anonymity, but instead form new vertical communities?
Featuring Dario Trabucco, European Director of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat; Francine Houben, Arne Lijbers, Rodrigo Louro, and Rachel Lin of Mecanoo Architects; and Vincent Taapken, resident of the Montevideo Tower in Rotterdam.
Music by Teun Grondman. Final editing by Berry Kamer.