Bernd Radaschitz, CEO of Lanserring, traces a century-old Austrian cabinetmaking legacy into a global, design-driven enterprise. In conversation, he reveals how authenticity, material intelligence, and craft-based thinking are reshaping the modern kitchen. From workshop floors in Riegersburg to projects in New York and beyond, this is a story of precision, partnership, and evolution.A fourth-generation craftsman turned global CEO explains why the future of design isn’t mass-produced—it’s deeply human, rigorously engineered, and unapologetically bespoke.
This conversation with Bernd Radaschitz is a masterclass in how heritage craft evolves without losing its soul. Born into a fourth-generation cabinetmaking family in Austria, Radaschitz bridges the rare gap between hands-on craftsmanship and executive leadership. His journey—from apprenticeship to building an international business spanning London and New York—offers a blueprint for scaling authenticity.
At the center of the discussion is the kitchen—not just as a room, but as a highly complex, hyper-functional environment that has evolved into the operational core of the home. Radaschitz explains how Lanserring approaches this shift through deep material knowledge, integrated design services, and a commitment to collaboration with architects and designers.
The conversation also explores the tension between machine precision and human touch, the global shortage of skilled trades, and the opportunity for architects and designers to rethink their relationship with makers. Ultimately, this is about more than kitchens—it’s about redefining value in a world oversaturated with sameness.
Authenticity as a Business Model
Rooted in generational craft, not marketing language
Leadership informed by hands-on making
Rejection of overly curated, PR-driven identity
The Kitchen as Mission Control
Shift from “heart of the home” to operational hub
Integration of appliances, storage, and lifestyle functions
As geopolitical shifts and supply chain crises redefine the global economy, bespoke rug makers and interior designers are finding new ways to maintain craftsmanship and client trust.
This conversation with Ayub Ansari explores how California Design Living, a four-generation family business, is adapting to unprecedented challenges. From the sudden impact of 50% import tariffs to soaring air freight costs and labor shifts in India, the episode delves into the delicate balance between maintaining centuries-old artisanal traditions and surviving a volatile modern market.
Economic Volatility & Tariffs: Recent years have seen dramatic shifts in import policies, including sudden 50% tariffs that have forced companies to move from fixed pricing to more transparent, range-based quotes for clients.
The High Cost of Logistics: Supply chain disruptions and fuel surcharges have ballooned shipping costs, with some air freight quotes nearly doubling overnight.
Preserving Artisanal Heritage: The industry faces a long-term challenge in attracting younger generations to master intricate techniques like Persian knotting, which can take over a year to learn.
Evolution of the Showroom: High-end brands are moving toward “experience centers,” much like luxury car galleries, to focus on the touch-and-feel aspect of bespoke products in an increasingly digital world.
Strategic Collaboration: Designers are encouraged to utilize trade programs and consolidated shipping to mitigate rising costs through volume and long-term vendor relationships.
Applicable Elements:
California Design Living: Explore the bespoke, made-to-order collections discussed in the episode.
The Art of Hand-Notting: A deeper look into the intricate processes and heritage of handmade rugs.
Global Trade & Tariffs: Contextual information on the trade policies impacting international manufacturing.
Sustainable Interior Design: Resources for designers navigating the intersection of luxury and sustainable practices.
The Studio Schickedanz founder is inducted into the Convo By Design Icon Registry, showcasing three decades of sustainable innovation, material intelligence, and integrated architectural practice.
This episode celebrates the installation of Mary Ann Schickedanz, founder of Carmel-based Studio Schickedanz, into the Convo By Design Icon Registry. Bringing a foundational Austrian perspective where buildings are crafted to endure for generations, Schickedanz has spent over thirty years pioneering sustainable architecture across the American West. The conversation highlights her holistic approach to environmental integration—combining high-performance building science with deep material intelligence to combat regional ecological pressures like drought and wildfire risks. The episode also revisits a poignant 2019 archival interview from the La Cienega Design Quarter (LCDQ) Legends event, where she discusses her creative process, storytelling, and the influence of Austrian modernist pioneer Josef Hoffmann on her multidisciplinary practice.
