Dezeen Weekly is an original podcast from Dezeen, the world's most influential design and architecture magazine. Each episode, two of our journalists discuss the biggest design and architecture stories of the week. If you're interested in how humans are shaping the world around them and you like to stay informed, this is your essential weekly briefing. New episodes are released every Friday.
Episodes
Why architects don't get paid much
Architects the world over feel they're getting a rough deal on remuneration. Are they right to be annoyed? And how can the profession make more money from its work? In this episode, Jennifer Hahn is joined by Nat Barker and Tom Ravenscroft to muse on the results of this year's Pay 100 survey. They talk about why architects are so unhappy about the money they earn, and explore some of the roo
Oxford Street pedestrianisation: what happens next?
The UK's busiest shopping street is now closed to vehicles. What's the long-term plan? Why have bum-sensing picnic benches been installed? And in other news, why could architecture bring down the Albanian government? In this episode, Dezeen features editor Nat Barker and architecture reporter Amy Peacock return to talk through the heavily anticipated changes that took place on Oxford Street thi
Has Tesla really made a flying car?
What's the deal with Elon Musk's latest stunt? And has China just built the best spiral staircase ever? In this episode, Dezeen features editor Nat Barker and architecture reporter Amy Peacock discuss the (literal) launch of the Tesla Roadster, which set the internet alight with footage of its acrobatics. Then, they consider the architectural significance of the newly completed Shanghai Gr
Is this year's Stirling Prize winner a worthy victor?
This year's Stirling Prize winner was announced last night. We discuss whether RIBA made the right choice. In this episode Dezeen's editor-in-chief Tom Ravenscroft is joined by architecture reporter Amy Peacock to discuss the winner of the UK's biggest architecture prize. We ask whether Lion Green Road by Mary Duggan Architects with RUFF Architects is a worthy winner and whether the victory mean
Why Saudi Arabia's crazy giga-project The Line failed
The world's most wildly ambitious architecture project appears dead in the water. What went wrong? This week, the team plot the strange story of Saudi Arabia's effort to build a linear skyscraper mega-city in the desert, called The Line. They explain why news that Neom Stadium has been shelved looks to be the final nail in the coffin for The Line, and debate the ethical implications for archi
We're scared of Meta's adorable AI device
Why are AI companies opting for cute design? And why is New York building "jailscrapers"? This week, Dezeen features editor Nat Barker, design editor Jennifer Hahn and editor-in-chief Tom Ravenscroft consider the launch of Meta's Muse Charm AI device. Then, they delve into New York City's project to replace the notorious Rikers Island mega-jail with four high-rise facilities embedded within
Will the iPhone Duo send folding smartphones mainstream?
Has Apple just triggered another paradigm shift in smartphone design? And what's behind Donald Trump's announcement that his triumphal arch will be a base for drones and snipers? In this episode, Dezeen editor Tom Ravenscroft joins features editor Nat Barker and design editor Jennifer Hahn to discuss Apple's first folding phone. Then, they consider Trump's surprise announcement that the triu
Is London having a design renaissance?
It's LDF week, and this year's edition is surprisingly strong. Could it be that London's creative scene is recovering after a difficult decade? In this episode, Dezeen design editor Jennifer Hahn is joined by deputy editor Cajsa Carlson and design and reporter Jane Englefield, who have been out and about at London Design Festival (LDF). They pick out their highlights from the week, and discuss
Our thoughts on the Dyson CameraJet toothbrush
Dezeen Weekly returns with a conversation about Dyson's eye-catching new product launch, plus a building in north London that aims to kickstart a revival of stone architecture. In this episode, Dezeen features editor Nat Barker and design editor Jennifer Hahn are joined by editor Tom Ravenscroft to discuss the Dyson CameraJet. The team have their take on the much-discussed launch, and come up
Are timber skyscrapers the future?
Is building tall with timber more than an architectural gimmick? Why is a new robotic hand a big step towards sci-fi becoming reality? And what's special about Dezeen's editor's new tattoo? In this episode, Dezeen editor Tom Ravenscroft and features editor Nat Barker discuss the world's tallest hybrid timber tower, which recently topped out in Sydney. To read more about mass timber buildings, c
Has architecture become too boring?
