I sat down with Ron Radziner and Leo Marmol to dig into why building in Southern California feels like an uphill battle and how we can actually fix it.
After their talk at WestEdge, I caught up with Ron and Leo to process everything discussed. We’re at a major inflection point in Southern California, and I wanted to know how their perspective has shifted since they started back in ’89. We dove into the “fucking NIMBYs,” the skyrocketing costs of construction, and why our current zoning laws are essentially a slow-motion economic disaster. From the lessons of the Palisades fires to the potential of prefab, we explored what it actually takes to build a sustainable community when the deck is stacked against you.
Shelter Republic – Request your membership invitation
The Cost of Inequality: Ron shared his deep worry about the growing gap between the middle class and the ultra-wealthy, and how rising construction costs are making it nearly impossible to provide housing for anyone in between.
Zoning is the Real Bottleneck: We agreed that the talent and desire to build are there, but we lack the political will to let architects do their jobs. Our current planning and zoning laws are the primary hurdles to building quickly and affordably.
The Density Myth: Leo pushed back hard on the idea that density is the problem. He pointed out that 72% of our residential land is locked into single-family homes, which simply can’t support the housing volume we need.
Stopping the Sprawl: We talked about the need to stop sprawling into high-risk wildfire zones like Riverside County and instead focus on density and infill within the urban core.
Limits on Community Vetoes: While community input matters, Leo argued there has to be a point where the litigation stops. We can’t let individual voices stall essential progress like bike lanes and sustainable housing forever.
The Prefab Opportunity: With so many similar lots needing to be rebuilt in the Palisades and Altadena, Ron sees a massive opening for high-quality prefab construction to get people back into homes faster.
Lessons from Lortondale: I brought up my move to Tulsa and the Lortondale community—a whole neighborhood of mid-century modern tract homes that are still intact, in demand, and haven’t been commodified out of reach. It’s proof that mass-produced architecture can have a soul and stay accessible.
Let me start with a disclaimer—this isn’t a political editorial. It’s a conversation about ideas. Lessons from business, design, culture, and philosophy that might help us grow—individually and collectively. And if you disagree, email me at ConvoByDesign@Outlook.com. I welcome the debate.
As this year closes, I’m feeling a mix of frustration and optimism. This moment feels chaotic—as does most of life lately—which is why I often end the show with, “rise above the chaos.” We can’t eliminate it, but we can manage what’s within our control. The Stoics told us that long ago: focus on what you can control, release what you can’t, act with virtue, and let obstacles sharpen resilience. This essay is about taking back even a small amount of control through the work we do and the spaces we shape.
The Problem with Trend-Driven Design
This year, phrases and hashtags flew faster than ever—Quiet Luxury, Brat Green, Fridgescaping, Millennial Grey. Much like the “big, beautiful bill” language we’ve all heard tossed around in political discourse, design’s buzzwords can distract from what actually matters. They generate attention, not meaning. They look good on social media, not necessarily in the lived experience of a home, workplace, or public square.
So instead of centering our design conversations around fleeting edits, let’s pivot toward the global innovations that are transforming the built world in ways that truly matter.
Across the globe, designers, architects, and researchers are developing ideas that transcend buzz. These are the concepts with longevity—the ones shaping smart, resilient, human-centered spaces:
Biophilic Design, rooted in the work of Edward O. Wilson, Erich Fromm, and Japanese shinrin-yoku, continues to reframe our relationship with nature.
Net-Zero Architecture, pioneered in Canada, Germany, and Australia, redefines building performance through projects like Seattle’s Bullitt Center and Colorado’s RMI Innovation Center.
Smart Homes and Invisible Tech, building on early Asian innovation, hiding circuitry and functionality behind seamless design powered by Apple, Google, and Amazon ecosystems.
Prefab and Modular Construction, originally exemplified by structures like the Crystal Palace and the Sydney Opera House, now reimagined by firms such as Plant Prefab.
Passive House Design, born in Germany but rapidly shaping U.S. projects in California, New York, and the Pacific Northwest.
And the list goes on:
Self-Healing Concrete by Hendrik Marius Jonkers
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi by Frank Gehry
Bët-bi Museum in Senegal by Mariam Issoufou
Powerhouse Parramatta in Australia
Pujiang Viewing Platform in China by MVRDV
Landscape and biophilic approaches—Wabi-Sabi gardening, edimental gardens, climate-adaptive landscapes, and indoor biophilia—are redefining how we engage with natural systems in daily life.
Even infrastructure has become a site of innovation:
CopenHill/Amager Bakke, Denmark’s waste-to-energy plant with a ski slope
Urban Sequoias by SOM—skyscrapers designed as carbon sinks
3D-printed timber in Germany, Finland, and France
This is the work that deserves our attention—not the color of the week on TikTok.
Rethinking the Shelter Space
For years I described architecture as a language, design as a dialect, and landscape as the narrative. Mies van der Rohe famously introduced the concept of architecture as language. It caught on, and then the bandwagon effect took over. But today, the metaphor feels insufficient—especially for the shelter space, where people spend their lives, raise families, work, heal, and age.
