Mark Minkjan on Failed Architecture, the state of design criticism, and what it means to be an urban geographer
This week on Scratching the Surface — my podcast about design criticism and practice — I’m joined by the an urban and architectural geographer Mark Minkjan. Mark is Editor-in-Chief at Failed Architecture and produces the Failed Architecture Podcast. He is also part of Non-fiction, office for cultural innovation, and has written for numerous publications including VICE, The Guardian and The Architectural Review.
I stumbled upon Failed Architecture about a year ago and immediately loved what they were doing. As they describe themselves:
Failed Architecture reconnects architecture with the real world. By opening up new perspectives on the built environment, we seek to explore the meaning of architecture in contemporary society. Since 2011, we have been providing an inclusive platform for critical urban discourse, fueled by unconventional narratives from an international network of contributors.
In many ways, what Failed Architecture is doing is very similar to my own goals with Scratching the Surface: they are creating a new type of dialogue within and around architecture.
In our conversation, Mark and I talk about how he got interested in architecture and how he started writing, as well as the origins and goals for Failed Architecture. We also talk about the state of design criticism and the role of the critic within these professions.
Failed Architecture follows in the tradition of many other independent publications (both print and digital) that I’ve talked to over the last few years and it’s these type of publishers — Failed Architecture, The Real Review, Bricks from the Kiln, Flat Out — that have me the most excited about the future of design writing. If you aren’t subscribed to any or all of these, I highly recommend it.
I hope you enjoy this one as much I did!
You can listen to the episode here, or on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and Soundcloud. Memberships are available for $5/month or $50/year if you want to support the show. And if you like it, please consider leaving a review on iTunes.
Forcing people into over-priced apartments, expensive mortgages and dull but well-earning and demanding careers is the way to subdue the multitude in the 21st century.