Is this year's Stirling Prize shortlist the least interesting ever? And why are astronomers up in arms about a plan to launch a giant mirror into space? This episode begins with Dezeen features editor Nat Barker and design editor Jennifer Hahn discussing the plans by a US startup to light up streets at night by reflecting sunbeams from a satellite. Then, for part two, they're joined by Dezeen
What the World Cup has taught us about stadium design
What's the creepy technology at one of the major 2026 World Cup stadiums? Are stadiums the only giant buildings that people really like? And what does the future hold for stadium architecture? In this episode, Dezeen features editor Nat Barker is joined by US editor Ben Dreith to discuss all things stadiums, to tie in with our new editorial series, Future Stadium. They discuss some of the arch
Why everyone likes the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
How did the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library manage to sidestep America's architecture culture war? And is affordable design having a moment? In this episode, Dezeen design editor Jennifer Hahn and editor Tom Ravenscroft reflect on the unusually positive reaction to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, designed by architecture studio Snøhetta and recently completed in North Dakot
Can Kylie Jenner detoxify AI smart glasses?
Would we wear the new Meta smart glasses? Is Frank Gehry's Abu Dhabi opera house actually pretty good? And why did Paris Fashion Week feel like the last days of the Roman Empire? In this episode, Dezeen design editor Jennifer Hahn and architecture reporter Amy Peacock discuss Meta's collaboration with Kylie Jenner on its first designed-in-house smart glasses. Then, they consider the late Fra
Is Gaudí the greatest architect ever?
Why is Gaudí so widely admired? Is there a darker side to his architecture? And should he be made a saint? Listen to the latest episode of Dezeen Weekly now. This month marks 100 years since the death of Antoni Gaudí, one of the most famous architects of all time. For this episode, Dezeen features editor Nat Barker was joined by architecture reporter Amy Peacock and editor Tom Ravenscroft to r
What mattered at this year's 3 Days of Design
In this special video episode of Dezeen Weekly sponsored by Framery, we discuss highlights from this year's 3 Days of Design. Last week, we were in Copenhagen for the biggest design festival in northern Europe, 3 Days of Design. Dezeen features editor Nat Barker sat down with deputy editor Cajsa Carlson and design reporter Jane Englefield to reflect on the standout moments from the event and why t
Why are we obsessed with liminal space?
This week, we discuss a new architecture-themed horror film, some concerning news about green walls and a new architectural term that one of our hosts has audaciously coined. In this episode, Dezeen features editor Nat Barker and design editor Jennifer Hahn consider Backrooms – a surprise-hit horror movie from a 20-year-old director – and its origins in the internet's fascination with "liminal
Why does everyone seem to hate the new electric Ferrari?
In this episode of Dezeen Weekly, we discuss the fierce reaction to Ferrari's unveiling of its first all-electric car, designed by Jony Ive and Marc Newson. This week, Dezeen features editor Nat Barker and design editor Jennifer Hahn are joined by our co-CEO Ben Hobson, who was at the Ferrari Luce launch event in Rome at the weekend. Together, they analyse the car's design and consider why it
Is IKEA's new collection too good to be true?
Why is everyone talking about a giant new data centre planned for the Utah desert? Is IKEA's new collection a wake-up call for the design industry? And why do Parisians hate tall buildings? In this episode, Dezeen features editor Nat Barker and design editor Jennifer Hahn begin by discussing a project to build a huge data centre in a remote part of Utah, including the local backlash. Then, th
Is parametricism the defining architecture style of the 21st century?
In the latest episode of Dezeen Weekly, we give listeners a crash course in parametricism, from its origins to its much-disputed claim of being the most significant architectural style since modernism. We debate some of the most pressing questions surrounding the movement: Did Patrick Schumacher's association with the style actually torpedo its success? How much agency lies with the architect whe
How Adidas won the super-shoe war
What was special about the shoes on the feet of the record-breaking runners at the recent London Marathon? Is the Met Gala an important design event, or just about money and celebrity? And why is a new addition to a 930-year-old French cathedral so controversial? In this week's episode, Dezeen's design editor Jennifer Hahn and features editor Nat Barker plot a brief history of the race to create
What's so bad about brands taking over Milan design week?
In this episode of Dezeen Weekly, we reflect on the major trends from this year's Milan design week, and discuss whether the festival has reached peak "brandification". Why did food and inflatables have such a big presence in Milan this year? Could there be a link to the geopolitical issues gripping the globe? Also, did this year mark a tipping point for corporate installations? And is the involve
Why architecture has a large gender pay gap
Why are there so few women in top architecture jobs? What's the deal with the world's first kilometre-high skyscraper, currently under construction in Saudi Arabia? And why do major building projects stall? In this episode, Dezeen features editor Nat Barker is joined by architecture reporter Amy Peacock and editor Tom Ravenscroft. They discuss the most recent gender pay gap figures for the bi
Why Milan design week is such a big deal
What's so important about Milan design week, and what we can expect this year? And how does the proposed "Arc de Trump" compare to the Arc de Triomphe? In the latest episode of Dezeen Weekly, we look ahead to the biggest week in the design industry calendar, and discuss yet another bombastic architecture proposal from Donald Trump. This episode was hosted by Dezeen features editor Nat Barker
Are the walls closing in on Donald Trump's ballroom?
