Guy Martin designs digitally and fabricates digitally. On this week's episode of Burning Down the House, host Curtis B. Wayne is joined in the studio by colleagues Ryan Doyle and Mark Canfield, and they are speaking with Guy about digital fabrication. Hear about the parametric elements that Guy must work with to create and realize his designs. How does Guy attempt to bridge the analog and digital worlds? Hear about how analog fabrication almost always involves a feedback loop that informs the craftsmen about the making process. Find out how some of Guy's designs and structures have been implemented in the technology, building, and entertainment industries. Are there things that Guy's fabrication robot cannot produce? What does digital fabrication offer for the future of building? Find out on this week's episode of Burning Down the House! This episode has been sponsored by Fairway Market. "It (digital fabrication) lends itself to intricate, figurative, and detailed work- work that has a certain amount of repeatability." [42:10] "I'm really interested in looking at the robot as part of the whole process, not just making one part (of the structure)." [50:00] -- Guy Martin on Burning Down the House

Grand Central Terminal is 100 years old, and on today's episode of Burning Down the House, Curtis B. Wayne reflects on the past, present and future of the New York City landmark with guests Raju Mann, Director, Policy & Planning at the Municipal Art Society of New York and Kathleen Bakwell, Executive Director of BioCities. What redevelopment plans does Mayor Bloomberg have in plan for Grand Central Terminal? What infrastructural issues exist in New York City, and how are they being addressed? Tune in for an in-depth conversation that offers plenty of insights into the built environment of New York City. This program was sponsored by Rolling Press. "The issue is making sure that we, as a public, define the civic virtues that we want to memorialize in a preservation framework." [13:00] "There's an allure and ego that's associated with the skyline that's hard to avoid. The building that ultimately contribute the most to the city are the ones you experience in the street in a meaningful way." [20:50] Raju Mann, Director of Policy & Planning at the Municipal Art Society of New York

How does one define "good" architectural criticism? This week on Burning Down the House, Curtis B. Wayne and frequent guest Duo Dickinson are talking with Alexandra Lange, Professor of Design Criticism at the School of Visual Arts and NYU. Why is criticism so often either 'dumbed-down' or 'elitist'? Tune in to hear Curtis, Duo, and Alexandra discuss particular critiques, and what types of criticism take into account functionality and visual appearance. Later, the conversation shifts to criticism in the press, and why opinion pieces are relegated to the Internet. Is criticism of a building necessarily an endorsement of the structure? Find out on this episode of Burning Down the House! This program has been sponsored by Hearst Ranch. "To write about a project is an endorsement of its importance, but not necessarily of its quality." [55:45] -- Alexandra Lange on Burning Down the House

Katy Purviance Basic is talking about form and function on this week's installment of Burning Down the House. Curtis B. Wayne calls up Katy to chat about the role of architecture in improving life, and the problems with design school. Why does so much contemporary architecture neglect the users of the structure? Curtis and Katy talk about formalism, and how novel (but generally nonfunctional) design often leads to increased work for designers and architects. What commonalities do Christopher Alexander and Dr. Temple Grandin share? Find out on today's episode of Burning Down the House! This program has been sponsored by The Heritage Meat Shop. "I believe, like many others, that form follows function. But when you start with form and try to stuff the function into it, you get a building that doesn't quite work." [5:30] -- Katy Purviance Basic on Burning Down the House

Curtis B. Wayne celebrates light and architecture today by reading Louis Kahn's famous American Institute of Architect Gold Medal acceptance speech, "The Room, The Street, and Human Agreement". Listen in to hear the parallels between Kahn's speech and last week's discussion with Robert Lamb Hart concerning light and defining place. Later, Curtis touches on the definition of 'home' in light of Kahn's speech. What elements of shelter come to establish a home? Curtis wraps up the episode by reading a highly architectural poem by W.B. Yeats. Don't miss this installment of Burning Down the House! This episode has been sponsored by Hearst Ranch. "Too often architectural design is composition that has nothing to do with human agreement." [31:00] -- Curtis B. Wayne on Burning Down the House

Architect and urban planner Robert Lamb Hart talks about redefining humanism on today's episode of Burning Down the House, hosted by Curtis B. Wayne. Listen to this episode to hear about Bob's Bauhaus-style schooling, and the importance of a breadth of design education. Hear Bob and Curtis talk about understanding humanism, and how human nature can lead to a better built environment. Hear how some structures like cathedrals augment the human experience! How do modern architecture and humanism interact, and possibly overlap? Hear how childhood relationships with space inform our architectural preferences, and learn how audio can be useful to the architect. This program has been sponsored by Hearst Ranch. "We were trained that the built environment and the natural environment are one. We experience architecture in a natural environment, and we cannot separate the experience of the two." [4:00] "If we can understand the biology (of human nature), we can learn a lot more about the people that we design for." [9:30] "One of the purposes of this 'new humanism' to discover the parallels between vision and hearing... we can discover these things and use them as instruments of design." [49:00] -- Robert Lamb Hart on Burning Down the House

