Episode notes
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 the new Apple MacBook Neo .
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Dezeen Weekly
Dezeen · Arts & Books · English
Dezeen Weekly is an original podcast from Dezeen, the world's most influential design and architecture magazine. Each episode, 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
More from Dezeen Weekly All episodes →
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24 Apr 2026 · 41 min
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 biggest UK architecture studios , and the issue of unequal salaries in the profession. Then, they talk about Jeddah Tower , which is steadily rising to become the world's tallest building after a series…
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17 Apr 2026 · 32 min
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 and design editor Jennifer Hahn. It was recorded and edited by Miguel Santa Clara.
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10 Apr 2026 · 47 min
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 currently being rolled out in the UK . Finally, they reflect on a rare interview with legendary designer Marc Newson , and what it says about being a successful designer today.
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27 Mar 2026 · 37 min
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 renovation plans for the Kennedy Center , as well as his decision to rename the building after himself. Then, they delve into the findings from a study on the potential psychological impacts for young…
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20 Mar 2026 · 32 min
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's Pritzker laureate, Smiljan Radić . Finally, they discuss the news that scientists have managed to produce a Parkinson's drug from waste plastic with the help of bacteria.
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6 Mar 2026 · 37 min
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 prestigious accolade. Then, they explain the result of a legal battle between the firm and the foundation of the late architect Zaha Hadid, and consider the implications of the Burj Al Arab being struck by…
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27 Feb 2026 · 34 min
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 humankind. This episode was hosted by Dezeen features editor Nat Barker and design editor Jennifer Hahn .
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20 Feb 2026 · 28 min
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 become a city? This episode was hosted by Dezeen features editor Nat Barker and design editor Jennifer Hahn .
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13 Feb 2026 · 26 min
"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). Then, they mull whether the new-look design week in Stockholm could signal a change in the way the furniture industry markets its products (08:39). Finally, they reflect on the industrial dispute in…
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6 Feb 2026 · 32 min
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, they reflect on the significance of the pick for this year's RIBA Royal Gold Medal, Irish architect Niall McLaughlin (15:35). Finally, they consider the impact of Brexit on the design industry, five…
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