Why is the White House currently stuck with a giant hole in the ground? Is the redesigned Lime bike a success? And what does it mean to be a top designer in 2026? In this episode, Dezeen features editor Nat Barker and design editor Jennifer Hahn discuss a dramatic plot-twist in the story of Donald Trump's East Wing redevelopment project. Then, they share their thoughts on the new Lime bike design
Style Wars: The Modernists Strike Back
Why did a coalition including the American Institute of Architects file a lawsuit against Donald Trump this week? How did a conversational AI toy respond when a five-year-old child told it "I love you"? And why are there concerns about the skyscrapers springing up across Africa? In this episode, Dezeen design editor Jennifer Hahn and features editor Nat Barker discuss the row over Trump's renov
Is AI really coming for architects' jobs?
How worried should architects be about large language models taking their jobs? How did the Pritzker Architecture Prize make us look silly this week? And what is "bio-upcycling"? In this episode, Dezeen features editor Nat Barker and design editor Jennifer Hahn consider a controversial labour impact study by AI company Anthropic. Also, they reflect on the surprise announcement about this year
The strangest architecture competition ever?
What's the deal with the mysterious competition to design a new "world wonder"? And how did Apple manage to halve the price of its least expensive laptop? In this episode, Dezeen features editor Nat Barker and design editor Jennifer Hahn discuss proposals for a huge new landmark in Rotterdam aimed at inspiring people to reduce their carbon footprints. Then, they consider the significance of
Is this the end of the Pritzker Architecture Prize?
What do the revelations about Tom Pritzker's association with Jeffrey Epstein mean for the Pritzker Architecture Prize? What happened in a recent court case about Zaha Hadid's name? And could the escalating conflict in the Middle East be a worry for big architecture studios? In this episode, Nat Barker and Tom Ravenscroft discuss the delay to this year's announcement of architecture's most prestig
The White House ballroom project progresses
In this episode, we discuss an update to Donald Trump's controversial redevelopment of the White House's East Wing. Then, we delve into an unexpected story from Ukraine: the emergence of a flurry of interestingly designed interiors in the war-stricken country. Finally, we talk about the design of the spaceship that NASA hopes will soon take its astronauts on the longest journey in the history of
Have we passed peak touchscreen?
This week's episode sees us analyse Jony Ive and Marc Newson's interiors for the first electric Ferrari and whether the design signals a revival of the physical button. Then, we consider plans for what has been touted as Australia's first new city in 100 years. Will its climate strategy be enough to cope with scorching temperatures? How exactly will it be "inclusive"? And when does a suburb be
"Bjarke Ingels, shame on you!"
Why did protesters stage a demonstration outside the office of a global architecture firm? Is a Saudi Arabia-inspired proposal for a high-speed railway connecting five countries realistic? And why was this year's Stockholm Design Week like none before? This week, Dezeen design editor Jennifer Hahn and features editor Nat Barker discuss RIBA president Chris Williamson's plan for The Loop (00:45).
Architects' designs for Donald J Trump Airport
Does Donald Trump approve of modernist buildings if they have his name on them? And are we living through an era of architectural "gentleism"? In this week's episode of Dezeen Weekly, Dezeen editor Tom Ravenscroft and features editor Nat Barker discuss architects' proposals for an overhaul of Eero Saarinen's iconic Washington Dulles Airport following criticisms made by Donald Trump (00:47). Then
Neom's fake-snow Asian Winter Games ambitions falter
In this week's episode, Jennifer Hahn and Nat Barker discuss the indefinite delay to the 2029 Asian Winter Games, planned for the Trojena ski resort in Saudi Arabia (00:33). Next, they consider the world's first building concept designed by a humanoid robot (08:37), and talk through the challenges of taking on the prestigious Serpentine Pavilion in 2026 (13:20).
Zaha Hadid Architects brings Dubai bling to Ethiopia
Dezeen introduces Dezeen Weekly, a brand new podcast in which we discuss the major architecture and design stories of the week. In our first episode, award-winning Dezeen journalists Nat Barker and Jennifer Hahn consider what a project for the largest airport in Africa (if not the world) says about aviation design in 2026 (0:48). Then, they weigh up whether a new autistic Barbie is cynical or sinc
