Good for Cities

 Episode 1: Are Tall Buildings Good for Cities?

In our first episode, we confront a question at the heart of modern urban development: Can tall buildings make our cities better? Host Matti Siemiatycki is joined by award-winning architect Naama Blonder to discuss the role of high-rise architecture in urban life. From overcoming community pushback to tackling issues like tiny apartments and a loss of human scale, they explore how tall buildings can be designed to enhance livability and affordability.

Naama Blonder has a bold vision: to change what good housing can and should look like in a growing city like Toronto; with that in mind, she co-founded Smart Density. Her professional practice combines the disciplines of architecture, urban planning, and urban design to bring a deeper, more realistic understanding of how cities can address housing affordability and champion inclusive neighbourhoods with more equitable access to housing. Naama has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Ontario Association of Architects’ Best Emerging Practice Award for 2022. 

 

Episode 2: Are Beautiful Buildings Good for Cities?

In our second episode, we ask what role beauty plays in shaping our cities. Host Matti Siemiatycki sits down with The Globe and Mail’s Architecture Critic, Alex Bozikovic, to dive into the world of design and urban planning. They discuss the critical role of architecture criticism, how to define good design, and the importance of aesthetics in urban planning, public spaces, and modern development. The conversation explores how a critic’s perspective can challenge assumptions about city-building and community design.

Alex Bozikovic has served as the Architecture Critic for The Globe and Mail since 2013, covering architecture, planning, landscape architecture, and related subjects from physical city details to housing policy. As a leading national voice, he has authored several books, including the national bestseller 305 Lost Buildings of Canada. Alex is a consistent advocate for intensification within cities for social, economic, and environmental reasons and challenges assumptions about city building through his critical perspective.

 

 Episode 3: Are Bike Lanes Good for Cities?

In our third episode, we ask why bike lanes spark such fierce debate. Host Matti Siemiatycki sits down with infrastructure expert Dr. Shoshanna Saxe to cut through the “bikelash” and analyze the numbers. They discuss how to balance public benefits – like the 44% reduction in car-bike conflicts on Bloor Street and the reported 49% jump in retail sales in some urban corridors – with political resistance and equity concerns. Shoshanna shares her research on the gap between data and public perception, offering practical advice for cities looking to build effective, publicly supported, and data-driven bike networks.

Dr. Shoshanna Saxe is an infrastructure and policy expert focused on the intersection of urban planning and public decision-making. Her research has examined how community resistance, or “bikelash,” shapes infrastructure debates, even when data supports projects like bike lanes. She is a proponent of using evidence and data-driven planning, including machine learning, to better communicate the safety, economic, and ridership benefits of new urban infrastructure.

 

About the Good for Cities Team

Matti Siemiatycki is a Professor of Geography and Planning and Director of the Infrastructure Institute at the University of Toronto. His work focuses on delivering large-scale infrastructure projects, evidence-based infrastructure investment decisions, and the effective integration of infrastructure into the fabric of cities.  Matti consults widely on infrastructure policy and is a frequent media commentator on infrastructure and city planning.

Julia Brahy is a policy professional and recent graduate of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Drawing on her background in international relations and environmental policy, Julia leverages her expertise in international climate financing and institutional collaboration as the Podcast Producer for Good for Cities.