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

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.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes33Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsDesign

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Artwork for I Would Prefer Not To

Latest Episodes

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.

In the season five premiere, host Ana Miljački talks with Hashim Sarkis about the latent nature of optimism in practice, the difficulties of running an office across different continents, and how direct action leads to hope.

In this episode, host Ana Miljački speaks with Christian Benimana, Patricia Gruits, and Alan Ricks, co-executive directors of MASS Design Group, about philanthropy in the design process, the political economy of building, and what is possible across ... more

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Recent Guests

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
Nader Tehrani
Founder of architectural firm NADA and former Dean of the Cooper Union School of Architecture
NADA
Episode: Nader Tehrani
Aziza Chaouni
Architect and Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Toronto, co-founder of Bureau East
University of Toronto
Episode: Aziza Chaouni
Deborah Berke
Founding partner of Deborah Berke Partners and Dean of Yale School of Architecture
Yale University
Episode: Deborah Berke
Hilary Sample
Co-founder of MOS, an architecture and design office in New York City.
MOS
Episode: MOS

Host

Ana Miljački
Professor of Architecture at MIT and Director of the Critical Broadcasting Lab

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 40 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 States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The unique premise of exploring why architects refuse commissions is intriguing, yet the execution may leave listeners wanting more substantive dialogue.
There is potential for deeper discussions, but topics often feel surface-level and lack engagement.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#107
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#46
Austria/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#51
Chile/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#54
Switzerland/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#106
Israel/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#106
South Africa/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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Age Range
Household Income
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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?

The series explores a compelling and often overlooked facet of architectural practice—why some architects choose to refuse commissions. Through interviews with notable figures in the field, guests share insights into their design philosophies, motivations for certain refusals, and the ethical considerations involved in declining projects. Noteworthy conversations reflect on the impact of these decisions on community engagement, sustainability, and the broader implications of architecture as a tool for social change. The series not only discusses individual projects but also addresses the cultural and moral responsibilities that come with architectural work, making it a thought-provoking listen for anyone interested in design and its interse... more

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1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. On the Media
3. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
4. The Bulwark Podcast
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I Would Prefer Not To launched 4 years ago and published 33 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. Mimi Huang
2. Eric Bunga
3. Patricia Gruits
4. Christian Benimana
5. Alan Ricks
6. Nader Tehrani
7. Aziza Chaouni
8. Deborah Berke

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