The Icon Registry Induction: Recognized for achieving the highest tier of performance and intentionality in the design industry, proudly presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home.
Material Intelligence & Eco-Integration: Schickedanz’s work prioritizes site-specific architecture, featuring native rooftop flora, local granite, and earth-toned integral plaster that allow structures to坐 sit seamlessly within their ecologies, achieving LEED certification and net-zero status.
Modular Construction & Innovation: Her multi-family compound at the Santa Lucia Preserve demonstrates how high-end factory fabrication can deliver sustainable, all-electric, manufactured housing assembled on-site in just seven hours to minimize environmental disruption.
The Integrated Studio Model: A key differentiator where architects, interior designers, and horticulturalists collaborate from project inception to ensure a fluid connection between the structural shell and the natural landscape.
Honoring Heritage at LCDQ: The episode reflects on her 2019 window vignette at Mansur Carpets during the La Cienega Design Quarter Legends event, channeling the comprehensive maker-designer philosophy of Josef Hoffmann alongside collaborations with Shirley Robinson Wallpaper and furniture from Design Within Reach.
Designing for Generations: The Material Intelligence of Mary Ann Schickedanz
The contemporary architecture landscape frequently wrestles with the concept of “intentionality,” yet Mary Ann Schickedanz has quietly spent the last thirty years operationalizing it. Inducted into the Convo By Design Icon Registry, the Austrian-native and founder of Studio Schickedanz has permanently altered how the American West approaches luxury residential design by rejecting “disposable architecture” in favor of ancestral longevity.
Schickedanz’s design philosophy bridges a European reverence for multi-generational structural permanence with the acute ecological demands of California’s topography. Rather than treating sustainability as a surface-level checklist, her methodology relies on deep material intelligence and total environmental integration. From pioneering the first LEED-certified projects in Big Sur and Carmel-by-the-Sea to engineering net-zero contemporary estates, her structures are designed to function as living, breathing extensions of their native ecosystems.
This is achieved primarily through her firm’s integrated studio model. By seating architects, interior specialists, and regional horticulturalists at the same table from day one, she eliminates the traditional fragmentation of design. Structural concrete, local granite, and native exposed-root rooftop flora are specified in tandem, maximizing thermal efficiency and wildfire resiliency while anchoring buildings seamlessly into rolling topography.
Her forward-thinking mindset extends equally to modern building science and historic preservation. Whether rewriting the narrative around modular housing by assembling a luxury, all-electric compound at the Santa Lucia Preserve in a single day, or meticulously updating the performance of a 1948 Henry Hill midcentury landmark, Schickedanz proves that high design and strict environmental metrics are not mutually exclusive. Ultimately, her work champions a vital shift in the industry: shifting away from an architectural “etch-a-sketch” mentality and moving toward purposeful, permanent spaces built right the first time.
Today is one of the most incredible episodes of the show I have ever produced. I don’t say this lightly. Today, you are going to hear about a new project called Shelter Republic, officially launching although if you are an avid listener, you have probably heard me talking about it as we prepared for launch. Well, it’s here, and it’s official. And You are going to hear from my co-founder…I’m sitting down with computer engineer and Shelter Republic co-founder Jack Cooperman to discuss the platform’s structural architecture, functionality, purpose, and the necessity for safe places to explore ideas amongst peers.
The Genesis of Shelter Republic: Jack and I reflect on the evolution of the platform, tracking its roots back to when Jack and his sister first visited Josh on stage at the WestEdge Design Fair. The community was built to bridge regional gaps and provide a collaborative, peer-to-peer ecosystem for architects and designers.
Designing UX for Geographic Context: Jack outlines the structure of the platform, which is divided into five nationwide micro-communities (including the Mountain Atlantic and Southwest regions). This allows for highly localized discussions on styles, culture, and business norms while keeping a unified national hub.
Cultivating a “Safe Place to Fail”: The co-founders debate the nature of failure in school versus a creative career. Josh emphasizes that Shelter Republic is deliberately engineered as a vetted, invite-only environment to protect accomplished creatives from public “dogpiling” or algorithmic scrutiny when exploring new, untested concepts.
