Rephonic
Artwork for I Would Prefer Not To
Architecture
Community Engagement
Sustainability
Refusal In Architecture
Germane Barnes
Public Spaces
Community Spaces
Studio Barnes
Venice Architecture Biennale
Studio Gang Architects
Aprdelesp
Venice Biennale
Moma
Chicago Architecture Biennial
Fort Worth, Texas
Social Housing
Transformation Of Abandoned Objects
Container Architecture
NADA
MIT

Why does an architect turn down a commission? What could change if we knew? An interview podcast series produced by MIT's Critical Broadcasting Lab sheds light on a necessary but understudied part of architectural practice.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes35Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DesignArts

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Artwork for I Would Prefer Not To

Latest Episodes

In this episode Paul Lewis, Marc Tsurumaki, and David J. Lewis of LTL Architects speak about the “productive oscillation” between academic research, speculative drawing, and the material realities of building that defines their practice; LTL’s trajec... more

In this episode, the founder of Morphosis recaps a career defined by “troublemaking” and discusses framing architecture as a collaborative, cinematic process, the shift from designing private residences to international competitions and federal work,... more

In this episode, the co-founders of NYC-based nARCHITECTS discuss their mission-driven practice that engages with the community, resistance to architectural closure, their fascination with “almost buildings,” and the value of leaving room for misuser... more

In this episode, the co-founder of NYC-based Leong Leong discusses world building, feedback loops between aesthetics and politics, and professional growth as a reflection of ego death.

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Recent Guests

Paul Lewis
Principal, LTL Architects
Louis Tsurumaki Lewis (LTL Architects)
Episode: LTL Architects
Marc Tsurumaki
Principal, LTL Architects
Louis Tsurumaki Lewis (LTL Architects)
Episode: LTL Architects
David J. Lewis
Principal, LTL Architects
Louis Tsurumaki Lewis (LTL Architects)
Episode: LTL Architects
Thom Mayne
Architect; founder of Morphosis; educator
Morphosis, University affiliations mentioned (SCI-Arc, etc.)
Episode: Thom Mayne
Mimi Huang
Co-founder of and Architects, focused on socially and environmentally progressive design
and Architects
Episode: nARCHITECTS
Eric Bunga
Co-founder of and Architects, specializes in innovative design for public and community spaces
and Architects
Episode: nARCHITECTS
Patricia Gruits
Senior principal and co-executive director overseeing the North American studios.
MASS Design Group
Episode: MASS Design Group
Christian Benimana
Senior principal and co-executive director overseeing the Africa studio.
MASS Design Group
Episode: MASS Design Group
Alan Ricks
Co-founder and co-executive director of MASS Design Group.
MASS Design Group
Episode: MASS Design Group

Host

Anna Miliacki
Professor of Architecture at MIT and Director of the Critical Broadcasting Lab; lead host for interview series tied to MIT's Critical Broadcasting Lab

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 42 ratings
  • Review

    The premise of this show — how and why to refuse commissions — is interesting but never generates much of a discussion. Guests answer the prompt within the first three minutes in ways that are brief and obvious. Conversations quickly revert back to generic platitudes of the firms’ work and aspirations, never gaining momentum under Ana’s hollow line of questioning and esoteric archi-speak.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Twelve twenty two
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are praised for expertise but the format can feel slow for some listeners.
Some perceive host questions as hollow or esoteric archi-speak.
Listeners note conversations can feel tightly centered on firm work and may lean toward industry jargon.
The focus on refusals and ethics is intriguing but may not appeal to those seeking purely project-driven conversations.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#132
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#166
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#247
France/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#17
Denmark/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#63
Finland/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#80
Singapore/Arts/Design

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

nARCHITECTS
Q: How do clients react to your open-ended architectural approach?
Many public clients resonate with the desire for flexibility in design, as they often lack a clear program from the start.
nARCHITECTS
Q: Did you ever regret taking or not taking a commission, or pursuing or not pursuing?
Yes, there is regret for missed opportunities or when capacity doesn't allow to pursue certain projects.
nARCHITECTS
Q: When did it start working?
It began to click when choices towards locality and a better understanding of the community were made.
nARCHITECTS
Q: What does it take? How, when did you start feeling like it's working?
The success rate improved with conscious local engagement and understanding community needs.
Leong Leong
Q: What are the ideal circumstances for a project?
The most important is aligning on values, as that if aligned, many other factors can be worked out in a project.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Frequently Asked Questions About I Would Prefer Not To

What is I Would Prefer Not To about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Conversations with leading architects explore why firms turn down commissions and how those refusals reshape practice, values, and public impact. Across recent episodes, the discussion threads center on ethics, climate-aware design, material strategies (including biogenic building methods), and the economics of competitions and public projects. The show often pairs practical studio realities with theoretical questions about representation, teaching, and how architecture can serve communities, making it a thoughtful resource for peers, students, and firms considering principled project selection. A notable throughline is how research and teaching influence design decisions, and how collaboration with public institutions and communities can d... more

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1. 99% Invisible
2. Conversations with Tyler
3. The New Yorker Radio Hour
4. Fresh Air
5. The Ezra Klein Show

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I Would Prefer Not To launched 4 years ago and published 35 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on I Would Prefer Not To?

Recent guests on I Would Prefer Not To include:

1. Paul Lewis
2. Marc Tsurumaki
3. David J. Lewis
4. Thom Mayne
5. Mimi Huang
6. Eric Bunga
7. Patricia Gruits
8. Christian Benimana

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