Tag: Buildings

Episode 28: Fueling Up!

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Gas stations get a second act: donut shops, roasteries, and beer gardens where the pumps used to be. Rae and Andi trace roadside architecture from Art Deco curves to Mission Revival tile to a baffling Tudor cottage phase (chimneys included) and land squarely in your coffee cup. It’s architecture, nostalgia, and a mild caffeine addiction, all in one episode.

References:

The NPS has a fascinating article about Phillips 66 station restorations and also Preservation Brief 46 “The Preservation and Reuse of Historic Gas Stations” by Chad Randl, mentioned in the episode.

Photo of the Red Truck Bakery
Andi’s old internship digs
A “Phillips 66” Tudor Cottage Gas Station

Episode 26: Upright: A Brief History of Holding Things Up

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A whirlwind tour of columns at their most iconic: capital moments, load‑bearing drama, and centuries of standing their ground. Rae and Andi lean into Greek bulges, Roman rule‑breaking, and postmodern inside jokes.

A good overview of the classical orders can be found on Wikipedia

The Lee-Custis Mansion at Arlington Cemetery
Venturi’s Ionic column
Can you recognize the order on your own?
Wright’s column demo
Wright’s “dendriform” columns in use
Egyptian palmiform columns

Episode 25: Flying on Concrete Wings

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Rae and Andi dive into the chaos and charm of airports — the security scrambles, the gate‑change sprints, the lost‑passport panic, and the tiny design moments that somehow make it all feel magical anyway. They celebrate the clacking boards, the terrazzo floors, and the jet‑age swoops that turn terminals into portals. They also take on the big question: does a rainforest waterfall inside a terminal count as bold design or just architectural overkill? 

Airship Mooring in Providence RI
Old Newark Airport
LAX Theme Building
TWA Terminal at JFK
TWA Terminal Interior
Dulles
CDG Terminal 1
CDG Tunnel
Portland Carpets
Portland Redesign
Daxing
Changi

Episode 21: An Ode to Otis

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In this episode, Rae and Andi give proper respect to the inventor of the safety elevator and cities today as we know them: Elisha Otis. Escalators, steel, and some *really* dangerous contraptions also get a mention. Going up!

The Bradbury Building, inspiration for this episode
Otis being theatrical
The Chrysler Building
A *comfortably sized* French elevator

Episode 19: Bathrooms

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Do you ever wonder why subway tile is so common in bathrooms? Are you flummoxed by bidets? What’s your take on pedestal sinks? Join Rae and Andi as we talk all things evacuation and cleanliness while trying not to giggle 🚽🛁

Three Story Outhouse
Urinal at the Madonna Inn
Thomas Jefferson’s “Necessary”
Paris Urinal
Medieval toilet diagram

Episode 18: Haunted Houses

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To celebrate spooky season – the best season – Rae and Andi talk all things haunted house-related. What is the most eerie architectural style? What are the best examples and what makes those houses so wonderfully spooky? Get yourself a seasonally-appropriate beverage and join us as we talk about mansard roofs and other spine-chilling features. 👻

Haunted HousesDownload

Episode 12: Nails & Saws

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This month, we are going metal! Listen along as we talk all about nails and saws. No tetanus shot required (though make sure you’re up to date.) Rae and Andi cover the history of nails from the handmade ones of yore to the ones you have in your toolbox. We also talk about saw technology through the years. If you don’t know the difference between a bandsaw, circular saw, and table saw, we’re here to serve. And don’t forget to wear your PPE if you decide to apply anything you learn.

Examples of Historic Saws

Types of Nails

Examples of Post and Beam Joinery

Episode10: Ducks!

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This month, we are talking all about Ducks. Duck ducks, sheep ducks, basket ducks, hot dog ducks, dino ducks… If these sound like a contradiction in terms, please listen as Rae & Andi wax poetic about the wonderful quirky world of architectural ducks. 🦆

In this episode, we talk a great deal about Learning from Las Vegas by Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown & Steven Izenour. You can learn more about the book here and you can purchase it here.

BONUS! Once you listen to the episode, check out Rae’s grandpa with his record-setting catch as displayed at the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. It’s here (and EPIC!)

Episode 09: Ice Ice Baby

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Ever wonder what ice and snow do to your house? (Spoiler: it’s mostly bad.) Join Rae and Andi as we discuss fun effects like ice dams and efflorescence. We’ll also try to get you down YouTube rabbit holes about igloos and ice fishing huts. So grab some tea, mulled wine, or a hot toddy, and join us! 🧊❄️

References:

How to build an igloo (YouTube video)
Knickerbocker disaster
Ice dams
Salts in masonry