Platform Features & Onboarding: Built to avoid user-data exploitation and ad clutter, the platform operates via direct invitation and QR codes. Features include text-based feeds, real-time messaging, direct networking via professional member bios, live video-conferencing rooms, and educational modules—including Josh’s masterclass, Podcasting for Creatives.
Addressing Industry Disruptions (AI & Legislation): The conversation dives into how early-career junior designers are transitioning into technology facilitators due to AI studio integration. They also discuss how the platform serves as a “modern town crier” for critical industry news, citing a recent user post by a Southern California designer regarding the engineered quartz ban in California due to silicosis risks.
Cooperation Over Competition: Drawing a contrast with the competitive nature of the design world, Josh shares a lesson from his time covering the Playboy Jazz Festival, where legendary jazz musicians prioritized mentoring the next generation to keep the collective genre alive. Shelter Republic aims to foster that exact cross-regional mentorship.
Thank you Jack. I know I have already said it, but I have enjoyed every moment putting this together and we are thrilled to share it. Note on Access: Shelter Republic is entirely free, and does not collect user data except when stated like the use of polls and prompts for professional input. To maintain community standards and security, entry is restricted to verified industry professionals via peer invitation or direct QR code scanning at upcoming events.
In this conversation with the principals of Tim Barber Architects, the discussion explores how architecture has evolved since 2020. The pandemic fundamentally changed how people live in their homes, forcing architects to rethink everything from spatial organization and material choices to health, resilience, and long-term adaptability.
The architects describe a profession balancing client desires, environmental realities, and community responsibility. Topics include aging in place, the shift away from open floor plans, rebuilding after wildfire loss, and the growing role of resilience and sustainability in residential design.
Shelter Republic – Request your membership invitation
The conversation also examines larger systemic issues—from the housing crisis and the loss of architectural criticism to concerns about deregulating the architectural profession and the future pipeline of architects. Ultimately, the discussion reveals architecture as both a creative discipline and a civic responsibility.
Tim Barber, Kelly Becker, David Stone, Ari Engleman, Katie Peterson-Hesketh
Post-Pandemic Spatial Design
Homes are now workplaces, classrooms, and wellness environments. Architects are designing more flexible, compartmentalized spaces rather than large open rooms.
The Reassessment of the Open Floor Plan
Open layouts are losing popularity as homeowners seek acoustic separation, privacy, and spatial hierarchy.
Healthy Homes
Clients increasingly ask about air quality, non-toxic materials, EMF concerns, and overall wellness in the built environment.
Aging in Place & Multigenerational Living
Homes are being designed for lifelong occupancy, with elevators, adaptable bathrooms, and secondary primary suites.
Housing Crisis Misconceptions
The problem is not a lack of housing overall but a shortage of affordable, well-located housing.
Sustainability Through Longevity
The most sustainable building is the one that already exists. Adaptive reuse and generational homes are key strategies.
Fire Resilience and Climate Adaptation
Wildfire rebuild projects are forcing architects to rethink materials, structural resilience, and building codes.
“Performance Spending”
Homeowners must choose between visible luxury and invisible resilience investments.
Architects as Client Advocates
Architects frequently guide clients away from poor decisions through education and alternatives rather than simply saying “no.”
Material Uncertainty and Construction Cost Volatility
Rapid cost changes and new materials create challenges for planning and specification.
Professional Deregulation Concerns
Removing architectural licensing protections could threaten safety, quality, and professional standards.
Education and Knowledge Sharing
The firm runs an internal “university” model to continuously train staff and share knowledge.
Loss of Architectural Criticism
The disappearance of critics and serious architectural journalism has created a cultural vacuum in evaluating design.
Adaptive Reuse and Density
Office conversions and moderate urban density may become major architectural trends.
Future of Residential Design
Homes may become smaller but more sophisticated—prioritizing performance, durability, and resilience.
Architect Ben Kasdan and I explore the ethos of design, the importance of “innovation through experience,” and why architecture should be viewed as a living organism rather than a machine.
Shelter Republic – Request your membership invitation
Innovation vs. Practicality: The discussion begins with the idea of innovative design, citing Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall. While the building faced initial criticism for a “glare” issue from its steel facade, its true innovation lies in the acoustic experience and its purpose as a “living room for the city”.