The shelter space isn’t like a retail store or restaurant, where design is often intended for those who pass through briefly while the people who labor there navigate the leftover space. The shelter space must serve those who inhabit it deeply and continuously. And that shifts the conversation.
Design begins with the usual questions—purpose, function, users, goals, budget. But these questions don’t define design. They only outline it. There is no universal purpose of architecture or design, no single philosophy, no singular “right” answer. The shelter space varies as widely as the people living within it.
So instead of treating architecture and design as technical processes, we should approach them philosophically.
A Philosophical Framework for Design
Stoicism offers clarity:
Accept that budget overruns and changes will occur. Respect the expertise of the designer you hired. Invest in authenticity rather than dupes. Create environments that support health—clean air, clean water, noise reduction, resilience.
Utilitarianism reminds us that choices have consequences. If the design decisions you make are based on influencer content instead of expertise, the result is no surprise.
And now, a new framework is emerging that could transform our shared spaces entirely.
Sensorial Urbanism: Designing the City We Actually Feel
One of the most compelling movements emerging globally is Sensorial Urbanism—a shift from focusing on how the city looks to how it feels. It’s neuroscience, phenomenology, and inclusive design rolled into a multi-sensory toolkit.
Five Key Sensory Principles
Soundscaping
Water features masking traffic. Acoustic pavilions. Designed sound gardens.
Paris’ Le Cylindre Sonore. Soundscape parks in Barcelona and Berlin.
Smellscaping
Native flowers, herbs, and aromatic trees restoring identity—especially critical after disasters like wildfires.
Kate McLean’s smellwalks map a city’s olfactory signature.
Tactile Design
Materials that invite touch and respond to temperature—stone, wood, water—connecting inhabitants to place.
Visual Quietness
Reducing signage and visual clutter, as seen in Drachten, Netherlands, creates calmer, more intuitive environments.
Multisensory Inclusivity
Design that accommodates neurodiversity, PTSD, aging, and accessibility through tactile paving, sound buffers, and scent markers.
Why It Matters
Because cities didn’t always feel this overwhelming.
Because design wasn’t always rushed.
Because quality of life shouldn’t be compromised for aesthetics.
Sensorial Urbanism reconnects us with spaces that are restorative, intuitive, and emotionally resonant. A city is not just a picture—it is an experience.
The Takeaway for 2026
Rising Above the Chaos: Lessons from 2025 for a Smarter 2026
HED (3-sentence summary):
As 2025 closes, the design and architecture world has experienced unprecedented chaos and rapid trend cycles. In this episode, Soundman reflects on lessons from business, culture, and global innovation, emphasizing resilience, purposeful design, and human-centered spaces. From Stoic philosophy to sensorial urbanism, this conversation offers guidance for navigating the next year with clarity and intentionality.
DEK (Expanded description):
Twenty twenty-five tested the design industry’s patience, creativity, and adaptability. In this reflective episode, we explore the pitfalls of trend-driven design, the enduring value of service, and the innovations shaping architecture globally — from net-zero buildings to multisensory urbanism. With examples ranging from TimberTech decking to Pacific Sales’ trade programs, we examine how designers can reclaim control, prioritize meaningful work, and create spaces that heal, inspire, and endure. A philosophical lens, practical insights, and actionable guidance make this a must-listen for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
Outline of Show Topics:
Introduction & Context
Reflection on the chaotic year of 2025 in design and architecture.
Disclaimer: this is a philosophical conversation, not a political editorial.
Invitation for audience engagement via email.
Trends vs. Meaningful Design
Critique of buzzwords like “quiet luxury” and “millennial gray bookshelf wealth.”
Emphasis on global innovation over social media-driven trends.
The gap between American design influence and international innovation.
Global Innovations in Architecture & Design
Biophilic design and its philosophical roots.
Net-zero buildings: Bullitt Center (Seattle), RMI Innovation Center (Colorado).
Smart homes, modular construction, and passive house adoption in the U.S. vs. abroad.
Focus on Service & Professional Support
Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home: Pro Rewards program and exceptional service.
TimberTech: innovation in sustainable synthetic decking.
Importance of performance, durability, and client-focused solutions.
Philosophical Approach to Design
Architecture as experience, not just a visual language.
Stoicism, utilitarianism, and mindfulness applied to design.
Sensorial urbanism: engaging all five senses in public and private spaces.
Emerging Global Examples of Innovation
Self-healing concrete (Henrik Marius Junkers), Copenhill (Denmark).
Returning to performance, resilience, and quality of life.
Practical guidance for designers in all regions, including overlooked U.S. markets.
Closing Reflections & New Year Outlook
Encouragement to rise above chaos and focus on what can be controlled.
Goals for 2026: intentional, human-centered, and innovative design.
Call to action: share, subscribe, and engage with Convo by Design.
Sponsor Mentions & Callouts
Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home
TimberTech
Design Hardware
If you enjoyed this long-form essay, share it with a friend. Subscribe to Convo By Design, follow @convoxdesign on Instagram, and send your thoughts to ConvoByDesign@Outlook.com.
Thank you to TimberTech, The AZEK Company, Pacific Sales, Best Buy, and Design Hardware for supporting over 650 episodes and making Convo By Design the longest running podcast of it’s kind!