Curtis B. Wayne is talking with master print-maker Dan Welden on today's installment of Burning Down the House. Dan and Curtis talk about technicality, form, and what defines a work of art. Learn about Dan's past working with the likes of De Kooning and Rauschenberg. Listen in to hear Dan talk about his upcoming project constructing a whale press- a giant printmaking contraption that utilizes blubber. Dan also explains his Solarplate, and how it allows for many different types and styles of prints. Dan shares his experiences speaking and printing in China, and why you don't want to go 'off script' in a communist country. Why does Dan think that woodcuts are the most honest way to print? Dan and Curtis also discuss the resurgence of analog methods in both printmaking and architecture. This episode has been brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. "You need to have discipline on one hand, and emotion on the other hand. If you have these two things and you put them together, you're making art." [6:10] "Printmaking is not meant for reproductions; it's meant as a form of expression." [10:40] -- Dan Welden on Burning Down the House

Today on Burning Down the House, Curtis B. Wayne is joined in the studio by Dutch architect Winka Dubbeldam. Tune into this episode to hear Winka reflect on her education and work with famed architect Peter Eisenman. Later, Curtis and Winka discuss flood threats in New York City post-Hurricane Sandy, and solutions to ease the damages of a flooded city. Hear about the separation between interior and exterior design; what caused the two disciplines to split, and how does it relate to the notion of "home"? Hear discussions about glass facades, ventilation and building, and working with developers. Listen in to hear Curtis and Winka talk about urban design issues, and the future of transportation in New York City. This episode has been brought to you by The Heritage Meat Shop. "Holland is a great design country, but not so great in critical theory." [4:10] "In New York, developers are seeing that good design makes money." [34:10] "People are not ready to accept the fact that this city (New York City) is ancient, and it needs repair." [45:05] -- Winka Dubbeldam on Burning Down the House

This week on Burning Down the House, Curtis B. Wayne is discussing volunteerism with architect Leah Kreger. Leah has been donating her time to relief efforts in Breezy Point and The Rockaways in Queens, New York in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Tune in to learn about the roles that professional architects and laypeople can play in terms of rebuilding these devastated areas. How does the architect's social contract factor into the idea of volunteering? Hear about some of the construction and rebuilding techniques that are being used to fix and insulate homes in Breezy Point. Leah speaks about Storm Enormous and her experiences working with the populations in Queens, and how architects can design to serve the community in emergency situations. This program has been sponsored by The Heritage Meat Shop.   "Architects have this thing where sometimes we work these crazy hours... but one of the things that I have learned is that working longer hours does not necessarily serve our clients. I want to put a push back into being efficient and effective with our resources and our energy." [60:00] -- Leah Kreger on Burning Down the House

How does one define a 'home'? Today on Burning Down the House, Curtis B. Wayne is talking about 'home' from an architectural and design standpoint. Joining Curtis in the studio is Charlotte Barnard, a designer and the Creative Director at Nemo Tile. Also, frequent guest and residential architect Duo Dickinson calls in to the studio to talk about trends in home design. Learn about the decline of the American porch, how resale value affects personalization, and how elements of biophilia has made its way into residences. What are the psychological effects of large rooms? Curtis, Charlotte, and Duo talk about the problems with the American living room, and why it proves to be inflexible and a poor space for socializing. How do recessions and natural disasters shed light on formalities and pretense with regards to the home? Find out on this week's Burning Down the House! This episode has been brought to you by The Heritage Meat Shop. "While the house is the structure, but home is what is uniquely yours." [5:30] -- Charlotte Barnard on Burning Down the House "You could make the case that the demise of the American porch is due to the rise of television, or the home computer, or smart phones." [13:00] -- Duo Dickinson on Burning Down the House

Today on Burning Down the House, Curtis B. Wayne is joined in the studio by his old Cooper Union classmate, guitarist George Naha. Tune into this episode to hear about George's experiences at Cooper Union, and why he decided to leave architecture for the music world. Hear about George's career touring with some of the legends of soul! Curtis talks about Alberti's Santa Maria Novella, and how its proportions are related to musical intervals. Tune in to hear some live rock 'n' roll from George and Curtis! Curtis and George also talk about dirt and mess, and how its integral to the process of creation! Also, listen in to hear discussions about the price of higher education, particularly for architecture schooling. This episode has been brought to you by Rolling Press. "To really get great at something in music, you need to work on it in a place where there's no time constraint." [28:50] -- George Naha on Burning Down the House