Architecture as an Organism: Challenging Le Corbusier’s famous “machine for living” concept, Ben suggests that buildings are more like living organisms that must be nurtured, maintained, and allowed to evolve.
The “Ideas” Lab: Ben’s firm, KTGY, operates a dedicated R&D studio that explores “outside the lane” concepts—like 3D-printed modular housing and solutions for homelessness—without the immediate constraints of budgets or specific client demands.
Designing for the Inhabitants: A significant portion of the work focuses on student and senior housing. Ben emphasizes that while these spaces are often transient, they must be designed to support the mental, physical, and intellectual well-being of the people living there.
Architectural “Grafting”: Instead of the common practice of demolition, the conversation touches on the value of “grafting” or repurposing older structures, preserving their emotional and historical significance while adapting them for new use.
KTGY Architecture + Planning: The firm where Ben Kasdan is a principal, known for its diverse housing typologies. KTGY Website
Walt Disney Concert Hall: Referenced as a prime example of experience-driven innovation in Los Angeles. LA Phil – Walt Disney Concert Hall
The Broad: Mentioned in the context of downtown LA’s architectural landscape and public perception. The Broad Museum
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Price Tower: Discussed as a structure that, while visually extraordinary, struggled with functional longevity. Price Tower Arts Center
Marin County Civic Center: Cited as an early inspiration for Ben, showcasing how a building’s unique form can evoke a powerful emotional response. Marin County Civic Center
Every now and then, I like to hop into the wayback machine and share a fresh listen to conversations that influenced our current times. The one you are going to register to today was recorded live in 2014 from DIEM, Design Intersects Everything Made symposium presented by the West Hollywood Design District featuring Frances Anderton, then with KCRW ad Jeff Denby, co-founder and then with Pact. A clothing brand you will be hearing more about.
The following conversation was focused on values based capitalism, an economic model with which places value on profit generation that also generates positive social impact.
Shelter Republic – Request your membership invitation
As you listen to this chat between Frances and Jeff, you might notice the “feel-good” vibes and high ideals that come from a focus on values based consumerism patterns. Buy well-made products that come from sustainably based materials and made by people who are valued to those producing the products and then by those who buy the product. At the time of this recording, this idea was catching on and even now, companies that have a value-system connected directly to products speak openly about the social capital being generated. I would argue we hear far less now because sustainability has been linked politically to DEI, and there is a group of people who see that has more of a social ill, than a societal benefit. I’m not here to change any minds, only share different perspectives. And this is one worth sharing with the hope that it will make a return, not just in fashion or consumer packaged goods, but in the home decor and architectural materials sectors.
Consumer Awareness Evolution
How Whole Foods and the food industry educated consumers about product origins.
Extension of that curiosity to body care and apparel: understanding what goes on the skin and into daily wear.
The role of design in making sustainable products attractive and desirable.
Philanthropy and Social Impact
Early collaborations with nonprofits through limited-edition collections and direct aid.
Shift toward improving the lives of workers within the supply chain.
Emphasis on economic, environmental, and social impact as part of the business model.
Challenges of Domestic Manufacturing
Difficulties of reviving large-scale apparel production domestically, including labor costs, fractured supply chains, and compliance issues.
Comparison with global supply chains and the decision to work where systems already exist.
Insights from attempts at localized production and the challenges of sustainable sourcing.
Product Expansion and Market Strategy
Focus on apparel basics for the emerging generation of socially conscious consumers.
Building a generational brand by appealing to evolving values.
Commitment to price accessibility while maintaining sustainability and ethical production.
Supply Chain Ethics and Certification
Working exclusively with certified factories and farms to ensure fair labor practices.
Ensuring worker protections and representation, including female supervisors.
Direct engagement with farmers and supply chain partners to secure market access and stability.
Sustainability and Waste Management
Recycling factory scraps and leftover materials into new products.
Finding secondary uses for garment remnants, including mattress filling.
Factories incentivized to reduce waste as part of both economic and environmental sustainability.
Consumer Education and Transparency
Educating customers about the human and environmental story behind clothing.
Leveraging social media, coalition branding, and events to communicate supply chain practices.
Positioning Pact as a non-toxic apparel brand with safe-for-skin products.
Research and Industry Collaboration
Participation in textile and sustainability coalitions with like-minded brands.
Supporting the growth of organic cotton farming and sustainable supply chains.
Promoting transparency in manufacturing practices and educating the public on chemical exposure in conventional apparel.
Ethical apparel requires intentional design, transparent supply chains, and collaboration across the industry.
Consumers increasingly demand products that are safe, well-designed, and socially responsible.
Philanthropy is most effective when integrated into the core business, benefiting both workers and communities.
Scaling sustainability in mass-market apparel is challenging but possible with careful planning, partnerships, and public education.
Conscious Basics: How Textiles Can Be Ethical, Sustainable, and Stylish
In an era when consumers increasingly demand transparency and ethical responsibility, Pact is reshaping the apparel industry by marrying sustainability, social impact, and thoughtful design. Co-founder Jeff Denby spoke with Frances Anderton in 2014 about the philosophy behind the brand, tracing a journey from organic cotton farms in India to certified factories in Turkey, all with the goal of delivering high-quality, accessible clothing that respects both people and the planet.
Denby notes that consumer awareness has evolved in stages. Shoppers first became curious about food origins, learning that groceries come from farms, not just shelves. This consciousness extended to body care products, as people began asking what they were putting on their skin. Apparel is the next frontier. “People want to know what they’re wearing every day,” Denby explains. “They want products that are beautifully designed, sustainable, and safe, without having to reinvent what underwear or socks should look like.”
Early in Pact’s history, the company experimented with philanthropic partnerships, designing collections that supported nonprofit causes. These initiatives provided aid to communities abroad, from distributing lanterns in Haiti to rebuilding community centers in Japan. However, Denby realized the brand could make a deeper impact by focusing inward—supporting the lives of the workers who create the products. By investing in stable, ethical supply chains, Pact achieves a triple bottom line: economic, social, and environmental benefits.
Reviving large-scale apparel manufacturing in the United States proved impractical for Pact. Labor costs, fractured supply chains, and limited domestic processing infrastructure made it impossible to produce affordable basics at scale. Instead, the brand partnered with existing factories abroad, ensuring they meet strict certifications such as the Global Organic Textile Standard. Denby emphasizes that these certifications guarantee fair labor practices, gender equity, and safe working conditions—factors often overlooked in conventional apparel production.
Beyond ethical sourcing, Pact prioritizes product safety and environmental responsibility. Cotton cultivation and traditional textile processing can involve significant pesticide use and harmful chemicals. Pact works with organic cotton farmers and certified dye houses, eliminating heavy metals and carcinogens from their products. Waste management is also integral; leftover yarn and fabrics are recycled into new garments or repurposed for other industries, demonstrating that sustainability extends from field to factory to finished product.
Denby envisions Pact as the “basics brand for the change generation,” appealing to consumers who value ethics, transparency, and design. The brand is part of a coalition with other sustainable apparel companies, collaborating to secure fair market access for farmers, grow organic cotton production, and educate the public on the human stories behind clothing. Social media and events provide direct channels to communicate these values, allowing consumers to engage with the brand and understand the people and processes behind the garments they wear.
For Pact, the mission goes beyond selling clothing. It is about proving that everyday apparel can be ethical, well-designed, and accessible, while creating meaningful social impact. By integrating philanthropy, sustainability, and consumer education into the business model, Pact is showing that the basics—underwear, socks, and t-shirts—can carry a powerful message: that fashion can be responsible, thoughtful, and inclusive.
Designing for Life: Architecture, Emotion, and the Long View
Architect Cathy Purple Cherry challenges the idea that buildings are static objects, arguing instead that great architecture evolves with human behavior, emotion, and time.
From biophilic design and post-pandemic living patterns to aging-in-place and purposeful restraint, Purple Cherry shares how architecture can improve quality of life across generations—without chasing trends or perfection.
Shelter Republic – Request your membership invitation
In this episode of Convo By Design, I share my first conversation with architect Cathy Purple Cherry for a wide-ranging conversation on architecture as a deeply human, emotionally driven discipline. Purple Cherry discusses how architects must design for decades—not design cycles—and how shifts in technology, work culture, and climate have fundamentally altered the way homes and workplaces should function.
Everything that embodies a design icon… right here. The Convo By Design Icon Registry is presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home. An incredible partner in design.
The conversation explores the lasting impact of biophilic design, the realities of working from home at different life stages, and why many contemporary office environments fail to support collaboration or productivity. Purple Cherry also reflects on aging, accessibility, and the importance of designing homes that support real relationships, not social-media perfection.
From the show floor at CEDIA Expo 2025, three distinct voices reveal an industry in the midst of transformation—where technology, design, and business are converging in new and unexpected ways. What emerges is not a story about gadgets, but about integration at every level: systems, teams, and ideas. The future of the home is being shaped as much by collaboration and communication as by innovation itself.
Shelter Republic – Request your membership invitation
Jason Knott, Hagan Kappler, and Bob Schuppe each bring a different lens to the evolving world of residential technology, exploring how integrators, designers, and architects must align to meet rising expectations around performance, aesthetics, and long-term value.
Jason Knott | D-Tools
Integration Over Innovation
The industry has shifted from breakthrough moments (CDs, DVDs, early automation) to iterative refinement. https://www.d-tools.com
Early-Stage Collaboration
Integrators must be involved during architectural planning to avoid conflicts with structure, HVAC, and design intent. https://cedia.org
The Designer–Integrator Language Gap
Misalignment between aesthetics and performance leads to inefficiencies and compromised outcomes.
“Wall Acne” and Invisible Technology
The push to hide visible tech (switches, speakers, controls) has created a sub-industry of concealment solutions.
https://www.framemytv.com https://www.futureautomation.net
In the wake of the devastating January 2025 fires, the architectural community in Southern California is facing a reckoning. The conversation at the recent panel I hosted at Ganahl Lumber in Torrance made one thing clear: the old metrics of “durability” are no longer enough. The industry is moving toward a philosophy of resilience.
For Anthony Poon of Poon Design and Ben Ballentine of Ballaetine Architects, the challenge lies in balancing this need for hardened structures with the fundamental human desire for beauty and light. As Poon noted, a building could be made entirely fireproof, but if it ends up looking like a “bomb shelter,” the architecture has failed its purpose. The goal is now “kinetic” and “resourceful” design—structures that don’t just survive a disaster but facilitate the recovery of the families within them.
The panel also addressed the friction between rapid rebuilding and thoughtful design. With developers racing to fill the housing shortage by “plopping down” identical units, Luis Murillo of LMG Architecture Studio raised concerns about the loss of neighborhood character. Meanwhile, Jay Williams of TimberTech highlighted how material science—blending the aesthetics of natural wood with the fire-rated performance of advanced PVC and fiber cement—is bridging the gap between safety and style.
Ultimately, the consensus was that technology, from AI-driven detailing to digital twin visualizations, is shrinking the production timeline but cannot replace the human element. The architect’s role is evolving from a pure designer into a “civic leader” and “marriage counselor,” navigating a world where clients are armed with TikTok-sourced ideas and a desperate need for a sense of home in an increasingly volatile environment.
Key Concepts
Resilience vs. Strength: The shift from making buildings “unbreakable” to making them “recoverable” and resourceful after a cataclysm.
The “Bomb Shelter” Dilemma: The struggle to meet strict fire and safety codes (like hardening the building envelope) without sacrificing natural light and aesthetic appeal.
Material Science Innovation: The rise of high-performance composites (James Hardie/TimberTech) that offer Class A fire ratings while mimicking the warmth of natural materials.
Architectural Accountability: The increasing need for architects to provide highly specific, litigious-level detailing due to shifting contractor liabilities.
The AI Influence: How AI is revolutionizing visualization and R&D, while simultaneously creating “educated but misinformed” clients.
Rebuilding Ethics: The tension between the speed of rebuilding in burn areas and the opportunity to rethink density and multifamily housing.
